University of Missouri
Jackrabbit Invitational
Leroux's @MizzouMensGolf Squad Looks to Keep Rolling at The Jackrabbit Invitational
9/24/2016 12:19:00 PM | Men's Golf
Coming off a fifth-straight title at Turning Stone, Tigers look to keep momentum at the Jackrabbit
VALENTINE, Neb. - Mizzou Men's Golf is set for action at The Jackrabbit Invitational from Sunday, Sept. 25-Tuesday, Sept. 27. Head coach Mark Leroux's group will play on the Dunes Course, part of the Prairie Club in Valentine, Nebraska, against top programs from around the country. The event features host South Dakota State, Nebraska, Central Florida, Clemson, Tennessee, Oregon State, Connecticut, Creighton, Furman and William & Mary.
Leading the Tigers into the Jackrabbit Invitational (Sunday, Sept. 25-Tuesday, Sept. 27) will be senior Linus Lilliedahl (Sandviken, Sweden), who had a tremendous showing at the Turning Stone-Tiger Intercollegiate (Sept. 4-5). Despite shooting a two-under-par for the tournament, Lilliedahl finished fifth overall and just third on his team, due to the outstanding play of his teammates. He shot two rounds under-par at the Turning Stone, giving him 10 for his career. Lilliedahl will look to continue his upward swing, and be the steady guiding hand for some of his younger teammates.
Following Lilliedahl in the Tiger lineup is fellow senior Euan Walker (Troon, Scotland), who is coming off his fourth top-5 career finish at the Turning Stone. Walker tied for third in tournament play, and helped pace Mizzou with his three-under-par. Walker also shot the lowest round of any Mizzou golfer with his final round 68. After a quick start in his first competitive event of 2016, Walker will try to keep it going on the Dunes Course.
Third in Mizzou's lineup is junior Trevor Ullestad (Jewell, Iowa), who had a brilliant debut tournament for the Tigers. He, along with Walker, paced Mizzou and placed third overall in tournament play. Ullestad, who was used to winning at the NJCAA level for Indian Hills, had no trouble calibrating his game to the Division I level, and provides the Tigers with a new weapon for the 2016-17 campaign.
Sophomore Preston Fleenor (Kansas City, Mo.) slides into the fourth slot in the Mizzou lineup. Fleenor tied for 16th at the Turning Stone, shooting five-over-par for the event. If not for an opening round 79, Fleenor's tournament would have looked much different, as he shot back-to-back 71 rounds to close the event.
Holding down the fifth spot in the competitive lineup for Mizzou is senior Will Echelmeier (Columbia, Mo.). Though the older of the Echelmeier brothers has not appeared with the traveling team since last year's Hootie at Bulls Bay event, he provides Mizzou with another experienced leader out on the course.
Freshman Rory Franssen (Inverness, Scotland) will be playing the Dunes Course as an Individual this weekend, looking to build upon his very promising college debut (74-72-73 -- 219).
Follow the action at The Jackrabbit online at GolfStat.com.
