This year’s Augusta Haskins Award Invitational had a lot at stake, including a spot on the PGA Tour.
Florida’s Fred Biondi shot rounds of 66-70-65 and finished at 15 under par on the par 72, 7,086 yard Forest Hills Country Club layout in Augusta. He was aiming to win the individual title as well as the exemptions. Biondi was two shots ahead of Adrien Dumont De Chassart from Illinois.
Biondi won the victory and will now play in the PGA Tour’s 3M Open in Minnesota this summer.
Biondi is part a senior trio at Florida that could be as great as any trio in college golf. According to J.C. Deacon (Florida head coach), when these three are on top, you can see what the Gators have done.
Deacon stated, “Three seniors and three All-Americans played their best golf and competed for individual titles and that results in us winning by twelve shots.”
Ricky Castillo, Biondi’s senior teammate, finished 5th, and Yuxin Lin 6th.
Deacon stated, “I know how talented the team is.” “I’ve been in this business for a while and I know how great a team looks, but we haven’t played like that all year,” Deacon said.
The Gators had already won three times by the time they entered the week: the Fighting Irish Classic last autumn, the Sea Best Invitational, and the Vystar CU Gators Invitational in spring.
The timing of win No. It might be of a greater significance to the Gators if it is happening at Forest Hills.
Deacon stated, “We have to prove to ourselves that our team could be one the best in the country. I think 39-under is a good way to do that. Also, beating an Illinois team head to head does that.”
Bryce Wallor, UCF’s head coach, and Chase Haygood (freshman golfer). (Photo by Haskins Foundation
Central Florida was another team that had something at stake this weekend.
The Golden Knights were playing in their final event before the American Athletic Conference Championship. They entered the event ranked No. 77 in Golfstat, and No. Golfweek/Sagarin: 80 UCF is working to get into the NCAA regional bid mix.
UCF is expected to rank in the 70s, and a strong performance this week could help them get closer to that mark.
Bryce Wallor, UCF head coach, stated that he has been open and honest with his team about where he stands. “We made a lot of mistakes throughout the year. “If they stop making big-numbered mistakes, you can play with any other team in the country,” I told them.
UCF would be in seventh place at the end of the week.
Wallor stated, “I promised them they would hit the ball good enough, putt it well enough, and their course management skills are good enough. However, in certain situations, being aggressive as to hurt us.”
UCF only had one hole this week that was worse than a par. “I told them that this week is our last chance. Wallor said that we can improve our ranking and make it better next week at conference. Wallor: “I’m so proud of them.”
The Golden Knights have hope that this number will rise due to the.500 Rule. This rule can prevent a team from being eliminated if they have a lower than 50 percent winning percentage head-to-head and with upsets during conference championship play.
