University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Invitational Starts Saturday
9/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Gopher Invitational Live Scoring: Desktop
Gopher Individual Live Scoring: Desktop
Gopher Invitational Tee Times: Round 1 | 2
Gopher Individual Tee Times: Round 1 | 2
Tournament Website: gopherinvitational.com
The University of Minnesota men's golf team will welcome a strong field to the 12th annual Gopher Invitational. The tournament runs Sept. 10-11 and is free and open to the public. It will be held at Windsong Farm Golf Club in Independence, Minn., for the fourth time.
For the first time, the Gopher Invitational will be accompanied by an individual tournament. The Gopher Individual will take place down the road from Windsong at Pioneer Creek Golf Course.
Both tournaments will feature 36 holes on Saturday, Sept. 10 and 18 holes on Sunday, Sept. 11. Round 1 Individual tee times will start at 7:15 a.m., and Round 1 Invitational tee times will start at 7:30 a.m. Round 2 play will be continuous, with an estimated start time of 12:20. Round 3 for both will begin at 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
The field: Arkansas, California, Charlotte, Iowa, Kent State, Michigan State, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pepperdine, San Diego State, SMU, St. John's (Minn.) and Washington will join the Gophers at Windsong. Additional teams with entries in the Gopher Individual are Concordia St. Paul and St. Thomas.
Arkansas, California and Oklahoma played in the NCAA Championships last season. Seven other teams in the Invitational field qualified for NCAA Regionals. Five of the teams finished first or second at their conference tournaments.
The courses: Windsong is a par-71 course which will play at yardages around 7,300 each round this weekend. Pioneer Creek will be a par 72 and play at 6,953 yards.
The lineup: Head coach John Carlson's Gophers will have "A" and "B" teams as well as individuals playing in the Invitational. Riley Johnson, Justin Doeden, Grady Meyer, Thomas Longbella and William Leaf will make up the "A" team. Johnson is the Gophers' top returning Gopher Invite finisher, tying for 17th at last year's tournament. Doeden, Meyer and Leaf are three of the team's five seniors, and Longbella is one of three freshmen.
Transfer Alex Uloth, who won the state amateur this summer, will lead the "B" team. The Gophers' 18-hole record-holder, Rúnar Arnorsson, and junior Charlie Duensing take the next two spots. 2014 Big Ten champion Jose Mendez, looking to bounce back from an injury-plagued season, and sophomore Peter Jones fill out the "B" roster.
Redshirt freshman Campbell Fisher and true freshman Mason Fiddle will make their debut as individuals, joined by senior Matt Rachey.
For spectators: There is no cost to attend either tournament, and spectators may arrive and depart as they please. Food trucks will be on site at Windsong with meals available for purchase. A merchandise tent will also be set up near the clubhouse at Windsong.
Gopher Invitational Team Capsules
Arkansas
Seventh appearance at the Gopher Invitational…finished 12th in 2016 NCAA Championships stroke play...tied for second at NCAA Regional in Kohler, Wis...tied for third at SEC Championship...top returner is junior Alvaro Ortiz, who held a 72.9 stroke average and claimed one tournament victory last year...ranked 20th in Golfweek's preseason poll.
California
Fifth appearance at the Gopher Invitational…tied for 10th at the 2016 NCAA Championships...placed fourth at the NCAA Marana (Ariz.) Regional...second at the Pac-12 Championships...Bears return NCAA Championships players Jamie Cheatham, Sebastian Crampton, KK Limbhasut and Collin Morikawa.
Charlotte
Seventh appearance at the Gopher Invitational…tied for eighth at the 2016 C-USA Championship...returning senior Seth Gandy was named All-Conference USA and played in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional...2014 Gopher Invitational champion Victor Wiggins is also a senior for the 49ers.
Iowa
Seventh appearance at the Gopher Invitational…finished 10th at the 2016 NCAA Albuquerque Regional...second at the Big Ten Championships...Hawkeyes return three Big Ten top-10 finishers in Carson Schaake, Raymond Knoll and Matthew Wallker...turned in five top-five team finishes last year.
Kent State
Seventh appearance at the Gopher Invitational…took 12th place at the 2016 NCAA Kohler (Wis.) Regional...won the MAC Championship for the seventh time in the past eight years....Flashes return all five members of their NCAA Regional roster, including PING All-Region choices Ian Holt and Chase Johnson.
Michigan State
Sixth appearance at the Gopher Invitational…tied for eighth at the 2016 NCAA Stillwater (Okla.) Regional...tied for fourth at the Big Ten Championships...senior Sam Weatherhead won one tournament last year and led returners with a 73.35 scoring average.
New Mexico
Fifth appearance at the Gopher Invitational…tied for seventh at the 2016 NCAA Albuquerque Regional...finished second at the Mountain West Championships...All-Mountain West selections Gustavo Morantes (72.46 scoring average) and Andrej Bevins (73.29) lead the Lobos' returners.
Oklahoma
Third appearance at the Gopher Invitational…won last year's Gopher Invite, with returning senior Max McGreevy (team-best 72.13 scoring average) as medalist...Sooners return four of five players who advanced to match play quarterfinals at the 2016 NCAA Championships...finished second in the NCAA Stillwater (Okla.) Regional...fourth at the Big 12 Championship.
Pepperdine
Third appearance at the Gopher Invitational…finished ninth at the 2016 NCAA Franklin (Tenn.) Regional...second at the WCC Championships...WCC Freshman of the Year Sahith Theegala posted a 71.06 scoring average...Waves posted 10 top-five team finishes.
San Diego State
First appearance at the Gopher Invitational…finished 25th in NCAA Championship stroke play...tied for fifth at the Albuquerque Regional...tied for fourth at the Mountain West Championships...PING All-America Second Team honoree and Mountain West Golfer of the Year Nahum Mendoza III (71.18 scoring average) leads returners.
SMU
Tenth appearance at the Gopher Invitational…won two tournaments in 2015-16 and turned in two other top-five finishes...returners Ben Baxter and Andrew Buchanan won U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship...senior Alex Higgs had a 73.59 average last year.
St. John's (Minn.)
Fifth appearance at the Gopher Invitational…finished fifth at last year's MIAC Championships...ranked 24th in Golfweek's Division III preseason poll...GCAA All-Region honorees Mack Farley and Ryan Gallagher return as seniors...Farley and Gallagher led the Johnnies with 74.8 scoring averages.
Washington
Third appearance at the Gopher Invitational…placed third at the 2016 NCAA Marana (Ariz.) Regional...two-time All-Pac 12 First Team selection Corey Pereira held a 71.8 scoring average through the regular season and won two tournaments...Huskies won three tournaments as a team.
