Bowling Green State University Athletics
Monday, September 14
Bowling Green, Ohio
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Bowling Green State University
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John Piper Intercollegiate
John Powers Begins Senior Campaign as Falcons Host John Piper Intercollegiate
Falcons Host John Piper Intercollegiate Starting Monday
September 10, 2009 | Men's Golf
The Falcons of Bowling Green State University tee off the fall leg of the 2009 men's golf schedule on Monday, September 14th. This year, the Falcons begin the season at home, as they host the John Piper Intercollegiate.
The John Piper Intercollegiate is a two-day, 54-hole tournament at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green, which presents a par-72, 7,064-foot course. Golfers will play two rounds on Monday, September 14, with the first round beginning at 8:00am. The tournament will be completed with a single round on Tuesday, September 15.
Thirteen teams will be participating in this year's tournament. They are: BGSU, Cleveland State, Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne, Ohio University, Owens Community College, St. Bonaventure, Dayton, Indianapolis, Loyola-Chicago, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Valparaiso, and Youngstown State.
Beginning his 11th season as head coach of the Falcons, Garry Winger will be leading an experienced eight-man squad led by four seniors. Joining those seniors are a junior, two sophomores, and one incoming freshman.
For the second consecutive year, senior Matt Schneider enters the season as the Falcons' top veteran. During the 2008-09 season, Schneider posted a 73.82 average. He is the defending champion of the John Piper Intercollegiate; in last year's tourney, Schneider posted a 2-under-par 214 and won on the first playoff hole.
Schneider finished in the top five in three other tournaments and was named the MAC Golfer of the Week three times. At the MAC Championships, Schneider posted a 5-under-par 67 for the third round, placed fifth overall, and became the first Falcon to ever be named to the MAC All-Tournament team. Following the season, Schneider was named first-team All-MAC. He is the first Falcon to earn that honor since 1995.
Another returning senior, John Powers, looks to continue his steady play. From the 2007-08 season to 2008-09, Powers improved his per-round average by nearly a full stroke, and his 74.53 mark last season was second on the team. Powers placed sixth at last year's John Piper Intercollegiate and followed that gem with another at the Earl Yestingsmeier Intercollegiate. In that tourney, Powers opened with a personal season low of 68 in the first round. He followed that with a 69 in the second round, ultimately tying for second place with fellow Falcon Matt Schneider. Both earned MAC Golfer of the Week honors for their efforts.
The Falcons' two other seniors are Scott Blackburn and Chad Walker. Blackburn, a native of Westlake, Ohio, posted an average of 82.44 through nine rounds last season. His best round came in the second round of the UK Bluegrass Invitational, where Blackburn shot an 80. Walker hails from St. Thomas, Ontario and competed in four tournaments last year. Through 12 rounds, his average was 79.92, and Walker posted a season low of 73 at the Earl Yestingsmeier Intercollegiate.
The lone junior on this year's Falcon squad is Bryan Mitchell. The Medina, Ohio native shot a 78.46 average through 28 rounds during the 2008-09 season. His season-best finish came at the Palmas Del Mar in Puerto Rico, where he placed 30th (80-77-71). The final round score of 71 was Mitchell's best round of the year.
Sophomore Drew Preston enters his second campaign with the Falcons fresh off of a successful debut season. Preston wasted no time in making his mark on the team, as he finished third in the Rutherford Intercollegiate, his first college tournament. His final round of 71 was his best round of the season, and his performance earned him MAC Golfer of the Week honors. Preston finished in the top 20 at the John Piper Intercollegiate and shot a 300 to finish 25th at the MAC Championships. He also matched his season-best round of 71 at the Louisville and Boilermaker Invitationals.
Overall, Preston averaged 76.06 through 31 rounds for the 2008-09 season. Last month, Preston competed at the 2009 U.S. Amateur Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His opening round 74 tied for 62nd among 312 golfers.
Fellow sophomore Parker Hewit joins Preston as a solid base for the squad's future. Hewit competed in all 34 rounds during the 2008-09 season and was one of only two Falcons to do so. His 75.76 average was third on the team, and he posted a season low 69 at the Xavier Invitational. Hewit's best finish was 28th at both the John Piper Intercollegiate and the Louisville Invitational. He also finished tied for 30th at the MAC Championships.
Rounding out this year's roster is freshman Wes Gates. Gates comes to Bowling Green from Northville High School in Novi, Michigan. According to the junior golf scoreboard website, Gates was ranked sixth out of all 2009 graduates in the state of Michigan. The same website ranks Gates 168th in the country. Gates finished ninth at the AJGA Randy Wise Junior Open.
The John Piper Intercollegiate is a two-day, 54-hole tournament at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green, which presents a par-72, 7,064-foot course. Golfers will play two rounds on Monday, September 14, with the first round beginning at 8:00am. The tournament will be completed with a single round on Tuesday, September 15.
Thirteen teams will be participating in this year's tournament. They are: BGSU, Cleveland State, Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne, Ohio University, Owens Community College, St. Bonaventure, Dayton, Indianapolis, Loyola-Chicago, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Valparaiso, and Youngstown State.
Beginning his 11th season as head coach of the Falcons, Garry Winger will be leading an experienced eight-man squad led by four seniors. Joining those seniors are a junior, two sophomores, and one incoming freshman.
For the second consecutive year, senior Matt Schneider enters the season as the Falcons' top veteran. During the 2008-09 season, Schneider posted a 73.82 average. He is the defending champion of the John Piper Intercollegiate; in last year's tourney, Schneider posted a 2-under-par 214 and won on the first playoff hole.
Schneider finished in the top five in three other tournaments and was named the MAC Golfer of the Week three times. At the MAC Championships, Schneider posted a 5-under-par 67 for the third round, placed fifth overall, and became the first Falcon to ever be named to the MAC All-Tournament team. Following the season, Schneider was named first-team All-MAC. He is the first Falcon to earn that honor since 1995.
Another returning senior, John Powers, looks to continue his steady play. From the 2007-08 season to 2008-09, Powers improved his per-round average by nearly a full stroke, and his 74.53 mark last season was second on the team. Powers placed sixth at last year's John Piper Intercollegiate and followed that gem with another at the Earl Yestingsmeier Intercollegiate. In that tourney, Powers opened with a personal season low of 68 in the first round. He followed that with a 69 in the second round, ultimately tying for second place with fellow Falcon Matt Schneider. Both earned MAC Golfer of the Week honors for their efforts.
The Falcons' two other seniors are Scott Blackburn and Chad Walker. Blackburn, a native of Westlake, Ohio, posted an average of 82.44 through nine rounds last season. His best round came in the second round of the UK Bluegrass Invitational, where Blackburn shot an 80. Walker hails from St. Thomas, Ontario and competed in four tournaments last year. Through 12 rounds, his average was 79.92, and Walker posted a season low of 73 at the Earl Yestingsmeier Intercollegiate.
The lone junior on this year's Falcon squad is Bryan Mitchell. The Medina, Ohio native shot a 78.46 average through 28 rounds during the 2008-09 season. His season-best finish came at the Palmas Del Mar in Puerto Rico, where he placed 30th (80-77-71). The final round score of 71 was Mitchell's best round of the year.
Sophomore Drew Preston enters his second campaign with the Falcons fresh off of a successful debut season. Preston wasted no time in making his mark on the team, as he finished third in the Rutherford Intercollegiate, his first college tournament. His final round of 71 was his best round of the season, and his performance earned him MAC Golfer of the Week honors. Preston finished in the top 20 at the John Piper Intercollegiate and shot a 300 to finish 25th at the MAC Championships. He also matched his season-best round of 71 at the Louisville and Boilermaker Invitationals.
Overall, Preston averaged 76.06 through 31 rounds for the 2008-09 season. Last month, Preston competed at the 2009 U.S. Amateur Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His opening round 74 tied for 62nd among 312 golfers.
Fellow sophomore Parker Hewit joins Preston as a solid base for the squad's future. Hewit competed in all 34 rounds during the 2008-09 season and was one of only two Falcons to do so. His 75.76 average was third on the team, and he posted a season low 69 at the Xavier Invitational. Hewit's best finish was 28th at both the John Piper Intercollegiate and the Louisville Invitational. He also finished tied for 30th at the MAC Championships.
Rounding out this year's roster is freshman Wes Gates. Gates comes to Bowling Green from Northville High School in Novi, Michigan. According to the junior golf scoreboard website, Gates was ranked sixth out of all 2009 graduates in the state of Michigan. The same website ranks Gates 168th in the country. Gates finished ninth at the AJGA Randy Wise Junior Open.
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