Feb. 6, 2005

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Host Florida came from behind to shoot a final day even par to overtake Wake Forest for the SunTrust Gator Invitational title on Sunday.

Sixth-ranked Wake Forest finished second out of 15 teams after shooting a final round 9-over 289 on the par 70 University Golf Club course. The Demon Deacons finished two shots ahead of third-place Florida State and three strokes in front of South Carolina.

The SunTrust Gator Invitational was Wake Forest's first tournament of the spring.

Freshman Chris McCartin paced the Deacons with a 71-70-72--213 (+3) to finish eighth overall. McCartin finished four strokes behind individual champion, Jonas Blixt of Florida State.

Deacon freshman Webb Simpson shot a 71-72-73--216 (+6) to finish tied for 12th place. Junior Kyle Reifers shot a 70-73-75--218 (+8) and finished tied for 17th. Other Deacons included sophomore Sean Moore (74-76-74--224) and freshman Dustin Groves (81-76-70--227).

Wake Forest will not play again for more than one month, until March 11-13, when the Deacons play at the Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas.