GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 10 Florida men’s golf team defended its home course for the seventh straight season, winning the Gators Invitational by 14-shots at 27-under and claiming its fourth consecutive victory this season. 

Florida entered the final day with a three-shot lead over No. 2 Auburn (-13), who finished second. The Gators and Tigers battled for the team title throughout the day and Auburn closed it to a one-shot deficit (-23 & -22), but that was the closest the conference rival would get. UF pulled away from the Tigers with a 6-under stretch between holes seven through nine behind a pair of eagles on seven (par5, 565 yards) from Parker Sands and Zack Swanwick. 

Florida has defended its home course and event, for 32nd time in the tournament’s 49th year of existence, including winning the last seven straight. The win streak of seven consecutive rank third all-time as Florida won the event eight times from 2004-11 and nine between 1989-1997. 

The tournament title is the 36th all-time under Deacon and eighth season of multiple wins, including the last six consecutive. It is also the 21st win in the last four seasons; 2022-23 (6), 2023-24 (6), 2024-25 (5) & 2025-26 (4). In that span Florida has played a total of 46 tournaments (45.6%).

This season marks Deacon’s sixth season of three-plus single-season victories and fourth straight year of four single-season tournament victories. It is only the third time in program history of four straight seasons of four-plus single season wins: 1988-89 (4), 1989-90 (4), 1990-91 (4), 1991-92 (5) and 1992-93 (4). 

Florida finished with a tournament score of 813 (-27), which is the fourth lowest by score in program history overall and at the Gators Invitational all-time. The overall score was a season low as the Gators also logged a season low in team round with a 266 (-14) in round two, tied for 10th lowest by par in school history and tied fifth by score. 

All five in the lineup finished under par as the top two finishers were junior Noah Kent and senior Matthew Kress, who finished tied for 3rd at 6-under. Kent recorded all three rounds of 68 (-2) in his first home tournament and appearance in the lineup en route to making a tournament-leading 17 birdies. The T3 outing was tied for a career-best by Kent and the 204 (-6) 54-hole score tied Kress’ career-low. Kress also finished undefeated (4-0) at the Gators Invitational and secured his team-leading third top-5 finish. He has started the spring season with consecutive T3 finishes. 

Swanwick carded the low round in the lineup in the final 18-holes with a 66 (-4), tying his career-low. The sophomore finished 6th at 5-under par as his 205 tournament-score is a new career-low. The final two in the lineup, Jack Turner and Sands both tied for 7th at 4-under par overall. Sands, set new career-bests in finish and tournament score while tying his career-low round (67) in the opening 18-holes. Turner’s outing was his team-high sixth top-25 this season. 

Of the four UF golfers competing as individuals this weekend, freshman Trevor Gutschewski had the best finish. He snagged a solo 10th at 3-under par across 54-holes. His finish and tournament score were season-lows as she shot a final round of 69 (-1), tying his season-low. The other individuals playing featured Josh Bai in 21st and Parker Bell and Parker Severs in T30. 

The Gators continue the spring at the Southern Highlands Collegiate from March 1-3 and then have two more regular season events – Pauma Valley Invitational (March 16-18) & Calusa Cup (April 5-7).

Florida Leaderboard

*competing as an individual

Team Leaderboard

POS	Team	Total		RD 1		RD 2		RD 3
1	Florida	813	-27	271	-9	266	-14	276	-4
2	Auburn	827	-13	269	-11	273	-7	285	+5
3	Oklahoma State	838	-2	285	+5	271	-9	282	+2
4	USF	844	+4	286	+6	275	-5	283	+3
5	Charlotte	852	+12	283	+3	285	+5	284	+4
6	Notre Dame	854	+14	291	+11	276	-4	287	+7
7	Liberty	859	+19	289	+9	280	E	290	+10
T8	Chattanooga	860	+20	296	+16	279	-1	285	+5
T8	Indiana	860	+20	296	+16	275	-5	289	+9
T8	Georgia Southern	860	+20	293	+13	285	+5	282	+2
11	Florida Gulf Coast	862	+22	294	+14	282	+2	286	+6
12	UCF	863	+23	286	+6	298	+18	279	-1
13	Furman	870	+30	289	+9	289	+9	292	+12
14	Florida Atlantic	874	+34	303	+23	289	+9	282	+2
15	Penn State	876	+36	289	+9	292	+12	295	+15
16	Jacksonville	877	+37	296	+16	282	+2	299	+19
17	North Florida	879	+39	288	+8	295	+15	296	+16
18	West Virginia	881	+41	290	+10	291	+11	300	+20