Looking Ahead at @MizzouMensGolf 2017-18 Season
8/28/2017 8:27:00 PM | Men's Golf
A familiar blend of veteran players and exciting young talent make up Mizzou’s squad
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Last season was assuredly a success for Mizzou Men's Golf, as head coach Mark Leroux's 2016-17 squad finished in the Top-3 in seven of 10 regular season events before advancing to an NCAA Regional. The program's 13th-ever regional bid was also its first regional appearance since 2014, returning the Tigers to a stage that serves not only as a goal, but as an expectation. An exciting amount of energy surrounds this year's group as it prepares to begin the latest Black & Gold campaign.
The biggest question mark for the 2017-18 squad will be how it replaces lineup regulars Euan Walker and Linus Lilliedahl, who were both fantastic for Leroux as seniors last season. The pair appeared in all 11 of Leroux's lineups, combining for 28 rounds-under-par, seven Top-5 finishes, and one individual tournament championship. The duo was also highly successful in the classroom, riding the combined excellence on the links and in lecture halls to All-America Scholar honors at the end of the 2016-17 season.
Though their departures provide a challenge to navigate, Leroux and assistant coach Grant Milner have a stable of capable golfers to replace both Lilliedahl and Walker, while continuing the upward trajectory of the program.
Mizzou's success in 2017-18 starts with senior Hayden Buckley (Belden, Miss.), who just recently advanced to match play at the prestigious U.S. Amateur in Los Angeles. Buckley had a tough start to his junior campaign due to a nagging injury, but finished the season's second half strongly, notching a 16th-place finish at the SEC Championships. The Tupelo High School product has been contributing to the success of the Mizzou Men's Golf program throughout his career, and appears ready to take the reigns as a senior leader of this team.
Buckley will not have to lead alone, as fellow senior Trevor Ullestad (Jewell, Iowa), a transfer from Indian Hills Community College, now has a year at Mizzou under his belt. Ullestad started off his career as a Tiger with authority, snagging back-to-back Top-10 finishes at the Turning Stone-Tiger Intercollegiate and the Jackrabbit Invitational. A more consistent Ullestad could lead to continued team success for Mizzou.
Both seniors will be aided by sophomore Rory Franssen (Inverness, Scotland), who made a splash during his freshman campaign. Franssen always seemed to be at his best when the stage was biggest. He led Mizzou to a second-place finish at the SunTrust Gator Invitational, where the Tigers toppled No. 2 Florida and No. 15 Wake Forest. At the event, Franssen shot every round under-par, and finished as the individual runner-up. Franssen again came up big at the pressure-packed SEC Championships, where his 13th-place finish was tops among Leroux's traveling squad, and helped push the Tigers through to match play. The Scottish sophomore was also named to Team Europe for the Arnold Palmer Cup, a first for the Mizzou men's program.
Upperclassmen will also provide experienced depth to Leroux's group. Senior Luigi Botta (Cuneo, Italy) sat out the 2016-17 season, but has international experience on his résumé with several years spent on Italy's national teams. Juniors Matt Echelmeier (Columbia, Mo.) and Preston Fleenor (Kansas City, Mo.) have appeared on numerous travel squads during their respective Mizzou careers. Local product Echelmeier turned in the best performance of his career as an individual, however, shooting 3-under-par to finish fourth at the Tiger Invitational last season. Fleenor has three Top-25 individual finishes to his credit heading into his third year wearing the Black & Gold, including a runner-up finish at the Turning Stone event as a freshman in 2015-16.
Mizzou Men's Golf has recruited well at home and abroad in recent years, and continued that trend with a great 2017 signing class. Freshmen Jamie Stewart (Renfrewshire, Scotland) and Jack Parker (Columbia, Mo.) will both have opportunities to contribute immediately for Leroux.
Stewart continues the Scotland-to-Columbia pipeline, following in the footsteps of Walker and his good friend Franssen. The incoming freshman has several accolades to his name already, including a third-place finish at the 2016 European Boys Championship, and an eighth place individual finish at the 2016 Scottish Club Championship. Both Stewart and Franssen, as well as program graduate Walker, played in Scotland's lineup for the 2017 Men's Home Internationals from August 16-18.
Parker, the No. 1-ranked player in the state of Missouri by the Junior Golf Scoreboard, will not have to move very far from home to continue his golfing career. The Father Tolton Catholic High School product is no stranger to winning, as he won the Missouri Class 2 title in 2016 and the Class 1 title in 2014.
With a schedule that is nearly identical to last season's slate, aside from the Grand Canyon University Invitational (March 16-17), the stage is set to build off of last year's success. The Tigers begin their campaign by again hosting the Turning Stone-Tiger Intercollegiate in Verona, N.Y., from Sept. 3-4. Local fans will have the opportunity to see Leroux's squad during the spring, as Mizzou hosts the Tiger Invitational at The Club at Old Hawthorne from April 9-10, 2018.
For all the latest on Mizzou Men's Golf, stay tuned to MUTigers.com or follow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@MizzouMensGolf).
