Fred Biondi started the day five shots behind. In the end, he was a national champion.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Fred Biondi hoped he would have a decision to make Monday afternoon. One that would have major implications for his future.
Would he turn professional, which had been his plan all along, or would he remain an amateur for nearly another year.
The caveat? A Masters invitation on the line that would require him to stay an amateur until the 2024 event.
Well, Biondi now has that decision to make.
The senior at Florida came from five shots behind in the final round of stroke play Monday at the 2023 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship to win the individual title. Biondi shot 3-under 67 at Grayhawk Golf Club’s Raptor Course, surpassing Georgia Tech senior Ross Steelman late after the latter bogeyed his final three holes in a closing 3-over 73.
“This could not happen to a better young man than Fred Biondi,” Florida coach J.C. Deacon said. “He’s amazing. It makes me so emotional just talking about it.”
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Biondi is the third Florida Gator to win the NCAA individual title, the last being Nick Gilliam in 2001. He had six birdies, a bogey and a double bogey in the final round. And now, he has an exemption into the 2024 Masters and the 2023 U.S. Open, if he decides to remain an amateur.
Golfweek/Sagarin rankings: Men’s team | Men’s individual
NCAA Leaderboard: Team | Individual | Photos
Deacon referenced a conversation he had with Biondi on Sunday when the team was leaving the golf course. Deacon thought Biondi would need to shoot 65 or 66 to have a chance at the individual title.
“He goes, ‘No, I don’t think so coach. I think 67 gets it done,'” Deacon said. “And that putt he made (at the end) was for 67.”
Biondi said he was looking at leaderboards a bit throughout the day, the first time on the sixth hole when he made a birdie putt to get one back of Steelman. He proceeded to double bogey the seventh hole, but that didn’t dampen his spirits.
“It could have (ruined my round), but I was playing so good and and enjoying myself out there,” Biondi said. “I tried to play with no emotions, keep my head down and just focus on the next shot.”
There was a big delay on the 17th and 18th tees due to the 17th hole having its tee box moved up, making the green driveable at 328 yards. However, Biondi’s decision on what to do wasn’t made by him.
Steelman, who led after each of the first three rounds, reached the 16th hole at even par, but a three-putt bogey dropped him to 8 under. Then, his approach at the par-4 17th rolled off the front of the green, and he was unable to get up-and-down for par.
On 18, Steelman blasted a drive down the middle but was unable to find the green with his approach, and he again couldn’t get in for par from the right rough.
The bogey on 17 tied Biondi at the top, then he took the lead when Steelman bogeyed 18. He pulled an iron and laid up, giving himself an opportunity for birdie.
“I knew I had to play the last couple in even par,” Biondi said. “It was still a hard task. I just tried to soak it all in and put good swings on them.”
Jackson Buchanan of Illinois had a chance to get to 7 under and force a playoff in the group ahead of Biondi, but his birdie putt on 18 missed to the right.
Biondi missed a birdie on the 17th but cleaned up for par. On 18, his tee shot found the middle of the fairway, and the approach ran through to the back of the green. He hit his birdie putt to about 4 feet, then his teammates rushed him in celebration when he knocked in the par.
Steelman was on the practice putting green across the pond from 18, staying warm in case of a playoff. When Biondi won, Steelman rushed over and congratulated him at the scoring tent.
Buchanan and Steelman tied for second at 6 under. The 2022 individual champ, Gordon Sargent of Vanderbilt, finished tied for 40th.
“It feels great, it feels amazing for sure,” Biondi said. “I’m sure I’ll soak it in a little bit more, but we’ve got to get ready for tomorrow.”
Biondi, Gators earn second seed
The Gators will be the second seed in match play and will face Virginia on Tuesday morning. North Carolina is the top seed and will face Arizona State, which beat Stanford on the second playoff hole for the eighth and final spot. The Gators won the SEC Championship in match play last month, beating top-ranked Vanderbilt in the final.
With Biondi’s win, Florida is full of confidence.
And his Masters decision will have to wait a bit. He’s got a team national championship to play for.
“We’ve had some reps with how difficult it is to win these matches,” Deacon said. “Our guys will be excited to play.”
