Badger Men's Golf Invitational Sept. 28-30
September 24, 2014 | Men's Golf
MADISON, Wis.- The annual 54-hole Badger Men’s Golf Invitational will again feature some of the finest collegiate talent when it takes place Sept. 28-30 at University Ridge Golf Course.
Last year the University Ridge collegiate course record was tied when Caleb Sturgeon of South Carolina shot a 65 enroute to a Badger Invitational scoring record 10-under par 65-72-69—206. South Carolina won the tournament with an 8-under par 282-283-291—856.
Men’s golf coach Michael Burcin thinks this year will be even more competitive.
“We feel this field at home is deeper than last year overall and we look forward to playing well,” Burcin says. “In golf,we don't stay home often, so this will be a great opportunity to play well at home."
The tournament was revived last year by Burcin as a way of showcasing one of the finest college courses in the nation. University Ridge moved up from fifth to No. 3 best collegiate course according to Golfweek’s annual Best Collegiate Golf Courses rankings that came out Sept. 4, 2014.
“The Ridge is in fantastic condition and coaches enjoy bringing their teams here,” Burcin says.
Prior to last year, the men’s team had not played at home in a tournament since hosting the 2005 Big Ten Golf Championship.
South Carolina will not return to defend its title, but some other talented teams are attending. Participating teams include Bowling Green, Bradley, Charleston Southern, Drake, Illinois State, Iowa State, Kansas, Maryland, Marquette, Rutgers, Sam Houston State, Toledo, USC Upstate and Wisconsin.
The Badgers placed 12th in the tournament a year ago, but expect them to move up with the influx of talented returnees and newcomers on the team this year. In their first tournament of the year, the team finished fourth at Michigan’s Wolverine Invitational and shot the 13th best 54-hole score in school history with a 7-over par 288-286-285—859.
“Michigan was a nice finish to start the year, and this past week [at the Windon Memorial] we were one good round away on the last day of competing very favorably in a stacked field,” Burcin says.
Leading the Badgers in Michigan was Rob Jacobsen who finished in a two-way tie for seventh place with career 54-hole best 1-under 73-70-69--212. Seniors Jack Watson and Thomas O'Bryan tied for 20th with their 3-over par scores of 73-71-72--216 and 72-70-74—216, respectively. O'Bryan set a new 54-hole career best by three strokes.
Jacobsen was third in the 2013 Badger Invitational with a 1-under par 74-73-68—215. He is leading the team with his 71.50 scoring average. In fact, the Badgers have four players with a minimum of six rounds who are averaging 74 or better for the first time in over 10 years. The others are senior Thomas O’Bryan (73.0); senior Jack Watson (73.50) and freshman Eddie Wajda III (73.33).
“Rob Jacobsen has been great so far and I think the freshman have shown signs as well from [Payton] Taylor and Eddie [Wajda III],” Burcin says.
Tee times begin daily at 9 a.m. off holes 1 and 10. The final round Tuesday will be a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. Admission and parking are free.
Fans can follow live scoring at this link http://bfire.co/-f216e/
2014-15 Wisconsin Men’s Golf Schedule
Day Date Tournament Location
Sat-Sun. Sept. 6-7 at Wolverine Intercollegiate Ann Arbor, Mich.
Mon-Tues. Sept. 8-9 at UW-Green Bay (Indv.) Green Bay, Wis.
Sun-Mon. Sept. 21-22 at Windon Memorial Classic Evanston, Ill.
Sun-Tues. Sept. 28-30 BADGER INVITATIONAL Madison, Wis.
Sun-Tues. Oct. 5-7 at Erin Hills Intercollegiate Hartford, Wis.
Mon-Wed. Nov. 3-5 at UCLA Invitational San Martin, Calif.
Sun-Mon. Feb. 15-16 at Big Ten Match Play Palm Coast, Fla.
Mon-Tues. March 9-10 at Palmetto Intercollegiate Aiken, S.C.
Sun-Tues. March 29-31 at Hootie at Bulls Bay Awendaw, S.C.
Sat-Sun. April 11-12 at NYX Hoosier Invitational Bloomington, Ind.
Sat-Sun. April 18-19 at Boilermaker Invitational West Lafayette, Ind.
Fri-Sun. April 24-26 at Big Ten Championship Newburgh, Ind.
Players Mentioned
