Bowling Green State University Athletics
Men's Golf Ready To Tee Off 2010 Season
August 27, 2010 | Men's Golf
For the Bowling Green State University men's golf team, the 2009-2010 season was one big roller coaster ride. Now, as a new season dawns for the Falcons, a year of transition awaits.
Last year, the Falcons began as red hot as a team can possibly manage. The Orange and Brown captured both the team and individual crowns at each of their first two tournaments. At the Earl Yestingsmeier Intercollegiate, BGSU's competitiors smashed the school record for score after 36-holes. The team shot 556 over the first two rounds, breaking the previous record of 562. The individual round of 276 was one shy of the team record for 18 holes. Over the rest of the season, the Falcons earned three other top-five finishes, including a runner-up spot at the BSU Cardinal Classic.
Unfortunately, the team ended both the fall and spring slates in much different fashion. At the MAC Championships, the Falcons improved in each of the first three rounds, even registering a 298 in the third frame. However, a final round 314 dropped BGSU into a ninth place finish.
The end of the season meant the end of an era for Bowling Green golf. Half of last year's roster comprised the senior class and will not be back with the team in 2010-2011.
Of the losses, the biggest will be Matt Schneider, perhaps the most decorated golfer in BGSU history. In his four years with the Falcons, he set school records for career scoring average (74.43), most wins in a career (3) and most wins in a season (2). He was named first team All-MAC in his junior year and second team All-MAC in his senior year. In his last two seasons, he was named MAC Golfer of the Week on five different occasions.
Also gone is John Powers, whose 75.36 average was third-best on last year's squad. Powers had three top-ten finishes in 2009-2010, including a second-place finish at the Earl Yestingsmeier Intercollegiate, where he posted a career-low 67 in the second round.
Both Scott Blackburn and Chad Walker also concluded their BGSU careers last season. Walker had a season-low 71 at the Palmas Del Mar on the way to an average of 78.78 in nine rounds in 2009-10. Blackburn played in two tournaments (six rounds) in 2009-10. He registered a low round of 75 at the John Piper Intercollegiate.
Returning to the Falcon squad this season are four players, who will be joined by five newcomers who hope to build the future of BGSU men's golf. This year's roster will be very young. It is composed of one senior, two juniors, three sophomores (including two transfers from smaller schools) and three freshmen.
Let's take a look at this year's team:
SENIORS
Bryan Mitchell enters his fourth year at Bowling Green and will be the lone senior on this year's edition of the Falcons. However, Mitchell will only be entering his third year of competition after redshirting last year. During the 2008-09 season, Mitchell averaged 78.46 in 28 rounds. He had a season-low 71 at that year's Palmas Del Mar and recorded back-to-back rounds of 74 and 75 at the MAC Championships. Mitchell also had a 71 in his freshman season at the John Piper Intercollegiate, a score that led to a top-20 finish.
JUNIORS
Bowling Green returns two juniors for the 2010-2011 season, Parker Hewit and Drew Preston.
Hewit played in 33 of the team's 36 rounds last season, missing only the Palmas Del Mar tournament. In his 33 rounds, Hewit averaged 75.45 shots per round, which was an improvement over the 75.76 average from his freshman campaign. He had two top-20 finishes during the 2009-10 season. At the Renaissance Invitational, Hewit shot 213 (74-69-70) for 18th place. Then, at the Rutherford Intercollegiate, he carded a final round 73 on his way to a 16th place finish. His season-low round of 68 came at the UK Bluegrass Invitational, one of four rounds of 70 or better for his year.
At the end of June, Hewit competed in the Mid-Ohio Golf Association Invitational. After 15 holes of the third round, Hewit was two-over-par and several shots behind the leaders. He proceeded to shoot -9 over his final 21 holes and finished seven-under-par, earning a one stroke victory in the event.
Preston returns to the Falcons after doing some record-breaking last year. Playing in all of the team's 36 rounds in 2009-10, Preston recorded an average of 75.14, second-best on the team behind Matt Schneider. In his second event of the season, Preston won the Earl Yestingsmeier Intercollegiate with a score of 209 (65-67-77). His score of 132 after 36 holes set a new BGSU record, breaking the old one by six strokes. His first-round 65 was just two shots shy of the school record, and his total of 209 was one shy of the school record for 54 holes. Preston earned MAC Golfer of the Week honors for his efforts.
In his freshman season, Preston debuted with style by recording a 218 (75-72-71) at the Rutherford Intercollegiate, finishing third and earning MAC Golfer of the Week honors.
SOPHOMORES
This year's sophomore class includes three players -- one returns after a strong freshman campaign, while two debut with BGSU after one-year stints at smaller colleges.
Much like Drew Preston before him, Wes Gates had a sizzling Falcon debut. At the 2009 John Piper Intercollegiate, Gates helped the Falcons to a team championship by shooting 218 (71-75-72) and tying for tenth place. The first-round 71 was Gates' season low, a score he would post twice more later in the season. One of those instances came in the following tournament. Again, Gates helped the Falcons to victory, this time at the Earl Yestingsmeier Intercollegiate. He tied for 16th place (his second of two top-20 finishes in 2009-10) after posting a total of 219 (74-71-74).
Gates reprised his low round of 71 at a very convenient time -- the MAC Championships -- posting that score in the third round. Overall, he averaged 76.53 and played in all of the team's 36 rounds last season.
Joining Gates in the sophomore class is Torey Brummett and Charlie Olson. Brummett comes to BGSU via Owens Community College, where he shot 144 (73-71) at the Kyle Ryman Memorial. Brummett is a graduate of Cardinal Stritch High School, where he served as team captain and earned first team All-District honors as a senior.
Charlie Olson transferred to the Falcons from Hope College. While there, he had a top-ten finish at the NCAA Regionals. A graduate of Suttons Bay High School, Olson had seven individual wins and earned first team All-State honors as a senior. He helped his team win a state championship in 2006 and was also an All-State honoree as a sophomore and a junior.
FRESHMEN
Bowling Green welcomes three freshmen to the team for the 2010-2011 season.
Morgan Dobbins graduated in the spring from Jackson High School. While there, he won the Ohio Division II state championship and earned first-team All-Ohio honors as a senior. He also earned medalist honors at the Sectional and District tournaments for Southeast Division II.
Chris Melvin joins the Falcons from afar -- he hails from Medfield, Mass., where he graduated from Medfield Senior High School. In 2009, Melvin was a Tri-Valley All Star and won his league's individual championship.
Joining the Orange and Brown from across the northern border is Spencer Berk, who graduated from Saunders High School in London, Ontario, Canada.
2010-11 SCHEDULE
The fall leg of this year's schedule includes six different tournaments in four states, including three different trips to Kentucky.
Up first, on Labor Day weekend, is a trip to Verona, N.Y. for the Turning Stone Tiger Intercollegiate. That tournament, held Sept. 5-6, is hosted by the University of Missouri.
One week later, the Falcons travel to Huntington, W.V. for the Marshall Invitatioinal from Sept. 13-14. The following week, travel takes Bowling Green to Louisville, KY for the two-day Cardinal Intercollegiate (Sept. 20-21).
The Orange and Brown host the John Piper Intercollegiate, their lone home tourney of the 2010-11 season, on September 27 and 28. The Falcons are the defending John Piper champions, and a BGSU golfer has earned medalist honors in each of the last two John Piper tournaments.
After a two-week break, the Falcons make a return trip to Kentucky, traveling to Hebron for the Bearcat Invitational. Aside from the John Piper, the Bearcat Invite is BGSU's only repeat tournament from last fall. In last year's edition, Bowling Green placed sixth as a team. Individually, Drew Preston will return to Hebron after posting a fifth-place finish in last year's tournament. In 2009, Preston carded a 220 (74-69-77) in the Bearcat tourney. This year's tournament runs from Oct. 11-12.
Bowling Green's final tournament of the fall schedule comes the following week in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, when the Falcons take part in the APSU (Austin Peay) Intercollegiate.
Please remember to return to BGSUFalcons.com throughout the year for up-to-date information about the 2010-11 Falcon men's golf team. Check back for updates on the spring schedule as it becomes available. You'll also find tournament previews and recaps, up-to-date statistics and game notes, as well as other exciting content.
Last year, the Falcons began as red hot as a team can possibly manage. The Orange and Brown captured both the team and individual crowns at each of their first two tournaments. At the Earl Yestingsmeier Intercollegiate, BGSU's competitiors smashed the school record for score after 36-holes. The team shot 556 over the first two rounds, breaking the previous record of 562. The individual round of 276 was one shy of the team record for 18 holes. Over the rest of the season, the Falcons earned three other top-five finishes, including a runner-up spot at the BSU Cardinal Classic.
Unfortunately, the team ended both the fall and spring slates in much different fashion. At the MAC Championships, the Falcons improved in each of the first three rounds, even registering a 298 in the third frame. However, a final round 314 dropped BGSU into a ninth place finish.
The end of the season meant the end of an era for Bowling Green golf. Half of last year's roster comprised the senior class and will not be back with the team in 2010-2011.
Of the losses, the biggest will be Matt Schneider, perhaps the most decorated golfer in BGSU history. In his four years with the Falcons, he set school records for career scoring average (74.43), most wins in a career (3) and most wins in a season (2). He was named first team All-MAC in his junior year and second team All-MAC in his senior year. In his last two seasons, he was named MAC Golfer of the Week on five different occasions.
Also gone is John Powers, whose 75.36 average was third-best on last year's squad. Powers had three top-ten finishes in 2009-2010, including a second-place finish at the Earl Yestingsmeier Intercollegiate, where he posted a career-low 67 in the second round.
Both Scott Blackburn and Chad Walker also concluded their BGSU careers last season. Walker had a season-low 71 at the Palmas Del Mar on the way to an average of 78.78 in nine rounds in 2009-10. Blackburn played in two tournaments (six rounds) in 2009-10. He registered a low round of 75 at the John Piper Intercollegiate.
Returning to the Falcon squad this season are four players, who will be joined by five newcomers who hope to build the future of BGSU men's golf. This year's roster will be very young. It is composed of one senior, two juniors, three sophomores (including two transfers from smaller schools) and three freshmen.
Let's take a look at this year's team:
SENIORS
Bryan Mitchell enters his fourth year at Bowling Green and will be the lone senior on this year's edition of the Falcons. However, Mitchell will only be entering his third year of competition after redshirting last year. During the 2008-09 season, Mitchell averaged 78.46 in 28 rounds. He had a season-low 71 at that year's Palmas Del Mar and recorded back-to-back rounds of 74 and 75 at the MAC Championships. Mitchell also had a 71 in his freshman season at the John Piper Intercollegiate, a score that led to a top-20 finish.
JUNIORS
Bowling Green returns two juniors for the 2010-2011 season, Parker Hewit and Drew Preston.
Hewit played in 33 of the team's 36 rounds last season, missing only the Palmas Del Mar tournament. In his 33 rounds, Hewit averaged 75.45 shots per round, which was an improvement over the 75.76 average from his freshman campaign. He had two top-20 finishes during the 2009-10 season. At the Renaissance Invitational, Hewit shot 213 (74-69-70) for 18th place. Then, at the Rutherford Intercollegiate, he carded a final round 73 on his way to a 16th place finish. His season-low round of 68 came at the UK Bluegrass Invitational, one of four rounds of 70 or better for his year.
At the end of June, Hewit competed in the Mid-Ohio Golf Association Invitational. After 15 holes of the third round, Hewit was two-over-par and several shots behind the leaders. He proceeded to shoot -9 over his final 21 holes and finished seven-under-par, earning a one stroke victory in the event.
Preston returns to the Falcons after doing some record-breaking last year. Playing in all of the team's 36 rounds in 2009-10, Preston recorded an average of 75.14, second-best on the team behind Matt Schneider. In his second event of the season, Preston won the Earl Yestingsmeier Intercollegiate with a score of 209 (65-67-77). His score of 132 after 36 holes set a new BGSU record, breaking the old one by six strokes. His first-round 65 was just two shots shy of the school record, and his total of 209 was one shy of the school record for 54 holes. Preston earned MAC Golfer of the Week honors for his efforts.
In his freshman season, Preston debuted with style by recording a 218 (75-72-71) at the Rutherford Intercollegiate, finishing third and earning MAC Golfer of the Week honors.
SOPHOMORES
This year's sophomore class includes three players -- one returns after a strong freshman campaign, while two debut with BGSU after one-year stints at smaller colleges.
Much like Drew Preston before him, Wes Gates had a sizzling Falcon debut. At the 2009 John Piper Intercollegiate, Gates helped the Falcons to a team championship by shooting 218 (71-75-72) and tying for tenth place. The first-round 71 was Gates' season low, a score he would post twice more later in the season. One of those instances came in the following tournament. Again, Gates helped the Falcons to victory, this time at the Earl Yestingsmeier Intercollegiate. He tied for 16th place (his second of two top-20 finishes in 2009-10) after posting a total of 219 (74-71-74).
Gates reprised his low round of 71 at a very convenient time -- the MAC Championships -- posting that score in the third round. Overall, he averaged 76.53 and played in all of the team's 36 rounds last season.
Joining Gates in the sophomore class is Torey Brummett and Charlie Olson. Brummett comes to BGSU via Owens Community College, where he shot 144 (73-71) at the Kyle Ryman Memorial. Brummett is a graduate of Cardinal Stritch High School, where he served as team captain and earned first team All-District honors as a senior.
Charlie Olson transferred to the Falcons from Hope College. While there, he had a top-ten finish at the NCAA Regionals. A graduate of Suttons Bay High School, Olson had seven individual wins and earned first team All-State honors as a senior. He helped his team win a state championship in 2006 and was also an All-State honoree as a sophomore and a junior.
FRESHMEN
Bowling Green welcomes three freshmen to the team for the 2010-2011 season.
Morgan Dobbins graduated in the spring from Jackson High School. While there, he won the Ohio Division II state championship and earned first-team All-Ohio honors as a senior. He also earned medalist honors at the Sectional and District tournaments for Southeast Division II.
Chris Melvin joins the Falcons from afar -- he hails from Medfield, Mass., where he graduated from Medfield Senior High School. In 2009, Melvin was a Tri-Valley All Star and won his league's individual championship.
Joining the Orange and Brown from across the northern border is Spencer Berk, who graduated from Saunders High School in London, Ontario, Canada.
2010-11 SCHEDULE
The fall leg of this year's schedule includes six different tournaments in four states, including three different trips to Kentucky.
Up first, on Labor Day weekend, is a trip to Verona, N.Y. for the Turning Stone Tiger Intercollegiate. That tournament, held Sept. 5-6, is hosted by the University of Missouri.
One week later, the Falcons travel to Huntington, W.V. for the Marshall Invitatioinal from Sept. 13-14. The following week, travel takes Bowling Green to Louisville, KY for the two-day Cardinal Intercollegiate (Sept. 20-21).
The Orange and Brown host the John Piper Intercollegiate, their lone home tourney of the 2010-11 season, on September 27 and 28. The Falcons are the defending John Piper champions, and a BGSU golfer has earned medalist honors in each of the last two John Piper tournaments.
After a two-week break, the Falcons make a return trip to Kentucky, traveling to Hebron for the Bearcat Invitational. Aside from the John Piper, the Bearcat Invite is BGSU's only repeat tournament from last fall. In last year's edition, Bowling Green placed sixth as a team. Individually, Drew Preston will return to Hebron after posting a fifth-place finish in last year's tournament. In 2009, Preston carded a 220 (74-69-77) in the Bearcat tourney. This year's tournament runs from Oct. 11-12.
Bowling Green's final tournament of the fall schedule comes the following week in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, when the Falcons take part in the APSU (Austin Peay) Intercollegiate.
Please remember to return to BGSUFalcons.com throughout the year for up-to-date information about the 2010-11 Falcon men's golf team. Check back for updates on the spring schedule as it becomes available. You'll also find tournament previews and recaps, up-to-date statistics and game notes, as well as other exciting content.
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