Florida Gators
SEC Championship
Gators head to Georgia for the SEC Championship
Tuesday, April 24, 2018 | Men's Golf
Alejandro Tosti returns to Sea Island Golf Course as the defending individual champion
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators return to St. Simons Island, Ga. where they advanced to the semifinal round of match play.
Senior Alejandro Tosti is set to defend his individual title which he won in a playoff over Vanderbilt's Patrick Martin.
Florida finished fourth in stroke play at 2-under-par to advance to the match play round. After Andy Zhang, Sam Horsfield and Tosti wins helped the Gators advance past South Carolina in the quarterfinals, Florida took on Vanderbilt in the semifinals.
Gordon Neale and Tosti picked up wins but, the Gators lost 3-2.
Neale, Zhang and Tosti will all be in the Florida lineup again this season with the additions of freshmen John Axelsen and Chris Nido.
This is the same lineup coach JC Deacon brought to the Mason Rudolph with just Axelsen and Nido flipping spots in the starting five.
Florida is looking to claim its first SEC Championship under the direction of coach Deacon and its 14th in program history.
For the second consecutive year, the conference tournament will include both stroke play followed by match play. The first three days will consist of three rounds of stroke play. The top eight teams after stroke play will advance to match play which starts on Saturday morning.
Course Information: The tournament is being held at the Par 70, 6,898 yards Sea Island Golf Club - Seaside Course in St. Simons Island, Ga.
Format: 54-hole stroke play where teams will play three rounds over first three days followed by an eight team match play on Saturday and Sunday.
Tee Times:
Wednesday Rd. 1 – 12:55 p.m. (ET)
| Player | Hole | Time (ET) |
| Alejandro Tosti | 10 | 12:55 p.m. |
| Chris Nido | 10 | 1:05 p.m. |
| John Axelsen | 10 | 1:15 p.m. |
| Andy Zhang | 10 | 1:25 p.m. |
| Gordon Neale | 10 | 1:35 p.m. |
Coach's Take:
On beginning the postseason at the SEC Championship:
"It's the best conference in the country in my opinion. Someone was saying that every team is going to make NCAA Regionals and that is just an amazing testiment to all of the coaches and players. It's the highest level and that's why these guys came to Florida. They wanted the opportunity to play against the best and they have an opportunity to do that this weekend." - Coach JC Deacon
On strategy and preparation:
"We have changed our strategy a little bit. We have to go out and try and win the stroke play. Let's just go out and play well. We weren't playing that well last year. The guys fought their tails off and almost beat Vanderbilt but, we have to be playing really well. We have done a really nice job of that. The qualifier this weekend was really outstanding and a high level. We have a good team and now it is time to go out and execute on the big stage." - Coach JC Deacon
On qualifying for last spots in lineup
"I think those three guys that had to go out and earn their spot down in Naples this weekend really earned it. This Wednesday will almost be like a breathe of fresh air for them and almost an easier experience. The course was harder, the competition was harder and they really had to dig in and earn it in adverse conditions. I'm proud of those three guys. They had some tough putts and had to sleep on some things. It was very tournament like and I think that's when you really get the best out of someone." - Coach JC Deacon
On tough conditions preparing you for NCAA Play
"I hope it is windy. There is always a potential for it to be windy there. We have a lot of good drivers of the ball and with those conditions it is going to lend us an advantage. No matter what it is we have to play good. It doesn't matter if it is rainy, colder or hot you shouldn't care what it is. You just have to get up in the morning and play well." - Coach JC Deacon
The Gators' Lineup
Neale has been on the top line of the Gator lineup in the last six events while being the top finisher in three of the last four tournaments.
Zhang is coming off his second best finish of the season when his placed sixth at the Mason Rudolph Championship at 1-over-par.
Axelsen enters the SEC Tournament sixth in the conference in scoring average (72.06) amongst freshmen. He claimed his fourth top 25 finish at the Mason Rudolph tying for 15th on the leaderboard.
Nido has been a fixture in the Gator lineup all season competing in the starting five in all but one event in his freshman campaign. Nido has placed in the top 25 in two of his last three events heading into the conference tournament.
Tosti makes his second straight start out of the No. 5 position after finishing tied for 29th at the Mason Rudolph Championship.
Our ??? for the SEC Championship ??#GoGators ??? pic.twitter.com/2jprMSHPba
— Gators Golf (@GatorsGolf) April 24, 2018
Tournament Field (GolfStat Rankings as of April 18, 2018):
Alabama (6)
Arkansas (3)
Auburn (9)
Georgia (54)
Florida (7)
Kentucky (19)
LSU (11)
Mississippi State (56)
Missouri (39)
Ole Miss (34)
South Carolina (38)
Tennessee (50)
Texas A&M (2)
Vanderbilt (4)
Follow the Action
Play will begin on Wednesday, April 25th. Live scoring will be available on GolfStat.com. A complete recap with full results will be posted on FloridaGators.com following each day's play.
Eye on the Gators
Be sure to tune into Fox Sports Florida on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (ET) for Eye on the Gators. Get an in depth looks at the Gators' men's golf program. Here (hyperlink) are more date and times to tune in to Fox Sports Florida and Fox College Sports Atlantic.
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