ORLANDO - For the third consecutive season and the fourth time in five years, the UCF men's golf team will open up its season at the Island Resort Collegiate in Bark River, Michigan, hosted by South Dakota State.
The two-day tournament will be held at the Sage Run Golf Club (Par 72, 7,375 Yards), with two rounds opening action on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. ET before the final round on Monday.
With six of its eight athletes returning, men’s golf plans to lean on its veteran presence this season. Senior Lucas Dutartre hopes to build on a successful first season with UCF, where he appeared in all 11 tournaments, playing a total of 33 rounds. Originally from Paris, France, Dutartre is no stranger to the bright lights, as he racked up the most under-par tournament scores on the squad.
Dutartre was a key contributor in UCF’s top-five finish at the FAU Invitational, where he scored two-under-par, tying for fourth, his best finish of the season on the player leaderboard.
Senior out of Daytona Beach, Chase Haygood, also looks to continue his stellar play from last season, leading the team with the best stroke average at 72.5 over 33 rounds. Haygood started hot, claiming the top spot at this weekend's Island Resort Intercollegiate. He also finished well at the Big 12 Championships, being one of two Knights to score in the top 50.
Junior Clemente Silva is heading into his second year wearing the black and gold. Last season, he competed in 24 rounds, earning a stroke average of 74.8. Silva came on strong down the stretch, finishing as the team’s top performer in their first-place finish at the ECU Intercollegiate with a score of 217. The Knights hope to defend that title on March 16–17.
When it comes to new faces, both Camden Goldknopf from William and Mary and Jakub Hejlek from the Czech Republic hope to make an impact in their first year. Hejlek currently sits at 687th in the World Amateur Rankings, making a name for himself on the Czech Republic’s national team. Goldknopf looks to carry his previous success at William and Mary back to his home state.
The qualifying requirement for this tournament was even par for the four rounds of qualifying. Silva qualified on his own, with a score of three under, and Hans Risvaer qualified on his own, with a score of one under.
The final six spots were coaches' picks determined by all the data points.
UCF Lineup
- Clemente Silva (Qualified)
- Hans Risvaer (Qualified)
- Lucas Dutartre (Coaches Pick)
- Chase Haygood (Coaches Pick)
- Jakub Hejlek (Coaches Pick)
- Palmer Haynes (Coaches Pick)
- Camden Goldknopf (Coaches Pick)
WAGR
- Clemente Silva: 566
- Jakub Hejlek: 701
- Hans Risvaer: 1,138
- Lucas Dutartre: 1,223
- Chase Haygood: 1,291
- Jakob Stubhaug: 2,586
- Camden Goldknopf: 2,819
- Palmer Haynes: 2,832