University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Seek Momentum at AutoTrader Classic
10/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 14, 2011
After three tournaments, the Minnesota men's golf team is past the halfway point of its fall season. Head coach John Carlson hopes his team can build momentum in the last two events before winter. Up next is the AutoTrader Collegiate Classic in Duluth, Ga. The first 36 holes will be on Monday, Oct. 17, with the final 18 on Tuesday.
The AutoTrader Classic will give the Golden Gophers a chance to show that their focus on putting technique during recent practices has paid off. It will also affect the outcome of Carlson's goals for the rest of the fall season.
"I think we want to be solidified with our five- or six-man team that we're going to go into the spring with," he said. "I think we're working close to that goal right now. We also need to be on the good side of the .500 mark."
So far this fall, junior Robert Bell has been an important player for Minnesota. He was named Co-Big Ten Player of the Week after a fifth-place finish at the Fighting Irish Classic, and his team-best stroke average of 73 is more than six shots lower than his average in 2010-11.
"It's been fun to watch Robert's progression," Carlson said. "He's always been a great putter. His ball striking is certainly at a level now that he can compete every single time he goes out."
Bell, Erik Van Rooyen (a close second with a 73.11 stroke average), Jon Trasamar, David Haley Jr., and Tim Peterzen make up the Gophers' travel squad to Duluth.
The course: Berkeley Hills Country Club is a par-72 course. It will play at 6,694 yards, and the Gophers will be able to hit more irons off the tee than in previous tournaments on longer courses. The course is home to the PGA Tour's Stewart Cink, who has praised its greens.
The field: In addition to Minnesota and host Georgia State, Chattanooga, East Carolina, Furman, Georgia Southern, Jacksonville, Kentucky, UNC-Greensboro, North Florida, VCU, Wofford will fill out the field. The Gophers are 0-1 against both East Carolina and UNC-Greensboro this fall.
After the Auto Trader Classic, Minnestota has only one event left on its fall schedule, the Kiawah Invitational (Oct. 30-Nov. 1).
Players Mentioned
