University of Minnesota Athletics
11th Annual Gopher Invite Approaches
9/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Gopher Invitational
When: Sunday, Sept. 13-Monday, Sept. 14 (tee times starting at 7:30 a.m.)
Where: Windsong Farm Golf Club -- Independence, Minn.
Admission: Free
About the Course: Par 71 -- 7,152 yards
Live Scoring: GolfStat.com
PDFs: Round 1 Tee Times | Round 2 Tee Times
Minnesota men's will begin its 2015-16 men's golf season with the 11th annual Gopher Invitational. This will mark the third playing of the event at Windsong Farm Golf Club, and the beginning of John Carlson's fifth season as Minnesota's head coach.
The strong field of 15 includes nine Golfstat top-50 and eight Golfweek top-50 teams from last season. 2014 Gopher Invitational champion Baylor and individual medalist Victor Wiggins of Charlotte both return. SMU, which competed as a team at the NCAA Championships, will be part of the field.
The Golden Gophers are coming off their third consecutive top-three finish at the Big Ten Championships. Minnesota returns eight from last year's squad and welcomes four newcomers.
After a fifth-place tie that helped his team tie for third at the conference tournament, returning junior Jose Mendez played as an individual at the NCAA Bremerton Regional. He owns a career scoring average of 71.86 and is a two-time All-Big Ten First Team honoree (2014 conference co-medalist).
Jon DuToit is the Gophers' senior team member, and has finished in the top 25 of all three Big Ten Championships in which he has played. He is one of the team's tri-captains along with Mendez and junior Grady Meyer.
Sophomores Riley Johnson, Runar Arnorsson and Charlie Duensing all return from last year's Big Ten lineup. Juniors Matt Rachey and William Leaf are also back from last year.
Freshmen Tom Vining, Peter Jones and Campbell Fisher and junior transfer Justin Doeden will make their collegiate debut at the Gopher Invitational.
Gopher Invitational Team Capsules
Baylor
Third consecutive appearance at the Gopher Invitational...won in 2014...placed seventh at the 2015 Big 12 Championship...ended the season in sixth place at the 2015 NCAA Bremerton Regional...placed third in three regular season tournaments.
California
Fourth straight appearance at the Gopher Invitational...placed second in 2014...won four regular season tournaments in 2014-15...seventh at both the Pac-12 Championship and the NCAA Lubbock Regional (KK Limbashut tied for fourth in Lubbock).
Charlotte
Playing in its sixth Gopher Invite...finished third last year, with Victor Wiggins capturing the individual title...won 2015 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional...22nd at NCAA Championships (Riley Davenport tied for eighth)...fourth in stroke play at C-USA Championships.
East Tennessee State
Second appearance...won the 2015 Southland Conference Championship...Adrian Meronk named SoCon Golfer of the Year, Fred Warren named Coach of the Year...seventh at NCAA San Diego Regional (Gudmunder Kristjansson advanced to nationals).
Iowa
Sixth Gopher Invite appearance...earned six top-five finishes in the 2014-15 season...second at the 2015 Big Ten Championships, with Carson Schaake earning medalist honors...placed sixth at the NCAA Yale Regional.
Iowa State
Third appearance...had nine top-five finishes in 12 tournaments in 2015...won the Hawkeye Invitational ...placed fourth at the 2015 Big 12 Championships...eighth at the NCAA Bremerton Regional...Nick Voke (two-time medalist last year) returns.
Kent State
Sixth consecutive appearance at the Gopher Invitational...finished fifth at the 2015 MAC Championship (returner Ian Holt finished second)...three top-5 finishes in 2014-15...All-MAC selection Josh Whalen returns.
Michigan
First trip to the Gopher Invitational... had three top-five finishes in 2015, including a Wolverine Intercollegiate win...seventh at the 2015 NCAA Bremerton Regional (Kyle Mueller tied for second and advanced to the NCAA Championships)...11th at the Big Ten Championships.
Michigan State
Fifth time at the Gopher Invitational...four top-five finishes in 2014-15, including a win at the Fighting Irish Gridiron Golf Classic...placed ninth at the Big Ten Championships...returns top Big Ten finishes Charlie Netzel and Sam Weatherheard (tied for 23rd).
New Mexico
Making its fourth appearance at the Gopher Invite...finished ninth at the 2015 NCAA San Diego Regional...fourth at the Mountain West Championship...won two tournaments...graduated three-time All-American Gavin Green but returns six members from last year's team.
Oklahoma
First appearance at the Gopher Invite since 2012...2015 NCAA San Diego Regional champion (Michael Gellerman and Max McGreevy tied for second, Grant Hirschman for 12th)...28th at the NCAA Championships...sixth at the Big 12 Championship...won three tournaments and earned 10 top-five finishes.
Pepperdine
Second Gopher Invite appearance...finished 11th at the 2015 NCAA Bremerton Regional (returner Frederick Wedel tied for 33rd)...won the WCC Championships, with returner Cody McManus claiming medalist honors...turned in three top-five tournament finishes in 2014-15.
SMU
Ninth appearance at the Gopher Invite... finished 14th at the 2015 NCAA Championships after winning the Noblesville Regional...Bryson DeChambeau, who is playing in the Walker Cup, won the 2015 NCAA and U.S. Amateur titles...team took second at the AAC Championship.
St. John's (Minn.)
Fourth consecutive appearance in the Gopher Invitational...finished third at the MIAC Championships last fall...Ryan Gallagher played at the NCAA Division III Championships last year.
More information at gopherinvitational.com.
