Garry Smits — Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
- J.C. Deacon won his third Florida Open title in a playoff against former Gator Joseph Pagdin.
- Deacon and Pagdin finished regulation play tied at 16-under 200, one shot ahead of Allin Crouch.
- Deacon has shot in the 60s for all nine rounds of the Florida Opens he has won.
University of Florida golf coach J.C. Deacon birdied the 18th hole of the Quail West Country Club in Naples on July 20, then birdied the first playoff to beat former Gator player Joseph Pagdin and win the Florida Open for the third time.
Deacon (67) and Pagdin (68) both finished at 16-under 200, one shot ahead of Allin Crouch (70) of Jacksonville, who also played for Deacon at the University of Florida and is a two-time Florida Times-Union high school player of the year from Bolles.
Deacon began the day two shots behind former University of Central Florida player Brad Schneider (73) and eagled the first hole. Deacon gave both shots back with a double at No. 8 but beginning at the ninth hole, birdied four of his next seven.
Deacon then birdied the last to earn the playoff. He won $20,000.
J.C. Deacon has won three Florida Opens in nine years
Deacon previously won the Florida Open in 2017 at Black Diamond and in 2020 at Pine Tree. He has shot in the 60s in all nine rounds of the Florida Opens he’s won. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle
Crouch was even par through 15 holes and birdied Nos. 16 and 18. Justin Hicks of West Palm Beach (64), Hunter Fry of Bonita Springs (66) and Brant Peaper of West Palm (66) tied at 13-under.
Schneider, of Valrico, was 17-under with three holes to play but bogeyed Nos. 16 and 17 and triple-bogeyed No. 18 to fall into a tie for seventh at 12-under.
