Gators Claim Fifth Victory of the Season at Schenkel Invitational
Florida shot its season-low 27-under with Parker Bell finishing runner-up at 10-under.
STATESBORO, GA. – The Florida men’s golf won the 2024 Schenkel Invitational title for its fifth victory of the season at Forest Heights Country Club on Sunday.
The Gators shot a season-low of 27-under par, which is tied for 9th lowest all-time by par in program history, last set in the 2001 NCAA Regional. Florida won by four shots as the victory is also the fifth all-time at the Schenkel Invitational, tied for second most by a school at the event and one behind leaders Oklahoma State and Wake Forest.
Of the eight total UF golfers competing this weekend, seven shot even par or better in the final round with the only one being a 1-over 73 from Matthew Kress, who placed T14 and finished with a 54-hole score of 211 (-5). Across the tournament, the Gators had a combined 19 of out 24 (8 players X 3 rounds) rounds at par or better.
The Orange and Blue have now claimed 26 team titles under head coach J.C. Deacon in 10 seasons. This is the seventh season under Deacon UF has won multiple tournaments in a year and fourth of three-plus. Five tournament wins in a season is tied second-most under Deacon, one behind last year’s six, that included a SEC and National Championship. Deacon’s Gators last won five events in a year in 2016-17, which included a win at the Schenkel Invitational.
Five finished in the top-21 led by Parker Bell’s runner-up outing at 10-under. The finish marked a career best. The sophomore shot all three rounds of par or better behind back-to-back 67s (-5) in the first two rounds. He averaged 2.92 on par3s and 4.17 on par5s in addition to 34 pars, 12 birdies and two eagles.
Jack Turner and Quentin Debove both tied with Kress for 14th. Turner recorded his three rounds all under par with a bogey-free 70 (-2) in the final 18 holes. Debove mirrored Turner with three low rounds and had a 70 (-1) in round three.
Earning his seventh-straight top-25 and fourth tournament under par was Ian Gilligan in T21 at 4-under. He posted rounds of 71-70-71 to total 12 consecutive rounds of par or better and 11 straight under par this spring season. Two shots behind Gilligan was John DuBois at 2-under tied for 30th, who had 2-under 70 in his final round with an eagle.
The third Gator to shoot a 2-under 70 today was Tyler Wilkes for his lowest round of the weekend. He ended tied for 48th followed by Luke Poulter in T58. The redshirt-freshman bounced back from an opening round of 80 (+8) with a 68 (-4) and 72 (E).
The regular season concludes at the Calusa Cup in Naples, Fla. from April 7-9. Postseason then begins with the SEC Championship set for April 24-28 at Sea Island GC in St. Simons Island, Ga.
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