University of Missouri
GCU Invitational
@MizzouMensGolf Heads to Phoenix for GCU Invitational
3/15/2018 8:12:00 PM | Men's Golf
Tigers look to rebound and secure another Top-5 team finish
PHOENIX - Mizzou Men's Golf is back on the road again this weekend, as the squad heads to Phoenix to take part in its first ever GCU Invitational (Friday, March 16 - Saturday, March 17). The Black & Gold hope to establish momentum out West, and will be the only team from the Southeastern Conference in the field.
No teams participating in the GCU Invitational are ranked, but teams like Colorado State, Wichita State and host Grand Canyon University could pose threats from the field. With the postseason approaching, every tournament finish is important for head coach Mark Leroux's group.
Senior Hayden Buckley (Belden, Miss.) leads the Tigers into Arizona. His last time out, Buckley finished tied for 48th, his lowest finish since last season's Gator Invitational. Even with the event on his season record, Buckley's strokes per-round average is still fifth-best in the nation, holding steady at 69. Buckley leads the Tigers in every major statistical category, and will look to bounce back in the desert.
Following Buckley in the lineup is junior Matt Echelmeier (Columbia, Mo.), who played the third-best event of his season on the plains of Auburn in his most recent action. The Rockbridge High School product finished tied for 23rd (72-76-69 -- 217) while registering his eighth round under-par this season, which is the second-most on the squad.
Sophomore Rory Franssen (Inverness, Scotland) holds down the third competitive spot for the Black & Gold, and will play in his second-straight event. Franssen played fairly well in his spring 2018 debut, tying for 27th place at the Tiger Invitational (70-78-70 -- 218). The event marked the third time in five events that Franssen shot at least two of his rounds under-par.
Freshman Jamie Stewart (Renfrewshire, Scotland) returns to the competitive lineup with Mizzou's trip to Grand Canyon. Stewart played some of his best golf to open the spring season at the Gator Invitational, tying for 30th (69-69-75 -- 213) in a highly competitive field. Though he is only a freshman, Stewart remains a vital part of Mizzou's competitive lineup, and his 70.6 strokes per-round average trails only that of Buckley, who is one the best golfers in the country.
Rounding out the competitive five for Leroux is senior Trevor Ullestad (Jewell, Iowa). Ullestad has held down the fifth slot in the lineup since the Warrior Invitational.
Freshman Jack Parker (Columbia, Mo.) and senior Luigi Botta (Cueno, Italy) will travel with team, but will play as unattached individuals.
For all the latest on Mizzou Men's Golf, stay tuned to MUTigers.com or follow the program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@MizzouMensGolf).
