Sept. 19, 2003

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri men's golf team is set to begin the 2003-04 campaign Friday in the Inverness Intercollegiate in Toledo, Ohio. The three-round event will be staged at the prestigious Inverness Country Club with 36 holes of shotgun play on Friday and culminating with an 18-hole round on Saturday.

The University of Toledo is hosting a 15-team field comprised of the best college golf teams in the country. "This is a tremendous way to begin the year," declared Tigers golf coach Tim Robyn. "We've got a brand new team and we are going to begin by playing the absolute best teams on the best course. It is our goal to be the best and to do that you have got to play the best teams."

Seniors David Jenkins and Mike Radek, sophomores Chris Mabry and Ben Scott, and true freshman John Kelly are the five Tigers in the starting lineup for the first tournament of the year. Jenkins and Radek provide the Tigers with successful tournament experience. Mabry and Scott have a wealth of talent and are veterans of the battle despite their youth. Kelly, a St. Louis newcomer out of CBC High, is capable of making lots of birdies and firing low scores. He enters collegiate action after several victories over the summer in junior events.

"We have got to stick to our keys this season and improve each and every month," said Robyn. "We have plenty of ability, but we must out-perform others with our attitude and effort."