TicketsAug. 23, 2011
CINCINNATI - Looking to build off an encouraging showing at the 2011 BIG EAST Championship, the University of Cincinnati men's golf team carries positive momentum into the 2011-12 season against a challenging schedule head coach Doug Martin announced on Tuesday.
The UC Invitational, Oct. 10-11 at Traditions Golf Club, highlights the fall schedule that also includes tournaments at Marshall (Sept. 12-13), Louisville (Sept. 26-27) and Xavier (Oct. 2-3). The Bearcats wrap up the fall slate with a trip to Mexico for the Cabo Invitational on Oct. 27-29.
The Bearcats travel to tournaments at South Florida (March 4-6), Florida State (March 9-11), Missouri (April 9-10), Kentucky (April 14) and Ball State (April 23-24) in the spring before competing at the BIG EAST Championship April 29-May 1 in Orlando, Fla.
"My goal has always been to provide our players the opportunity to experience collegiate golf at the highest level," said Martin whose squad finished three shots out of fourth place at the BIG EAST Championship last season. "Our schedule is potentially the most difficult it has been in the six years I have been at Cincinnati. We play in five really strong tournaments in the fall that will test our team and prepare us for the spring season."
Martin is hopeful new leaders emerge during the 2011-12 campaign following the graduation of 2011 all-BIG EAST Conference selection Joe Kastelic who led the Bearcats in scoring average during three of his four seasons. UC returns six players from last season, including senior Kurt Harris (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome); juniors Zach Bates (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston), Matthew Ledom (Leawood, Kan./Rochurst Jesuit Prep), Andrew Desmarais (Union, Ky./Ryle) and David Tepe (Liberty Township, Ohio/Pickerington); and sophomore Spencer Mellon (Oakmont, Pa./Central Catholic).
Tepe carded four Top 20 finishes last season while compiling a 75.2 stroke average - second best on the squad behind Kastelic. Tepe's best performance came at the BIG EAST Championship where he finished ninth. Bates posted two Top 10 finishes a year ago while earning a 76.0 stroke average.
"It's extremely difficult to fill that loss of experience we had with Joe Kastelic who has been our No. 1 for the past four years," Martin said. "I've challenged our returners and told them that someone needs to step up. We have people capable of doing that."
Michael Wolf (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller), Mike Irwin (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) and Jared Howard (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome) join the Bearcats as freshmen.
"We're a young team with only one senior, but we do have six returning players who can't play at the same level they did last season. They need to build on their experience and work ethic to be better," Martin said. "I feel good about our freshman class too. They will help our program."