Florida Gators Invitational: Florida closing in on fifth straight win

February 16, 2024 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com

Ian Gilligan (Florida Athletics Photo)

Ian Gilligan shoots second round 8-under 62 to lead the four-time defending champions and host school Gators into the final round

The Florida Gators not only hold the top spot on the leaderboard in the Florida Gators Invitational at The Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville, Fla., but they are also in second place heading into the final round.

Florida leads at 22-under, while Florida (B) is in solo second place at 20-under. Florida has shot rounds of 276-262 to lead by two shots. The 18-under 262 is the round of the tournament and they only round to break 270 thus far. Florida (B) was consistent, shooting rounds of 270-270 in the first 36 holes.

North Florida is in solo third place at 11-under, Florida Atlantic is in solo fourth place at 6-under, and South Florida is in solo fifth place at 2-under.

Ian Gilligan has led the Gators so far, shooting 9-under to lead the field by one shot. He shot a modest 1-under 69 to open the tournament, but a blazing 8-under 62 saw him shoot 16 spots up the leaderboard and into the solo lead.

Gilligan recorded eight birdies and no bogeys in the flawless second round, and he started the round with four straight birdies on Holes No. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Gilligan, who is ranked No. 40 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings, has been on a tear recently, finishing in solo second place at the Sea Best Invitational and winning the Patriot All-American at the end of 2023.

Andrew Riley of North Florida is in solo second place at 8-under, shooting rounds of 68-64.

2023 Walker Cupper, Nick Gabrelcik of North Florida, and Ryan Hart of Florida are T3 at 7-under. Max Sturdza of Florida Atlantic, Jack Turner of Florida, Matthew Kress of Florida, and Egor Eroshenko of UCF are all T5 at 6-under.

Florida has defended its home course and event, winning the event 29 times and has won the last four consecutive. From 1987-2011, the Gators won the event 20 times and nine straight between 1989-1997.

Last year the tournament was headlined by Ricky Castillo's second win at the event and Florida's fourth straight win on the season. The Gators finished 14-under as a team and won the field by 18 shots.

Results: Florida Gators Invitational

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Nick Gabrelcik	Trinity, FL	600	68-65-64=197
2	Andrew Riley	St. Johns, FL	400	68-64-66=198
3	Ian Gilligan	Reno, NV	300	69-62-69=200
4	Egor Eroshenko	, Russia	300	68-66-69=203
5	Josh Ryan	Norristown, PA	300	68-69-67=204