CHICAGO – The No. 4 Florida men’s golf team is tied for 3rd and three shots back of the lead at Matthew Kress is T2 and one shot from the individual lead after the opening round of the Fighting Illini Collegiate at Olympia Fields on Friday.

Playing in a field that features 11 ranked teams, including four of the final eight teams at last year’s NCAA Championship, Florida is three shots back from leader Texas Tech (-1) followed by the reigning National Champions Oklahoma State (E). Loyola Marymount is also tied with UF at +3.

The Gators, Cowboys and Red Raiders are slated to tee off round two tomorrow at 10:30 a.m.

Florida used a 5-under back nine to climb up the leaderboard and regroup from a +7 front nine. Three Gators had final nine holes of 2-under led by Kress, who was one of two to shoot bogey-free. Kress additionally only carded a single bogey (hole-3) in his round. The senior was one of 13 to finish under par and is a stroke back from leader Adam Bresnu (-3) of Texas Tech.

Sophomore Zack Swanwick was the other Gator to have a bogey-free 2-under back nine to turn in a 73 (+3). He bounced back from a tough start of a triple and bogey. He is tied for 41^st.

Making his season debut after playing the Walker Cup, Luke Poulter was the triennial UF golfer to have a 2-under final nine holes. His finish helped knock off a +3 front nine. He produced a round of 71 (+1) and is tied for 21^st.

Jack Turner was the other Gator to shoot even or better in round one with an even-par 70. He is tied for 14^th and was one of 20 in a field of 81.

Also tied for 41^st with Swanwick is Parker Bell with a 73 (+3).

Florida Scores

T2. Matthew Kress – 68 (-2)

T14. Jack Turner – 70 (E)

T21. Luke Poulter – 71 (+1)

T41. Zack Swanwick – 73 (+3)

T41. Parker Bell – 73 (+3)

Team Scores

1. Texas Tech (-1)

2. Oklahoma State (E)

T3. Florida (+2)

T3. Loyola Marymount (+2)

5. Alabama (+3)

T6. Texas A&M (+5)

T6. Illinois (+5)

T6. Florida State (+5)

9. Arizona State (+6)

10. Georgia Tech (+7)

11. Texas (+8)

12. Stanford (+11)

13. Purdue (+12)

14. Indiana (+13)

15. Baylor (+15)