Fred Biondi shot a 1-under 69 in the opening round of the NCAA National Championships.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Fred Biondi led the Florida men’s golf team in the opening round of the NCAA Championships on Friday with a 1-under 69 as the Gators also shot its best round all-time at Grayhawk.
Florida was the first team to tee off the in the morning, paired with Florida State and Pepperdine. The Gators finished with a round of 283 (+3), a 17-shot improvement from its round one of last year. Also the score was two shots better than its previous low, which was a 285 in round two last season.
Currently only three teams – Georgia Tech (E), Arkansas (+1) and Pepperdine (+1) have completed its first set of 18 holes and is in front of UF.
Biondi started off strong with a birdie on 10 (par-4, 390) to move Florida to 2-under after Ricky Castillo made back-to-back on 10 & 11. Castillo’s outing this weekend will mark his third time playing at the National Championships at Grayhawk. One of 15 in the field to accomplish the feat.
Over holes 12-16, UF found its score to +3 heading to 17-18. A birdie-birdie finish for Yuxin Lin before making the turn with a birdie on 17 from Biondi, cut it to +1 at the turn.
Ranked No. 3 in PGA Tour U Rankings, Biondi again made another big putt for birdie that helped Florida get back to even par on four (par-5, 562). He sank his final birdie on an up-hill put on eight (par-3, 188).
Battling back after sitting +2 with four holes remaining, John DuBois went par-birdie-birdie-par to close out his round. He turned in an even par round of 70. A stroke behind him was Castillo with a 71 (+1) and the final counting score of 73 (+3) by Yuxin Lin.
Florida tees off round two tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Round 1 Scores
* Florida – 283 (+3)
* Fred Biondi – 69 (-1)
* John DuBois – 70 (E)
* Ricky Castillo – 71 (+1)
* Yuxin Lin – 73 (+3)
* Matthew Kress – 76 (+6)
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