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Sunday, February 15
Gainesville, Fla.
7:30 AM ET
Liberty University
at
Gator Invitational
Liberty Finishes in 7th Place Against Strong Field at Gator Invitational
2/15/2026 9:33:00 PM | Men's Golf
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Facing one of the strongest fields it will see during the regular season, Liberty finished in seventh place at the Gator Invitational on Sunday.
The 18-team field featured five top-25 teams, eight teams who qualified for the NCAA Regionals in 2025, four who advanced to the NCAA Men's Golf National Championship and the last three NCAA national champions.
The only teams to finish ahead of the Flames were the five top-25 programs and USF, who also hails from the "Sunshine State".
Liberty carded a 19-over par 859 (289-280-290) during its three trips around the Mark Bostick Golf Course (par 70, 6,701 yards), the home course of the host Florida Gators.
For the seventh year in a row and the 32nd time in the event's 49-year history, Florida walked away as the tournament victor. No. 10 Florida was the only team to post scores in red figures all three rounds, finishing with a winning score of 27-under par 813 (271-266-276).
The Gators finished 14 shots clear of No. 2 Auburn, who was the event's runner-up with a score of 13-under par 827 (269-273-285).
Also finishing ahead of the Flames were No. 12 Oklahoma State (2-under par 838), USF (4-over par 844), No. 20 Charlotte (12-over par 852) and No. 21 Notre Dame (14-over par 854).
For the third event in a row, Michael Lugiano paced the Flames. The sophomore finished tied for 12th place with a 1-under par 209 (71-68-70).
Lugiano's strength in this event was his strong play on the par-4 holes. He led the 99-man field in par-4 scoring (3.90 scoring average/-3) and was tied for fifth place with 12 birdies.
Ike Joy followed behind Lugiano, finishing tied for 40th place with a 5-over par 215 (71-70-74). The graduate student finished tied for fifth in the field with 38 pars over the 54-hole event.
The Gator Invitational is the second of three-straight events Liberty will play in the state of Florida. The Flames will return to the "Sunshine State" for The Hayt on March 7-9 at the Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Round Recap – Liberty's Starting Five:
Back on the Course – Liberty's Next Event:
The 18-team field featured five top-25 teams, eight teams who qualified for the NCAA Regionals in 2025, four who advanced to the NCAA Men's Golf National Championship and the last three NCAA national champions.
The only teams to finish ahead of the Flames were the five top-25 programs and USF, who also hails from the "Sunshine State".
Liberty carded a 19-over par 859 (289-280-290) during its three trips around the Mark Bostick Golf Course (par 70, 6,701 yards), the home course of the host Florida Gators.
For the seventh year in a row and the 32nd time in the event's 49-year history, Florida walked away as the tournament victor. No. 10 Florida was the only team to post scores in red figures all three rounds, finishing with a winning score of 27-under par 813 (271-266-276).
The Gators finished 14 shots clear of No. 2 Auburn, who was the event's runner-up with a score of 13-under par 827 (269-273-285).
Also finishing ahead of the Flames were No. 12 Oklahoma State (2-under par 838), USF (4-over par 844), No. 20 Charlotte (12-over par 852) and No. 21 Notre Dame (14-over par 854).
For the third event in a row, Michael Lugiano paced the Flames. The sophomore finished tied for 12th place with a 1-under par 209 (71-68-70).
Lugiano's strength in this event was his strong play on the par-4 holes. He led the 99-man field in par-4 scoring (3.90 scoring average/-3) and was tied for fifth place with 12 birdies.
Ike Joy followed behind Lugiano, finishing tied for 40th place with a 5-over par 215 (71-70-74). The graduate student finished tied for fifth in the field with 38 pars over the 54-hole event.
The Gator Invitational is the second of three-straight events Liberty will play in the state of Florida. The Flames will return to the "Sunshine State" for The Hayt on March 7-9 at the Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Round Recap – Liberty's Starting Five:
- Michael Lugiano – T12 1-under par 209 (71-68-70)
- Ike Joy – T40 5-over par 215 (71-70-74)
- Josh Ryan – T48 7-over par 217 (76-71-70)
- Evan Barbin – T60 8-over par 218 (71-71-76)
- Brett Reid – T93 21-over par 231 (77-72-82)
Back on the Course – Liberty's Next Event:
- 2026 The Hayt (March 7-9)
- Sawgrass Country Club (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.)
- Hosted by North Florida
- Par 72, 6,966 yards
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Players Mentioned
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