Monday, February 22
Hilton Head, S.C.
All Day
Davidson College Athletics
at
Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate (Hosted by Francis Marion)
Bobby Urso
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Golf Opens 2010 Spring Season at Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate
2/22/2010 10:30:02 AM | Men's Golf
Taking on some of the toughest competition they have ever faced, the Davidson men's golf team will be thoroughly tested during the 2010 spring season.
Replacing the efforts of since-graduated All-Southern Conference performer Michael Saari will not be an easy task, but a strong group of returners and a talented group of newcomers will be looking to take the 'Cats to new heights.
Returners
Junior Bobby Urso leads a group returners that does not include any seniors. Urso was named the team's captain for his leadership on and off the course. The Beverly Hills, Mich. native finished in a tie for second-lowest score on the team at last year's conference championship and emerged as Davidson's top threat during the fall season. His fall scoring average of 73.73 is a four-stroke improvement over his previous collegiate-bests.
“Bobby especially had a really consistent, solid fall, and brought the team's scoring average way down,” said head coach Tim Straub. “He was among the conference leaders in scoring average.”
Tying with Urso at the 2009 SoCons was Jackson Talyor, who earned a place on the Southern Conference All-Freshman team. The sophomore from Wilmington, N.C. native led the 'Cats at the Davidson Invitational at River Run Country Club in October and finished the fall season with a scoring average of 75, good for second-best on the team.
“Jackson Taylor had some really good rounds in the fall, and I'm looking for him to have a really good spring,” said Straub. “He is a very talented player.”
Christopher Rollins, a junior, could also give the 'Cats a boost. Rollins was strong at Vanderbilt's two-round Mason Rudolph Championships, tying with newcomer John Skeadas at a team-best 143 (70+73).
“Chris showed us some good signs in the fall,” said Straub. “He had some good tournaments, especially at Vanderbilt, but he just needs to develop a bit more consistency. He has been practicing pretty hard and working hard at it, so I think we'll see Chris step it up in the spring.”
Junior Ryan Crum missed out on the 2009 fall season due to injury, but will be in the mix to break into the starting lineup. Adam Lewicki will also be looking to contribute after competing in seven tournaments last season.
Newcomers
The freshmen duo of John Skeadas III and Walker Allen could have a tremendous impact on the 'Cats' success. Both were fixtures in Davidson's starting lineup during the 2009 fall season. Skeadas' first collegiate round was a 70 at the Spring Hills Intercollegiate at the Country Club of South Carolina, the site of this spring's SoCon Championship Tournament. He followed with consecutive 73's to tie Urso with a team-best 23rd-place finish in a strong field. He then shot a final-round 69 at the Mason Rudolph Championships, tying him with Urso for the lowest round of the season, to vault the 'Cats past the College of Charleston and into the top-10 for the tournament. Skeadas finished the season with a 75.09 scoring average, just one stroke off from equaling Taylor for the second-best mark on the team.
Allen also demonstrated his potential in the fall. After a pair of solid tournaments to start the season, Allen struggled in the rainy conditions on the first day of the Davidson College Invitational, but rebounded on the second day with a 74. He also rebounded very well after a tough second round at the Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate. With improved consistency, Allen could become one of the 'Cats' top threats.
Schedule
The 2010 spring season will begin for the 'Cats where it traditionally has, the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate in Hilton Head, S.C. Davidson finished in the top 10 in last year's tournament, and will likely face some Southern Conference rivals and top competition. This year's tournament is set for Feb. 22-23.
The level of competition will increase the following week at the Seahawk Intercollegiate hosted by UNC Wilmington, where half the field will be comprised of teams that rank in the top 60 nationally. After an off week the 'Cats will play in the three-day Furman Intercollegiate (Mar. 19-21), which will again feature strong Southern Conference competition and opponents from the ACC.
For the fourth-consecutive year, Davidson will co-host a tournament with UNC Charlotte, however it will take place at The Club at Irish Creek, constructed in 2007 in Kannapolis, N.C., for the first time-ever. The Irish Creek Collegiate on Apr. 5-6 will be the final tune-up before the conference championships.
The SoCon Championships will return to the Country Club of South Carolina Apr. 18-20 for the fourth consecutive year. Davidson started the 2009 fall season on the same course and will be looking to improve on last season's seventh-place finish.
Replacing the efforts of since-graduated All-Southern Conference performer Michael Saari will not be an easy task, but a strong group of returners and a talented group of newcomers will be looking to take the 'Cats to new heights.
Returners
Junior Bobby Urso leads a group returners that does not include any seniors. Urso was named the team's captain for his leadership on and off the course. The Beverly Hills, Mich. native finished in a tie for second-lowest score on the team at last year's conference championship and emerged as Davidson's top threat during the fall season. His fall scoring average of 73.73 is a four-stroke improvement over his previous collegiate-bests.
“Bobby especially had a really consistent, solid fall, and brought the team's scoring average way down,” said head coach Tim Straub. “He was among the conference leaders in scoring average.”
Tying with Urso at the 2009 SoCons was Jackson Talyor, who earned a place on the Southern Conference All-Freshman team. The sophomore from Wilmington, N.C. native led the 'Cats at the Davidson Invitational at River Run Country Club in October and finished the fall season with a scoring average of 75, good for second-best on the team.
“Jackson Taylor had some really good rounds in the fall, and I'm looking for him to have a really good spring,” said Straub. “He is a very talented player.”
Christopher Rollins, a junior, could also give the 'Cats a boost. Rollins was strong at Vanderbilt's two-round Mason Rudolph Championships, tying with newcomer John Skeadas at a team-best 143 (70+73).
“Chris showed us some good signs in the fall,” said Straub. “He had some good tournaments, especially at Vanderbilt, but he just needs to develop a bit more consistency. He has been practicing pretty hard and working hard at it, so I think we'll see Chris step it up in the spring.”
Junior Ryan Crum missed out on the 2009 fall season due to injury, but will be in the mix to break into the starting lineup. Adam Lewicki will also be looking to contribute after competing in seven tournaments last season.
Newcomers
The freshmen duo of John Skeadas III and Walker Allen could have a tremendous impact on the 'Cats' success. Both were fixtures in Davidson's starting lineup during the 2009 fall season. Skeadas' first collegiate round was a 70 at the Spring Hills Intercollegiate at the Country Club of South Carolina, the site of this spring's SoCon Championship Tournament. He followed with consecutive 73's to tie Urso with a team-best 23rd-place finish in a strong field. He then shot a final-round 69 at the Mason Rudolph Championships, tying him with Urso for the lowest round of the season, to vault the 'Cats past the College of Charleston and into the top-10 for the tournament. Skeadas finished the season with a 75.09 scoring average, just one stroke off from equaling Taylor for the second-best mark on the team.
Allen also demonstrated his potential in the fall. After a pair of solid tournaments to start the season, Allen struggled in the rainy conditions on the first day of the Davidson College Invitational, but rebounded on the second day with a 74. He also rebounded very well after a tough second round at the Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate. With improved consistency, Allen could become one of the 'Cats' top threats.
Schedule
The 2010 spring season will begin for the 'Cats where it traditionally has, the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate in Hilton Head, S.C. Davidson finished in the top 10 in last year's tournament, and will likely face some Southern Conference rivals and top competition. This year's tournament is set for Feb. 22-23.
The level of competition will increase the following week at the Seahawk Intercollegiate hosted by UNC Wilmington, where half the field will be comprised of teams that rank in the top 60 nationally. After an off week the 'Cats will play in the three-day Furman Intercollegiate (Mar. 19-21), which will again feature strong Southern Conference competition and opponents from the ACC.
For the fourth-consecutive year, Davidson will co-host a tournament with UNC Charlotte, however it will take place at The Club at Irish Creek, constructed in 2007 in Kannapolis, N.C., for the first time-ever. The Irish Creek Collegiate on Apr. 5-6 will be the final tune-up before the conference championships.
The SoCon Championships will return to the Country Club of South Carolina Apr. 18-20 for the fourth consecutive year. Davidson started the 2009 fall season on the same course and will be looking to improve on last season's seventh-place finish.
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