Missouri
Jackrabbit Invitational
@MizzouMensGolf Next Heads to The Jackrabbit Invitational
9/30/2017 12:50:00 PM | Men's Golf
Tigers ranked 18th in Golfweek Coaches Poll after commanding opening performance
COLUMBIA, Mo. - After nearly a month off, Mizzou Men's Golf is headed back to the Prairie Club in Valentine, Nebraska, to take part in The Jackrabbit Invitational (Sunday, Oct. 1-Tuesday, Oct. 3). The No. 18 Tigers come into the event as the only team ranked in the Golfweek Coaches poll, putting the spotlight on the Black & Gold over the weekend.
That is not to say the field will not be a tough test for head coach Mark Leroux's relatively young group. The field includes host South Dakota State, Tennessee, South Carolina, UCF, Kansas, Oral Roberts, UMKC, Boise State, UConn, Houston, Santa Clara, Creighton and Nebraska.
Leading Mizzou back onto the links is senior Hayden Buckley (Belden, Miss.), who is coming off his first career individual championship at the Turning Stone Intercollegiate. Buckley played lights out in Verona, New York, tying the best event output of his career (72-67-70 -- 209). His second round 67 was also the lowest round by any Tiger this season, and the second-best single round score Buckley has ever carded. Buckley was not able to play in the Jackrabbit a season ago due to injury, but has the necessary momentum going to make his last tournament in Valentine a memorable one.
In the second slot for Leroux is sophomore Rory Franssen (Inverness, Scotland). The Scottish sophomore gave Buckley all he could handle in Verona, registering his second career runner-up finish by playing just one shot off of Buckley's pace (72-68-70 -- 210). Franssen has had success at the Prairie club before, carding an eighth-place finish a season ago courtesy of a 3-under-par finish.
Junior Matt Echelmeier (Columbia, Mo.) travels to Valentine in the third spot for the Black & Gold. Echelmeier played a solid opening event, finishing tied for third. (74-70-71 -- 215). Echelmeier's brand of play provides Leroux with the stability that this relatively young team needs; in his last four events, Echelmeier has only shot over a 72 once.
In the fourth and fifth traveling slots for Mizzou are the dynamic freshmen duo of Jack Parker (Columbia, Mo.) and Jaime Stewart (Renfrewshire, Scotland), who both played well in their debuts. Albeit in different styles, the pair of freshmen finished the Turning Stone at even-par, which secured them both a piece of fifth place.
Follow along throughout The Jackrabbit with GolfStat.com.
For all the latest on Mizzou Men's Golf, stay tuned to MUTigers.com or follow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@MizzouMensGolf).
