Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge Awaits UW
October 21, 2007 | Men's Golf
The No. 31 UW men's golf team will attempt to represent its conference over the next two days when it participates in the 2007 Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge this Sunday and Monday, Oct. 21 and 22, at Chambers Bay golf course in University Place, Wash.
Golfweek recently named Chambers Bay the second-best new course in the nation, behind only Bandon Trails, another course that has been used for the Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge.
Representing the Big Ten alongside Wisconsin will be Northwestern, Minnesota and Michigan State, while Washington, Oregon, UCLA and Oregon State will act as the Pac-10's representatives. The tournament, co-hosted by Northwestern and Washington, will reward individual, team and conference winners.
The challenge will put the Badgers up against some of the nation's top squads. Six of the eight teams, including No. 31 UW, are ranked in the Golfweek/Sagarin top 50: UCLA (No. 3 in the GCAA poll, they have not competed yet so they do not have a Sagarin index), No. 15 Michigan State, No. 22 Oregon State, No. 28 Washington and No. 47 Minnesota.
Situated just outside of Tacoma and less than an hour south of Seattle, Chambers Bay has the tools to be one of the most unique courses on the West Coast, offering beautiful views of Puget Sound, neighboring islands and the Olympic Mountains. The course, owned and developed by Pierce County, Wash., opened in June.
Last year's Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge, which was held at Pacific Dunes, was one by UCLA, with USC's Jamie Lovemark claiming the individual title.
The trophy showcasing each year's winners is permanently housed in the clubhouse of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.
The newly launched Big Ten Network will provide tournament coverage and air a recap show on a tape-delayed basis. Airtimes are 4 p.m. on Nov. 4 (debut), 11 a.m. on Nov. 6 (repeat) and 10 a.m. on Nov. 9 (repeat).
