UW Golfers Begin Spring 2004 Competitions
February 27, 2004 | Men's Golf
On Saturday the Wisconsin men's golfers will hit the links to compete for the first time since October, kicking off the spring portion of their 2003-04 schedule. This weekend, the team heads to Gulf Breeze, Fla. to play in the Emerald Coast Collegiate. Following the opener, the team will participate in four more spring tournaments before the Big Ten Championship on May 7-9.
The Badgers are sporting many new and returning faces for the 2003-04 season. First-year head coach bios_id=Schuman_Jim_mglf'> --> Jim Schuman and his new assistant http://www.uwbadgers.com/sport_news/mglf/bios/coaches_bio.aspx 'bios_id=Endicott_B.J._mglf'> --> B.J. Endicott are fielding a team that includes no seniors, five juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen.
There are plenty of gaps to fill as the 26-year reign of former coach Dennis Tiziani concludes and Schuman takes over.
The top returning scorer is junior http://www.uwbadgers.com/sport_news/mglf/bios/bio.aspx 'id=Brodell_Brian_mglf&sport=mglf'> --> Brian Brodell , one of two student-athletes who participated in every tournament last year. Brodell, of Horton, Wis., led the Badgers with a 76.0 stroke average. He was the top finisher at the Big Ten Tournament tying for 35th with a consistent 74-76-74-74 '298. Brodell's best 2003 fall finish came at the Northern Invitational where he tied for tenth place and led the Badgers.
http://www.uwbadgers.com/sport_news/mglf/bios/bio.aspx 'id=Tassistro_Kevin_mglf&sport=mglf'> --> Kevin Tassistro of Rosemont, Ill., is another junior who had personal bests last season. The two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree ranked fourth on the team in scoring with a 76.89 stroke average through 28 rounds. In the fall of 2003 he led the Badgers on two occasions and had career bests of 69 and 139 for 36 holes to tie for seventh in the rain-shortened Xavier Invitational.
Coach Schuman commented on Tassistro. "He performed day in and day out for us in those four events very, very well. He is going to play a little bit in the off season and I look for great things from him in the spring. He has an unbelievable amount of talent and he can do just about anything he wants to do in the game of golf."
Junior http://www.uwbadgers.com/sport_news/mglf/bios/bio.aspx 'id=Esterling_Dylan_mglf&sport=mglf'> --> Dylan Esterling was the only other returnee besides Brodell to play in every tournament last season. Esterling averaged 77.53 strokes through 34 rounds and had an 18-hole best of 70 and a 54-hole PR of 222 at the 2002 Northern Intercollegiate. Competing in all 2003 fall events, he tied that 18-hole best at the Xavier Invitational.
As a team Wisconsin is coming off last-place finishes in the Big Ten Tournament the past two years and hasn't qualified for the NCAA tournament since 1994. The youthful Badgers averaged 301.97 for 18 holes last season and look to improve in all aspects of the game this season.
The fall season has given Wisconsin hope with top-10 finishes in all four tournaments. Part of the enthusiasm is the addition of true freshman Garrett Jones of Rewey, Wis. and surprise standout walk-on Ryan Conn (Alexandria, Minn.).
In his rookie season http://www.uwbadgers.com/sport_news/mglf/bios/bio.aspx 'id=Jones_Garrett_mglf&sport=mglf'> --> Garrett Jones led the Badgers in one tournament recording career bests of 71 for 18, 143 for 36 and 216 for 54-holes while tying for 21st individually at the Nestle Purina Classic in Columbia, Mo.
Schuman mentioned his potential, "I was really happy to see Garrett come into the last couple events and perform very, very well for us. Being a freshman, he has a really bright future here at the University."
Also a rookie to UW golf, senior http://www.uwbadgers.com/sport_news/mglf/bios/bio.aspx 'id=Conn_Ryan_mglf&sport=mglf'> --> Ryan Conn has made his mark, playing in three of the fall tournaments. He was second among Wisconsin competitors at the Badger Invitational, tying for 25th with scores of 75-77 '152.
"He is a guy that has a lot of energy and loves to play golf. He has performed very, very well for us and I have no doubt he will be a steady performer for us in the spring," Schuman said.
As a team the Badgers placed seventh at the Northern Intercollegiate, the site of the 2004 Big Ten Championship. They also tied for seventh at the rain-shortened Xavier Provident Invitational with a 287-285'572 in the last tournament of the fall. The 285 was the lowest 18-hole team score since April of 2001. The 572 team total was the sixth-best team total in school history.
Coach Schuman commented, "I was pretty pleased just with the improvement in the scores, the improvement in the attitude of the players, and the commitment. I am excited about the spring."
Participating for Wisconsin this weekend will be Brian Brodell, Kevin Tassistro, Dylan Esterling, Ryan Conn, and Garrett Jones. They will play 36 holes on Saturday and a final 18 on Sunday. Watch uwbadgers.com for daily recaps.
