University of Missouri
The Hootie at Bulls Bay
@MizzouMensGolf Heads to The Hootie at Bulls Bay on Sunday
3/24/2017 2:15:00 PM | Men's Golf
Tigers' streak of Top Three finishes this season has reached six-straight
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Coming off yet another late round rally that helped keep their perfect top-3 streak alive this season, Mizzou Men's Golf heads to The Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate (Sunday, March 26 – Tuesday, March 28). For only the third event this season, head coach Mark Leroux's squad will be competing as one of GolfStat's top-25 teams.
Leading the No. 24-ranked Tigers into Awendaw, South Carolina, is sophomore Matt Echelmeier (Columbia, Mo.), who assumes the No. 1 lineup role for the first time in his young career. At the Tiger Invitational in Opelika, Alabama, the younger Echelmeier showcased his potential while also searching to establish consistency. After shooting a round one 69, a career best, he shot a 77, which was the worst of his sophomore season, to date. If Echelmeier can put together a complete tournament, he will reward his team and his coaches' faith in him.
In the second slot on the traveling roster is senior Euan Walker (Troon, Scotland), who bounced back from the worst two-round stretch of his career to help the Tigers roar back at Auburn. Walker posted an 80 and a 78 in his first two rounds at the Tiger Invitational, but then returned to form in round three, spearheading the comeback with a strong 69, which tied for second-best round shot among Tiger golfers at the tournament.
Senior Linus Lilliedahl (Sandviken, Sweden) is in the third spot for the Tigers, and was able to bookend his second round 77 at the Auburn tournament with rounds of 69 and 70 in rounds one and three, respectively. With his two rounds under-par, Lilliedahl has drawn even with fellow senior Walker for most rounds under-par this season. Both he and Walker demonstrated exceptional leadership down the stretch in their last outing, shooting rounds under-par when the Black & Gold most needed them.
Holding down the fourth traveling roster spot for Leroux is junior Hayden Buckley (Belden, Miss.) who had his second best showing of the season in Opelika. He finished the tournament at 3-under-par, which was good enough to give him a share of 11th place. For the second time this season, Buckley was able to lead his team in the standings while also shooting an event under-par. While seniors Walker and Lilliedahl both had great third rounds to prompt the comeback, Buckley led all Tigers in the final round with a stellar 68, the second lowest 18-hole round of his career. After an injury riddled fall and a slow starting spring, it appears that Buckley might be rounding into form at the right time.
Freshman and recent Arnold Palmer European Team selection Rory Franssen (Inverness, Scotland) is in the fifth spot for the Tigers. Franssen has turned it on as of late, playing both the Gator Invitational and the Tiger Invitational under-par, while helping lead his team to second and third place finishes, respectively. He has also registered top-15 individual finishes in his last two events, scoring a second place finish in Gainesville while tying with Buckley at the Tiger event for 11th. Franssen's spring got even better, though, as his recent play has earned him a spot on the Arnold Palmer European squad, a prestigious honor for the up-and-coming Scottish golfer.
For all the latest on Mizzou Men's Golf, stay tuned to MUTigers.com or follow the program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@MizzouMensGolf).
