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NCAA Florida Gators Golf – CHAMPS OR CHUMPS

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The Gators Men’s Golf Team Had a Chance at the National Championship. How did they do you ask…well my fellow golf grinder, read on and find out! Rarely do we get to cover college golf, but we have our own hometown staff writer who was in the area and just happened to get the 411 while being on the course to watch the match unfold…

In a display of skill, precision, and unwavering determination, (Ok, maybe – just maybe pepper in a healthy dose of that Gainsville liquid courage) the University of Florida’s men’s golf team was prepared to ascend to the pinnacle of collegiate golf. That’s right, on this day June 1st, 2023, they had a chance to hoist the highly coveted national championship title. Call it what you will: countless hours of practice, strategic planning, and unwavering teamwork, or most likely a symbiotic concoction of all three, PLUS some good old-fashioned luck, these exceptional athletes showcased their prowess on the green with the goal to etch their names in the annals of golfing history (insert your best Tiger joke here).

Join us as we do a 2-minute recap of the gripping journey of the Gators’ quest to try to win the whole shebang while highlighting a few of their unforgettable victories and the jubilant celebrations that will inevitably reverberate across the nation should that come to fruition.

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THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

The University of Florida men’s golf team faced an arduous road to the national championship. Let’s just say it resembles the run of the Heat as an 8 seed in this year’s NBA championship series. Jeez, what’s in the water down there in FLA? They battled against fierce competitors from some of the best, and probably better on paper, universities nationwide. What made this run so great, however, they kept winning…Culminating in an improbable defeat vs. Georgia Tech in their final match-up.

Tirelessly honing their skills and embracing each challenge, the Gators exhibited remarkable resilience and relentless pursuit of excellence. In layman’s terms, they were CLUTCH! Anchored by head coach JC Deacon and their dedicated coaching staff, the team executed every facet of the game, from precision drives to delicate putts, and improbable up & downs – all cultivating a formidable collective skill set just good enough to WIN!

Their unwavering determination and tireless focus propelled them through regional competitions and qualifying rounds, ultimately leading to their remarkable and what some golf pundits would call improbable invitation into the national championship tournament.

THE KEY PLAYERS

Fred Biondi, the team’s esteemed captain, showcased nerves of steel as he closed out his match on 18, securing a critical victory over the Yellowjackets. The collective roar of the crowd reverberated through the course, encapsulating the euphoria of that defining moment. The roar could be heard from campus as the putt dropped into the cup. Equally remarkable was the exceptional performance of senior golfer Yuxin Lin, who closed out his match on hole 15 – securing the gator’s first point. These incredible achievements, complemented by the stellar performances of the entire team, solidified the Gators’ dominance on the national stage.

LET THE PARTY BEGIN

The campus transformed into a sea of orange and blue, as students, faculty, and alumni flocked to celebrate this historic achievement. The team was hailed as heroes, soon to be parading triumphantly through the street with the championship trophy held aloft. Damn, I knew I shoulda went to Florida this weekend – UGH!

The impact of this victory extended far beyond the university, inspiring a new generation of golfers and igniting a sense of pride and accomplishment throughout the entire Gator Nation. The University of Florida men’s golf team’s national championship triumph will forever serve as a testament to their Achievement. This HUGE win will undoubtedly shape the future of the Gators’ golfing program for years to come labeling Gators Men’s Golf: A program to be reckoned with…

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One of the Greatest Putts in U.S. Open History?

JJ Spaun’s 64-Foot Walk-Off

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When JJ Spaun stood over a 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole of the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, few could have predicted what would come next. The ball meandered across the slick green, trickling over every contour, picking up speed at the crest, and then—like it had GPS—dropped center cup. Spaun dropped his putter, raised his arms, and the crowd erupted. With that single stroke, he claimed his first major title in one of the most dramatic finishes in U.S. Open history.

But how does Spaun’s putt stack up against other legendary finishes in the tournament’s storied past? Let’s break down some of the most iconic moments and see where this one lands.


1. Payne Stewart – 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst

Perhaps the most iconic putt in U.S. Open history came from Payne Stewart, who nailed a 15-footer for par on the 18th to win by one over Phil Mickelson. The pose—fist pump and outstretched leg—has since been immortalized in a statue at Pinehurst. What made it legendary wasn’t just the putt—it was the context: Stewart’s final major before his tragic death just months later.

Verdict: Iconic and emotional. Spaun’s putt was longer, but Stewart’s was more poetic.


2. Tiger Woods – 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines

Woods drained a 12-foot birdie on the 72nd hole to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate—while basically playing on one leg. That tournament went to sudden death after an 18-hole playoff, and Tiger prevailed. This was peak Tiger drama, pain and all.

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Verdict: Spaun’s putt was longer, but Tiger’s win was sheer willpower and mystique.


3. Jack Nicklaus – 1972 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach

With a 1-iron shot that hit the flagstick on 17 and a crucial birdie putt on 18, Jack sealed a dominant win. His precision and timing under pressure showed why he’s the GOAT.

Verdict: Not a putt for the win, but a signature finishing statement from Jack. Spaun’s was more electric in terms of pure putter drama.


4. Ben Hogan – 1950 U.S. Open at Merion

Hogan’s 1-iron into the 18th fairway and the par to force a playoff—just 16 months after a near-fatal car crash—remain legendary. He won the playoff and completed one of golf’s great comeback stories.

Verdict: Larger-than-life comeback. Spaun’s putt had more flair, but Hogan’s win was heroic.


5. JJ Spaun – 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont

Let’s not underestimate what Spaun accomplished. The pressure was immense. He wasn’t the favorite. And on the most treacherous greens in golf, he buried a 64-foot bomb—a putt most players would be happy to lag to within 5 feet—to win the U.S. Open outright.

Verdict: For distance, surprise, and drama, Spaun’s putt may be the most shocking winning stroke in U.S. Open history.


Final Thoughts

JJ Spaun may not have the résumé of a Nicklaus or Woods, but for one Sunday afternoon in June 2025, he created a moment that will live in golf lore forever. Spaun’s putt was longer than Stewart’s, more unexpected than Tiger’s, and more dramatic than any final-hole finish in recent memory.

In terms of pure clutch putting? It might just be the greatest walk-off in U.S. Open history.


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The Zen of the Shank: Finding Inner Peace in Your Worst Shots

Find your inner peace even when you aren’t playing well.

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Ah, the shank. That glorious, unpredictable misfire that sends your pristine golf ball screaming sideways, often directly into the unsuspecting shins of your playing partner, or perhaps, with a touch of poetic irony, into the very lake you’ve been trying to avoid all day. Most golfers, bless their earnest little hearts, view the shank as a catastrophic failure, a blight upon their scorecard, a testament to their inherent lack of coordination. They curse, they throw clubs, they contemplate a career in competitive thumb-wrestling. But not I. No, my friends, for I, Ty Webb, have found enlightenment in the humble shank.

You see, the shank is not a mistake; it’s a revelation. It’s the universe’s way of reminding you that control is an illusion, that perfection is a myth, and that sometimes, the most direct path to your goal is, in fact, a wildly indirect one. Think of it as a philosophical detour, a sudden, unexpected journey into the unknown. One moment, you’re aiming for the green, a paragon of precision and intent. The next, your ball is ricocheting off a tree, narrowly missing a squirrel, and landing, by some divine comedic intervention, closer to the hole than your perfectly struck drive ever would have. Is that not a miracle? Is that not a sign that the golf gods, much like life itself, have a wicked sense of humor?

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The key, my dear apprentices of the links, is acceptance. Embrace the shank. Welcome it with open arms, like a long-lost, slightly inebriated relative. When that familiar, sickening thwack echoes through the air, do not despair. Instead, take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Feel the gentle breeze on your face. And then, with a knowing smile, open them and observe the chaos you have wrought. Is it not beautiful in its own chaotic way? Is there not a certain freedom in relinquishing control, in allowing the ball to choose its own destiny, however bizarre that destiny may be?

Some say the shank is a sign of poor technique. I say it’s a sign of a vibrant, untamed spirit. A golfer who never shanks is a golfer who has never truly lived, never truly explored the outer limits of their own golfing absurdity. They are content with mediocrity, with predictable trajectories and mundane outcomes. But you, my enlightened few, you understand that the true joy of golf lies not in the score, but in the story. And what a story a good shank can tell.

So, the next time you feel that familiar tremor of a shank brewing, don’t fight it. Let it flow. Let it be. For in the heart of every shank lies a lesson, a laugh, and perhaps, just perhaps, a path to a lower score you never saw coming. After all, as the great philosopher Basho once said, “A flute with no holes, is not a flute. A donut with no hole, is a Danish.” And a golf game without a shank? Well, that’s just not golf, is it?

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Meet The Canadian Open Qualifier Tied To ClickIt Golf!

“This week was incredible,” he said. “A dream come true.”

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Josh Goldenberg doesn’t plan to quit his day job. But he had a great time dabbling in his old career.

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He gave up on pro golf, then qualified for his first PGA Tour event.

Read the full story here
https://golf.com/news/josh-goldenberg-rbc-canadian-open/?amp=1

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