PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- When Corey Brewer scored with 25.7 seconds remaining to lift Florida to a pulsating 57-53 win over Georgetown in the wee hours of Saturday morning at least one member of the Gator Nation was fast asleep.

Camilo Villegas, a four-time All-America at the University of Florida, needed the rest. After all, he had a 5:30 a.m. wake-up call in advance of his date with J.B. Holmes in the third round of THE PLAYERS Championship.

"It's like Coach (Stewart Alexander) used to say 'First things first,'" Villegas said. "And I had work to do today."

So Villegas relied on SportsCenter replays and a quick glance at the morning newspaper to catch up on the NCAAs before he teed off at 8:28 a.m. Then he went to work on the Stadium Course at the TPC Sawgrass.

Villegas got the job done with a wind-blown 68 that moved him from a tie for 59th into the top 20 at the PGA TOUR's premier event. He chipped in for eagle on the second hole and made three more birdies while dropping just one shot to par.

"It was a very steady battle," said Villegas, who knew the conditions would worsen as the day progressed. "I had a great attitude. I obviously hit some good shots but I left some out there, too. I made up for those with some great saves."

Camilo Villegas eagled the par-5 second hole on Saturday. (Badz/PGA TOUR/ WireImage)

One of those saves came late in his round at the unforgiving 17th hole. Villegas hit his tee shot nearly to the walkway on the back of the island green and faced a precarious putt toward a pin set in the left front of the green.

Villegas actually feared he might putt it off the green and into the water. "I closed my eyes and sure enough, it trickled off the green," he recalled. "But then I chipped it in, and I went to No. 18 with a smile."

Villegas and Holmes, two of the biggest hitters in a generation that thrives on the long ball, had the largest gallery of the morning. Much of that was due to the presence of the 24-year-old from Colombia who has fast achieved rock-star status with the fans.

Villegas, who was wearing a sea-foam green sweater and wide, neon-orange belt was greeted with applause when he walked out of the scorer's trailer. He did several interviews and then went over and patiently signed every scrap of paper or hat thrust at him.

And to think Villegas, who is playing in his fifth straight event, almost had this week off. He was the first alternate for THE PLAYERS but gained entry when Chris DiMarco withdrew on Wednesday.

Currently 15th on the PGA TOUR money list, Villegas needs to move into the top 10 when the $8 million purse is divvied up on Sunday to earn an invitation to the Masters Tournament.

While Villegas admits that he "will more than likely have the next two weeks off," he's not giving up hope. He says he can't dwell on the numbers, though -- "I have to focus on my targets."

And on Saturday, he did that very well.