The Gators concluded the season behind winning five total tournaments, an SEC and NCAA Regional Championship while finishing top-4 in two of the last three seasons.
CARLSBAD, Calif. – The Florida men’s golf team concluded the 2024-25 season in a 4-1 loss in the NCAA National Championship Semifinals to Virginia on Tuesday at Omni La Costa.
The Gators reached the final four after rallying down 2-0 vs. the No. 6 seed Texas Longhorns in the morning to reach the semifinals for the second time in three seasons after advancing to its fifth straight NCAA National Championship under head coach J.C. Deacon, who was named a Coach of the Year Finalist.
Florida won two postseason tournaments in its second SEC Championship in three years and seventh overall NCAA Regional Championship. The last time UF won both a team conference and regional title in the same season was 2011 as this is the fourth time both have been done in a season in program history – 1989 & 1992.
The victory at the regional was second under Deacon with the first being in 2018 to total five team titles this season. It also marked the 32nd tournament title under him in 11 seasons. This was the third straight season of four-plus wins under Deacon and the seventh season of multiple wins, including the last five consecutive.
In the last four years, Florida has won the NCAA National Team Championship, NCAA Individual Championship, four NCAA Championships appearances, two NCAA Championship Semifinal Appearances, NCAA Regional Team Championship, two SEC Team Championships, three SEC Final Appearances,, SEC Individual Championship, 19 tournament titles and 13 individual titles.
In the final round of stroke play at the national championship, Florida tied for the lowest-round (-8) of the day and second-lowest of the tournament with top-seeded Arizona State (-14). The final round produced a 72-hole score of 9-under 1143, its lowest score by par at the National Championships since 26-under in 2001, when Florida won the team title. The last time UF shot 9-under in a round at nationals was round four in 2006.
Florida reached SEC Match Play Finals for the third time overall and in the last four years (2022 & 2023) by defeating the No. 6 ranked Oklahoma Sooners 3-2 in the quarterfinals and the No. 1 seed, No. 2 ranked and the reigning SEC and National Champion Auburn Tigers, 3.5-1.5 in the semifinals. The Gators defeated Teas A&M 4-1 in the finals.
At the NCAA Bremerton Regional, Florida had a final round of 3-under 285 for a 54-hole score of 28-under 836 after a 16-under round two, which was the sixth lowest round by par and lowest at a regional since a 17-under final round in 2018. The final tournament score by par of 28-under is tied for eight lowest all-time and third-lowest at an NCAA Regional in program history. Florida’s 28-under par was the third-lowest in regional play this year – Auburn 32-under and Florida State 29-under, who both played on their home course this week.
Nearing the turn vs. the No. 7 seed Cavaliers, who defeated No. 2 and defending National Champion Auburn in the quarterfinals, controlled the match in the beginning. At one point they lead in four of the five matches with the lone one tied.
The Gators began to rally back and squared four of the matches as four of the pairings were tied with seven or less holes left, but UVA gained late momentum on the course. A 4&3 victory by Maxi Puregger over Matthew Kress was shortly followed by a 2Up win from Josh Duangmanee against Jack Turner to put Virginia ahead 2-0 and need one more point for a finals berth.
Needing to run the table in the final three matches, which Florida did vs. Texas in the quarterfinals, the third match between Ben James and Luke Poulter was tied heading to the 18th. James would reach the green side bunker on his approach shot and hit a great shot out of the bunker for Poulter to concede the birdie and match-clinching point.
The final two matches left on the course featured freshman Zack Swanwick 1-down through 17, but had a short birdie putt to tie the hole and senior Ian Gilligan, who became a Korn Ferry Tour member yesterday with a No. 4 finish in the final PGA Tour U Rankings, was 1Up with three to play.
Post Round Quotes – Head Coach J.C. Deacon
On the season…
“I could not be more proud. This obviously stings big time right now, getting this close and not being able to get over the finish line. When we have a little time to look back, we accomplished a lot more than the wins. Obviously winning the SEC championship is really special and that stuff lasts forever, but the development of our guys as men, we really matured a lot. We relied a ton on some young guys and they grew up to play big roles and carried this team.
“I am most proud of their development of young men and their golf games got a lot better too. The accolades this year are substantial and it was a big-time year for us. Another great step forward for the program.”
On Ian Gilligan’s time at Florida…
“I’m really going to miss him. He’s such a special young man. I think he came at the perfect time, probably for me and for our program. Sometimes things get too serious and golf is too important, but he brought a great sense of humor and attitude that I’ve never seen before. It was a pleasure spending two years with him and watching him grow as a player.
“I think back to his first tournament as a Gator at Olympia Fields. He was pretty much a mess as a player. He had lots of talent, but it was raw. Watching him develop and polish his game up and earn that Korn Ferry membership is really rewarding. That’s our goal for all our all our guys. When we send them out to the real world, they’re ready for it. He has got a job and he’s in a really good place in life.”
NCAA National Championship Semifinals: Virginia 4, Florida 1
Maxi Puregger 4&3 vs. Matthew Kress
Josh Duangmanee 2Up vs. Jack Turner
Ben James 1Up vs. Luke Poulter
Paul Chang 1Up vs. Zack Swanwick
Ian Gilligan 1Up vs. Bryan Lee
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