Marquette University Athletics
Golfers to Begin 2003 Spring Season
2/20/2003 12:00:00āÆAM | Men's Golf
Feb. 20, 2003
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Upcoming Tournament
Dick Whittcoff/USF Invitational
USF Golf Course; Tampa, Fla.
6,809-yard, par 71; 54 holes
February 21-23, 2003
The Marquette men's golf team will open up the 2003 spring season with the first of five tournaments. MU will be playing in the Dick Whittcoff/USF Intercollegiate, hosted by the University of South Florida. Marquette will have nearly a month off before it returns to action after the USF Intercollegiate.
Tournament Format and Field
Three 18-hole rounds will complete the 2002 John Piper Intercollegiate. The first round will be held beginning at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21. The second and third rounds will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22 and Sunday, Feb. 23.
Joining Marquette in this year's 15-team USF Intercollegiate are: Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Chattanooga, Columbus State, DePaul, Florida Atlantic, Florida Southern, Francis Marion, Jacksonville State, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, South Alabama, South Florida and UCF. Teams will field five golfers with the four best scores of each round going toward the team score.
The University of South Florida Golf Course
This course is long and demanding with one of the highest slope ratings for a public course in the Tampa area. It was cut out of a swamp that still frequently comes into play. Many of the greens are elevated, and some natural wildlife is visible on the course.
The front nine features two par fives and two par threes. The back nine lacks the second par five. After the 538-yard par five 14th hole, players will have the difficult chance to get a stroke back on the challenging 185-yard par three 16th.
Last Time at the Ron Smith/USF Invitational
Last season, Marquette finished 17th in the 18-team Ron Smith/USF Invitational. Held in late February, Marquette shot a 631, 47 shots behind tournament winner Georgia Southern. The Eagles won the rain-shortened event, shooting 286-288-574.
Florida Southern's Steve Sokol won the individual event with a 138, winning by three strokes. Nathan Colson was MU's highest finisher, shooting a 10-over, 152, to finish in a tie for 42nd.
This Season
MU has had three top five finishes as a team, finishing the fall with a third place at the Ironhorse Intercollegiate. MU also finished third at the Blue Demon Invitational and was fifth at the John Piper to begin the year.
Sophomore Nathan Colson picked up a win at the Ironhorse, his second career victory. Senior Matt Hilton leads the team in scoring at 73.73, with Colson a close second at 73.93
The Lineup
Participating for MU are Matt Hilton, Nathan Colson, Kyle Murphy, Jason Gaare and Steve Sass.
Murphy provides depth at the no. 3 spot. He scored 76.27 in the fall and led MU in scoring at the Blue Demon Invitational. Gaare played in three events in the fall, averaging 78.00. Sass played in all five, scoring a 77.60.
MU Signs Two in Fall
Head coach Tim Grogan has signed two players to national letters of intent for next season. Grogan has signed Mike Bielawski and Charlie Delsman to letters of intent. Bielawski, from West Allis Hale, was the Wisconsin Junior Player of the Year in 2002. Delsman, from Hartland Arrowhead, was the no. 1 qualifier for the U.S. junior amateur.
