Photo by: Greg Anderson
Badgers look to start fast after hot summer
September 04, 2017 | Men's Golf
UW hosts the Badger Invitational on Sept. 10-12
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin men's golf team opens the 2017-18 season this weekend by hosting the Badger Invitational on Sunday-Tuesday at University Ridge Golf Course. They do so trying to maintain their momentum from some terrific results this summer. Here's a sampling of what went down while school was out of session:
Senior Eddie Wajda
Wajda, one of just two seniors for UW, has been a steady contributor in each of his first three seasons and his career scoring average would place him eighth all-time in school history. In July, he recorded his third top-5 finish at the Wisconsin State Amateur in the last three years, finishing second after carding three rounds in the 60s. About a week later, he placed ninth at the Chattanooga Cho Choo Invitational.Â
"We are looking forward to watching Eddie wrap up his strong Badger career after a very solid campaign this summer," UW head coach Michael Burcin said. "His top finishes in national events should be a major confidence boost as he prepares for the season."
Junior Jordan Hahn
Hahn finished last season with the third-lowest single-season scoring average in UW history and kept playing well through the summer. He placed second at the Illinois State Amateur in July, finishing with a 9-under 201. That included a state am-record 61 in the second round highlighted by his second career hole-in-one.
"Coming off the spring, Jordan will be viewed as one of the top players in the Big Ten and is in line to leave Wisconsin as one of the best ever to wear the Motion W," Burcin said.
Sophomore Nick Robinson
Robinson registered the fourth-best scoring average by a freshman in Wisconsin history last year and finished in the top five at both the Charleston Shootout and the Boilermaker Invitational. In August, he placed fourth at the Washington State Men's Amateur Championship, carding a 4-under par 210 in the 54-hole tournament.
"We are expecting big things from Nick coming off a successful spring semester where he had chances to win at Purdue and Big Tens," said Burcin. "His strong finish to the summer should give him the kick start he needs for this fall."
Freshman Sam Anderson
Anderson, the top-ranked high school player in Wisconsin, won the Mid-American Junior Golf Tour event at Fox Bend Golf Club in Oswego, Illinois in May. Then, in July, he tied for sixth at the Wisconsin State Amateur, finishing the 72-hole tournament at +2.
"We are very excited to have Sam join the Badgers as the top player in the state," Burcin said. "He had strong showings this summer both at a national level and at the state level."
Freshman Griffin Barela
Barela is ranked No. 32 in the American Junior Golf Association Rolex Rankings. He recorded three top-10 finishes at AJGA events this summer, placing second at the AJGA WinCraft/McArthur Towel & Sports Future Legends event in Waukesha in July, fourth at the Hale Irwin Colorado Junior in early June and tied for ninth at the Polo Golf Junior Classic in New Jersey in late June. The Lakewood, Colorado native then tied for sixth at the Colorado Golf Association Amateur Championship in early August.Â
"Griffin comes in as one of the top ranked players in the country," said Burcin. "He had several top finishes in national junior and amateur events and we're excited to see him in Badger red."
Freshman Robbie Morway
Morway joins the Badgers after qualifying for the Wisconsin State High School tournament four times. He finished among the top six in each of the last two seasons, including a fourth-place showing as a senior.Â
"Robbie comes from a strong high school program at Homestead, where he is the second-most decorated player in school history behind current PGA Tour player, Jordan Niebrugge," Burcin said.
Heading into this weekend's opening tournament, Burcin sees the summer's results as cause for optimism.
"Part of being in our program is we look at summer as an important time for improvement and testing your game regionally and nationally," Burcin said. "When players compete favorably during the summer on a national stage it usually equals a jump in their college season. Â
"Coming off of what our young guys accomplished last season, the leadership Eddie will provide, and what these freshmen will bring to the table, we are very, very excited about this season and the direction of the program. The sky is the limit for this squad if we stay consistent in our focus and commitment."
Senior Eddie Wajda
Wajda, one of just two seniors for UW, has been a steady contributor in each of his first three seasons and his career scoring average would place him eighth all-time in school history. In July, he recorded his third top-5 finish at the Wisconsin State Amateur in the last three years, finishing second after carding three rounds in the 60s. About a week later, he placed ninth at the Chattanooga Cho Choo Invitational.Â
"We are looking forward to watching Eddie wrap up his strong Badger career after a very solid campaign this summer," UW head coach Michael Burcin said. "His top finishes in national events should be a major confidence boost as he prepares for the season."
Junior Jordan Hahn
Hahn finished last season with the third-lowest single-season scoring average in UW history and kept playing well through the summer. He placed second at the Illinois State Amateur in July, finishing with a 9-under 201. That included a state am-record 61 in the second round highlighted by his second career hole-in-one.
"Coming off the spring, Jordan will be viewed as one of the top players in the Big Ten and is in line to leave Wisconsin as one of the best ever to wear the Motion W," Burcin said.
Sophomore Nick Robinson
Robinson registered the fourth-best scoring average by a freshman in Wisconsin history last year and finished in the top five at both the Charleston Shootout and the Boilermaker Invitational. In August, he placed fourth at the Washington State Men's Amateur Championship, carding a 4-under par 210 in the 54-hole tournament.
"We are expecting big things from Nick coming off a successful spring semester where he had chances to win at Purdue and Big Tens," said Burcin. "His strong finish to the summer should give him the kick start he needs for this fall."
Freshman Sam Anderson
Anderson, the top-ranked high school player in Wisconsin, won the Mid-American Junior Golf Tour event at Fox Bend Golf Club in Oswego, Illinois in May. Then, in July, he tied for sixth at the Wisconsin State Amateur, finishing the 72-hole tournament at +2.
"We are very excited to have Sam join the Badgers as the top player in the state," Burcin said. "He had strong showings this summer both at a national level and at the state level."
Freshman Griffin Barela
Barela is ranked No. 32 in the American Junior Golf Association Rolex Rankings. He recorded three top-10 finishes at AJGA events this summer, placing second at the AJGA WinCraft/McArthur Towel & Sports Future Legends event in Waukesha in July, fourth at the Hale Irwin Colorado Junior in early June and tied for ninth at the Polo Golf Junior Classic in New Jersey in late June. The Lakewood, Colorado native then tied for sixth at the Colorado Golf Association Amateur Championship in early August.Â
"Griffin comes in as one of the top ranked players in the country," said Burcin. "He had several top finishes in national junior and amateur events and we're excited to see him in Badger red."
Freshman Robbie Morway
Morway joins the Badgers after qualifying for the Wisconsin State High School tournament four times. He finished among the top six in each of the last two seasons, including a fourth-place showing as a senior.Â
"Robbie comes from a strong high school program at Homestead, where he is the second-most decorated player in school history behind current PGA Tour player, Jordan Niebrugge," Burcin said.
Heading into this weekend's opening tournament, Burcin sees the summer's results as cause for optimism.
"Part of being in our program is we look at summer as an important time for improvement and testing your game regionally and nationally," Burcin said. "When players compete favorably during the summer on a national stage it usually equals a jump in their college season. Â
"Coming off of what our young guys accomplished last season, the leadership Eddie will provide, and what these freshmen will bring to the table, we are very, very excited about this season and the direction of the program. The sky is the limit for this squad if we stay consistent in our focus and commitment."
Players Mentioned
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