University of Missouri
Tiger Invitational
@MizzouMensGolf Set to Host Second Consecutive Tiger Invitational
4/7/2018 2:50:00 PM | Men's Golf
Tigers look to win second straight Tiger Invitational, third event this year
COLUMBIA, Mo. – In what will be its last event before the postseason begins, Mizzou Men's Golf will look to defend its home course, as the program is set to host the Tiger Invitational at the Club at Old Hawthorne for a second year in a row. Head coach Mark Leroux's squad dominated the event a year ago, winning by 18 strokes. Four of the five Tigers that competed in the event finished in the Top-20 overall.
The field at the Tiger consists of 19 teams, including in-state rival Missouri State, Kansas State, Creighton, Illinois State and others. The event will serve as the Black & Gold's postseason tune-up, as the Tiger Invitational will mark the conclusion of the 2017-18 regular season.
Reclaiming the top spot for the Tigers in his final regular season event is senior Hayden Buckley (Belden, Miss.), who will be looking to close out his historic final campaign with a strong showing on his home course. Buckley fell just short at this event a year ago, losing to former Tiger golfer Linus Lilliedahl by just a stroke to finish in second place despite his stellar third round 67 (75-70-67—212). Buckley figures to be a major player in the individual championship chase this spring, as his stroke average of 69.63 is ranked ninth nationally. The Tiger Invitational will be his last event before the stretch run, and he could add a fourth individual championship trophy to his season if he wins on his home course.
Following Buckley is fellow senior Luigi Botta (Cueno, Italy), who will also play his last regular season event ever at home. Botta has had more chances to play this season than in any season since he was a freshman, and he has performed well for Leroux. In his first and only competitive tournament this season, Botta led the team at an Auburn Tiger Invitational event stacked with great SEC competition, finishing tied for 19th overall. His only action last year came at the Tiger Invitational at Old Hawthorne where he played as an individual. He finished the event tied for 70th overall.
Freshman Jamie Stewart (Renfrewshire, Scotland) slots into the third spot in the Black & Gold lineup, and is coming off one of his better events this season. Stewart finished tied for 14th at the Hootie, leading the team.
Reentering the competitive lineup is freshman Jack Parker (Columbia, Mo.) who will get the opportunity to start his first event hosted in his hometown. Parker has not played competitively for Mizzou since the SunTrust Gator Invitational in January, where he finished tied for 58th overall.
Senior Trevor Ullestad (Jewell, Iowa) rounds out the competitive lineup for the Tigers. Like Buckley and Botta, Ullestad will get to play his final regular season event ever on his home course. Ullestad has been playing some of the best golf of his career recently, registering a 16th place finish and the GCU Invitational (70-72-73—215) and a 29th place finish at the Hootie at Bulls Bay (71-76-71—218). His three rounds under par over that two-tournament stretch nearly matched his total up to that point (4).
Mizzou fans are invited out to the Club at Old Hawthorne to watch the Tigers play. Rounds One and Two will be played on Monday, April 9, and the tournament's final round will be played on Tuesday, April 10. Round One will tee off at 8 a.m. on Monday, Round Two will immediately follow Round One, and Round Three is set to tee off at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
For all the latest on Mizzou Men's Golf, stay tuned to MUTigers.com or follow the program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@MizzouMensGolf).
