Oct. 19, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Eighteen of the nation's top men's golf teams will be in action at the Isleworth Golf & Country Club starting on Sunday when play begins at the 2007 Isleworth-UCF Collegiate Invitational presented by Ruth's Chris Steak House. The squads will play three rounds at the three-day event.
Ten of the teams in the tournament are currently ranked in the top 20 in the Golf World/Nike Golf national poll, with Oklahoma State (3), Georgia Tech (4), Georgia (5), Southern Cal (6), Florida State (7), South Carolina (8) and Stanford (9) all in the top 10. An additional four teams are receiving votes in the poll.
All 18 of the participating teams are listed in the top 75 of the Golfstat NCAA head-to-head standings, with six squads currently in the top 10. The host Knights are 34th in the standings.
This year's tournament will serve as the fourth edition of the event. Texas won the 2006 tournament, while Georgia's Brian Harman claimed individual medalist honors.
The event is hosted by the Tavistock Group, UCF and the Central Florida Sports Commission.
The tournament is not open to the public, but live statistics will be available at www.golfstat.com. For more information on the tournament, visit www.isleworthcollegiate.com.
Arizona: The Wildcats, who are currently receiving votes in the national poll, will be in action for the first time since Oct. 8, when they won the Wolf Pack Classic in Reno, Nev., by 16 strokes. Arizona was the only team to finish below par in the 19-team field. Junior Tyler Neal claimed medalist honors after shooting a two-under 70 in the final round. His six-under 210 total won the event by a stroke.
Arizona State: Arizona State will be competing in its fourth event of the fall campaign. In their last outing, the Sun Devils finished 10th at the Alistar McKenzie Invitational in Oakland, Calif. (Oct. 8-9). Playing in his first collegiate event, freshman Jesper Kennegard finished tied for sixth at the season-opening Ping/Golfweek Preview on Sept. 23. Arizona State is currently receiving votes in the Golf World/Nike Golf poll.
Clemson: No. 18 Clemson enters the Isleworth-UCF Collegiate Invitational after a second-place finish on Oct. 9 at the Brickyard Collegiate in Macon, Ga. Sophomore Kyle Stanley finished in seventh at the event. The Tigers opened the season competing at the Topy Cup in Japan. A year ago, UCF participated in the event.
East Tennessee State: On Oct. 12, the Buccaneers finished third at the Bank of Tennessee at the Ridges in Jonesborough, Tenn. The squad was just two-strokes behind North Carolina and Virginia Tech. Senior Gareth Shaw posted a sixth-place finish at 210 (-6). The Buccaneers are currently garnering votes in the national poll.
Florida State: The Seminoles have posted a pair of top-five finishes this season. The team opened the campaign by winning the Inverness Collegiate in Toledo, Ohio. Florida State has not been in action since finishing fourth at Olympia Fields Illini Invitational in Olympia Fields, Ill., on Oct. 1.
Georgia: Georgia won the Brickyard Collegiate in Macon, Ga., on Oct. 9. Freshman Harris English claimed the individual title at 12-under 204, the sixth-best score in school history. Junior Brian Harmon claimed the 2006 Isleworth-UCF Collegiate Invitational title at 216 (E) as the Bulldogs finished fifth.
Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech is coming off of a third-place finish at the Brickyard Collegiate on Oct. 9. Junior Cameron Tringale and sophomore Chesson Hadley both recorded top-10 finishes at the event. Hadley began the year by winning the Carpet Capital Collegiate in Atlanta. Illinois: In their last event on Oct. 8, the Illini won the D.A. Weibring Invitational in Normal, Ill. Freshman Chris DeForest fired a final-round 63 (-7) to win the individual title. His round was the lowest in school history.
Kentucky: The Wildcats finished 11th at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate in Jonesborough, Tenn., on Oct. 14 in 11th. In late September, Kentucky tied for fifth at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate in Zionsville, Ind. At last year's Isleworth-UCF Collegiate Invitational, Kentucky placed seventh in the team standings.
Oklahoma State: Led by freshman Rickie Fowler, the Cowboys claimed the Olympia Fields Illini Invitational in Olympia Fields, Ill., on Oct. 1. Fowler finished the event at 7-under 203. Fowler missed Oklahoma State's first tournament of the year while he was competing for the U.S. Walker Cup team. The Cowboys finished fourth at the 2006 Isleworth-UCF Collegiate Invitational.
Southern California: USC sophomore Jamie Lovemark also competed for the U.S. Walker Cup team, going 3-0 in his matches. Lovemark tied for sixth as the Trojans finished third at the Ping/Golfweek Preview in West Lafayette, Ind., on Sept. 23. USC has not been in action since that event.
SMU: The Mustangs claimed the Oklahoma Intercollegiate in Edmond, Okla., on Tuesday. SMU won a sudden-death playoff with Texas Tech and topped four squads ranked in the top 35. Sophomore Ben Tewes was the team's top individual, finishing third. SMU will be competing for the fifth time this fall.
South Carolina: In the fall, the Gamecocks have recorded a pair of top-five finishes. The squad tied for first at the Carpet Capital Collegiate in Atlanta in September. At the Brickyard Collegiate in Macon, Ga., South Carolina finished fourth on Oct. 9.
Stanford: Defending national champion Stanford finished second at the Prestige at PGA WEST in Palm Springs, Calif., on Tuesday. A second-team All-America pick a year ago, senior Rob Grube has three top-15 finishes on the year. Stanford opened the season in Japan, participating in the Topy Cup.
Texas: The Longhorns are coming off of an impressive showing at the Olympia Fields Illini Invitational in Olympia Fields, Ill., on Oct. 1. Texas placed second at the 12-team event. Sophomore Charlie Holland finished third. This fall, the Longhorns have two top-five finishes. Texas is currently receiving votes in the national poll.
Texas A&M: The No. 15 Aggies posted a fourth-place finish on Tuesday at Oklahoma Intercollegiate in Edmond, Okla. Texas A&M will be in action for the fourth time this fall. The squad opened the fall campaign in September by placing fourth out of 16 squads at the Inverness Intercollegiate in Toledo, Ohio. The Aggies recorded a third-place team finish at the Isleworth-UCF Collegiate Invitational in 2006.
UCF: UCF finished third out of 16 teams at the Prestige at PGA WEST on Tuesday. Junior David Johnson and freshman Jhared Hack tied for sixth at the event. The Knights have competed in three events this year and will be playing in the Sunshine State for the first time in 2007-08.
Wake Forest:The Demon Deacons, ranked 14th nationally, have finished in the top 10 in all three of their events this year. Senior Webb Simpson is Wake Forest's top player. He was an All-America selection a year ago and was a member of the U.S. Walker Cup squad. Junior Dustin Groves finished second at the Isleworth-UCF Collegiate Invitational last year.
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