University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Invitational Shifts to Prestwick in 2017
12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
The University of Minnesota women's golf team announced Thursday that its season-opening home event, the Minnesota Invitational presented by Land O'Lakes, will move to Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury. The tournament will be contested September 11-12, 2017.
"We are extremely excited to have our tournament at Prestwick next season," said head coach Michele Redman. "The field is going to be our best one yet, and will provide a great challenge for our team and the rest of the competitors. Additionally, we are grateful for David and Jeanne Mooty's support of our program and all of Gopher athletics."
Located in the eastern Twin Cities suburb of Woodbury, Prestwick was ranked a top-three public course by the Star Tribune and a 4.5 star facility by Golf Digest. The par-72 course will play approximately 6,250 yards from the championship tees during the tournament.
"My wife Jeanne and I have hosted the University of Minnesota women's golf team at Tonto Verde, Arizona the past two springs. We have so enjoyed spending the time with Michele Redman, John Cleary and the women on the team. All of them are dedicated, friendly, and wonderful people, as well as great golfers," said David Mooty, owner of Prestwick Golf Club and an ardent supporter of Gopher golf. "We had also volunteered for the Minnesota Invitational at the Minikahda Club the past two years. So, when Michele asked us to consider having our club host the event in 2017, we were excited to do so."
The 2017 Minnesota Invitational is slated to feature 15 teams. Along with the host Gophers and 2016 co-champions Purdue and Furman, two other Big Ten squads will compete in Michigan State and Wisconsin. Joining them will be BYU, East Carolina, Georgia, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, North Texas, USC, and Virginia Tech.
Minnesota will pay tribute to one of their longtime supporters as well, as the Gophers plan to honor Leslie Turner at the 2017 tournament. Turner passed away in October after a life involved in Gophers and local women's golf among other charitable commitments.
"Prestwick is one of the finest and most beautiful daily-fee golf courses in Minnesota," Mooty added. "It is always in exceptional condition and will offer the women in the Invitational a fair yet difficult challenge. We look forward to working with Michele and her staff as we prepare for next September."
The Minnesota Invitational presented by Land O'Lakes is one of two home events for the Gophers next season, as it was announced last week that Minnesota will host the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M at Olympic Hills Golf Club in Eden Prairie.
