Troy University Athletics
Sunday, September 9
Pawley's Island, S.C.
TBA
Troy University
vs
GolfWeek Program Challenge
Trojan Golf Teams Set to Begin Fall Season
9/8/2012 1:56:00 PM | Golf (M), Golf (W)
TROY, Ala. – After claiming multiple academic awards and competing in various individual tournaments throughout the summer, the Troy University men's and women's golf teams will join forces this weekend and open the 2012-2013 at the Golfweek Magazine Program Challenge in Pawley's Island, S.C.
The Program Challenge is different from any other college golf tournament in that men's and women's teams from 12 NCAA Division I schools will play 54 holes on separate courses. After the completion of the final round, a men's and women's team champion will be crowned. But so, too, will the Program Challenge winner – the school (both men's and women's teams) that has the lowest cumulative score.
With the departure of Sun Belt All-Conference member Ricky Casko, the men's team will feature two juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen.
Tolver Dozier, a sophomore from Dothan, returns for just his second season of collegiate golf after spending the summer competing in multiple events, including one with a very prestigious name, the U.S. Amateur Open Championship.
Dozier returns as the leader in scoring after posting an average of 73.41 last season. He competed in all 10 events for the Trojans and claimed a top finish of a tie for sixth at the Sun Belt Conference Championship in April.
Jake Tucker, also a sophomore, from Cullman, returns as the player just behind Dozier statistically. He and Dozier fought it out the entire 2011-2012 season for the second-place spot on the team, but finished just behind his teammate with a 73.86 scoring average.
Like Dozier, Tucker competed in 10 events and also claimed his highest finish at the Sun Belt Conference Championship with a tie for 14th.
Kyle Thommesen, a junior from Lee-Scott Academy in Auburn, returns to the team along with two other teammates from the same high school. Wil Clowdus, Will Garner, and Thommesen all combined for a total of 16 events last season, and all enter the 2012-2013 season looking to improve on their scoring averages of 76.00, 78.67 and 76.12, respectively.
Phillip Brennan, a native of Mobile, returns as a valuable player who is entering his second season after learning the ins and outs of collegiate golf last season. Brennan competed in five events for Troy last season and finished with a 76.07 scoring average.
Alex Barnes, a junior from Auburn High School, did not compete in any events last season, but is back in 2012-2013 for his third year of collegiate golf.
Jacob Harper, a newcomer to the Trojan golf team, will make his collegiate debut on Sunday.
The men's team finished last season with a best-low round of 277, which was recorded at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate. 567 marked the top-team 36-hole total for 2011-2012, which was also carded at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate in October. The Golfweek Program Challenge last season marked the lowest 54-hole team total of 855.
Out of 10 tournaments last season, the men finished in the top-10 in eight of those, including two top-five finishes. The highest team finish of the year came at the ASU Red Wolf Intercollegiate in April when the team shot an 871, good enough for a tie for fourth out of 21 teams.
After claiming three tournament wins last season, the women's team returns to the course with a load of talent after losing just one player to graduation last year.
Sofia Bjorkman, a senior from Venorsburg, Sweden, returns for her senior year after putting up consistent numbers in 2011-2012. She ranked first on the team in scoring last season with an average of 76.29 and claimed a top finish of a tie for fourth at the Lady Eagle Invitational in March. Out of 10 tournaments, Bjorkman finished in the top-10 four times and claimed two top-five finishes.
Also returning for her senior year is Sara Fennvik, a native of Gothenburg, Sweden. Fennvik competed in four tournaments last season and averaged a score of 82.55. She recorded her lowest round of 73 at the Golfweek Program Challenge last September and also recorded her best finish of the season of 36th at the same tournament.
Behind the duo of seniors are a group of five sophomores with plenty of talent and experience to take to the course.
After claiming one individual tournament victory last season, Langley Vannoy returns after averaging a score of 77.61. Her lone victory of the year came when the women's team claimed the ULM Fred Marx Invitational tournament title last September.
Taylor McGraw found herself in the top three of the standings after one round of the Lady Jaguar Invitational last February and went on to record her best finish of the season with a tie for fifth after firing a two round total of 149. She competed in all 10 events for the Trojans and finished with an average of 78.54.
Sydney Conrad saved her best play until the Sun Belt Conference Championship in April when she finished in a tie for 21st after posting a three round total of 230. In just nine events, Conrad totaled 25 rounds and averaged out with a score of 79.36.
Brooke Spinks saw limited action last season after competing in just one event, and claimed a finish of 44th at the ULM Fred Marx Invitational.
Kayln Hudson also returns after competing in just one tournament last season as an individual, where she totaled for a two-round 165 at the Lady Jaguar Invitational.
Out of 10 tournaments competed in, the Trojans claimed top-five finishes in five of those to go along with the three tournament victories at the ULM Fred Marx Invitational, Lady Eagle Invitational and Samford Women's Intercollegiate.
As a team, the women carded a low round of 295, a low 36-hole total of 598, and a low 54-hole total of 896.
The men's team will compete beginning Sunday at the True Blue Plantation, which is nationally known for its rolling terrain, elevation changes and manicured fairways. It has been previously given the honor of the sixth 'Best Course You Can Play' in the state of South Carolina, as well as the Readers' Choice Award for the 16th best public course by Golf World.
The women will battle it out at the Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, located just south of Myrtle Beach in South Carolina's Lowcountry. It has been given the honor of the third 'Best Course You Can Play' in the state of South Carolina, as well as Golfweek's No. 21 Best Resort Course.
12 teams will take to the course on Sunday to battle for the second-annual championship. Joining the Trojans are Austin Peay, Boston College, Campbell, Central Arkansas, Georgetown, Jacksonville State, James Madison, Northern Iowa, Stetson, University of Missouri-Kansas City and Western Carolina.
Troy will send Tucker, Harper, Dozier, Brennan and Clowdus to compete on the men's side, while Vannoy, Conrad, Bjorkman, McGraw and Fennvik will compete for the women.
Fennvik will tee-off at 7:30 Sunday morning and the remaining four Trojans will follow in 10 minute increments. Clowdus will begin play for the men and tee-off at 8:20, with the four remaining members also following in 10 minute increments.
Fans can follow all of the action live at www.golfstat.com. Be sure to check back with www.TroyTrojans.com following Sunday's Golfweek Program Challenge opening round to get the full recap and results.
For more information on Troy Athletics visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics, @TroyTrojansGolf and on Facebook by visiting www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.
The Program Challenge is different from any other college golf tournament in that men's and women's teams from 12 NCAA Division I schools will play 54 holes on separate courses. After the completion of the final round, a men's and women's team champion will be crowned. But so, too, will the Program Challenge winner – the school (both men's and women's teams) that has the lowest cumulative score.
With the departure of Sun Belt All-Conference member Ricky Casko, the men's team will feature two juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen.
Tolver Dozier, a sophomore from Dothan, returns for just his second season of collegiate golf after spending the summer competing in multiple events, including one with a very prestigious name, the U.S. Amateur Open Championship.
Dozier returns as the leader in scoring after posting an average of 73.41 last season. He competed in all 10 events for the Trojans and claimed a top finish of a tie for sixth at the Sun Belt Conference Championship in April.
Jake Tucker, also a sophomore, from Cullman, returns as the player just behind Dozier statistically. He and Dozier fought it out the entire 2011-2012 season for the second-place spot on the team, but finished just behind his teammate with a 73.86 scoring average.
Like Dozier, Tucker competed in 10 events and also claimed his highest finish at the Sun Belt Conference Championship with a tie for 14th.
Kyle Thommesen, a junior from Lee-Scott Academy in Auburn, returns to the team along with two other teammates from the same high school. Wil Clowdus, Will Garner, and Thommesen all combined for a total of 16 events last season, and all enter the 2012-2013 season looking to improve on their scoring averages of 76.00, 78.67 and 76.12, respectively.
Phillip Brennan, a native of Mobile, returns as a valuable player who is entering his second season after learning the ins and outs of collegiate golf last season. Brennan competed in five events for Troy last season and finished with a 76.07 scoring average.
Alex Barnes, a junior from Auburn High School, did not compete in any events last season, but is back in 2012-2013 for his third year of collegiate golf.
Jacob Harper, a newcomer to the Trojan golf team, will make his collegiate debut on Sunday.
The men's team finished last season with a best-low round of 277, which was recorded at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate. 567 marked the top-team 36-hole total for 2011-2012, which was also carded at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate in October. The Golfweek Program Challenge last season marked the lowest 54-hole team total of 855.
Out of 10 tournaments last season, the men finished in the top-10 in eight of those, including two top-five finishes. The highest team finish of the year came at the ASU Red Wolf Intercollegiate in April when the team shot an 871, good enough for a tie for fourth out of 21 teams.
After claiming three tournament wins last season, the women's team returns to the course with a load of talent after losing just one player to graduation last year.
Sofia Bjorkman, a senior from Venorsburg, Sweden, returns for her senior year after putting up consistent numbers in 2011-2012. She ranked first on the team in scoring last season with an average of 76.29 and claimed a top finish of a tie for fourth at the Lady Eagle Invitational in March. Out of 10 tournaments, Bjorkman finished in the top-10 four times and claimed two top-five finishes.
Also returning for her senior year is Sara Fennvik, a native of Gothenburg, Sweden. Fennvik competed in four tournaments last season and averaged a score of 82.55. She recorded her lowest round of 73 at the Golfweek Program Challenge last September and also recorded her best finish of the season of 36th at the same tournament.
Behind the duo of seniors are a group of five sophomores with plenty of talent and experience to take to the course.
After claiming one individual tournament victory last season, Langley Vannoy returns after averaging a score of 77.61. Her lone victory of the year came when the women's team claimed the ULM Fred Marx Invitational tournament title last September.
Taylor McGraw found herself in the top three of the standings after one round of the Lady Jaguar Invitational last February and went on to record her best finish of the season with a tie for fifth after firing a two round total of 149. She competed in all 10 events for the Trojans and finished with an average of 78.54.
Sydney Conrad saved her best play until the Sun Belt Conference Championship in April when she finished in a tie for 21st after posting a three round total of 230. In just nine events, Conrad totaled 25 rounds and averaged out with a score of 79.36.
Brooke Spinks saw limited action last season after competing in just one event, and claimed a finish of 44th at the ULM Fred Marx Invitational.
Kayln Hudson also returns after competing in just one tournament last season as an individual, where she totaled for a two-round 165 at the Lady Jaguar Invitational.
Out of 10 tournaments competed in, the Trojans claimed top-five finishes in five of those to go along with the three tournament victories at the ULM Fred Marx Invitational, Lady Eagle Invitational and Samford Women's Intercollegiate.
As a team, the women carded a low round of 295, a low 36-hole total of 598, and a low 54-hole total of 896.
The men's team will compete beginning Sunday at the True Blue Plantation, which is nationally known for its rolling terrain, elevation changes and manicured fairways. It has been previously given the honor of the sixth 'Best Course You Can Play' in the state of South Carolina, as well as the Readers' Choice Award for the 16th best public course by Golf World.
The women will battle it out at the Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, located just south of Myrtle Beach in South Carolina's Lowcountry. It has been given the honor of the third 'Best Course You Can Play' in the state of South Carolina, as well as Golfweek's No. 21 Best Resort Course.
12 teams will take to the course on Sunday to battle for the second-annual championship. Joining the Trojans are Austin Peay, Boston College, Campbell, Central Arkansas, Georgetown, Jacksonville State, James Madison, Northern Iowa, Stetson, University of Missouri-Kansas City and Western Carolina.
Troy will send Tucker, Harper, Dozier, Brennan and Clowdus to compete on the men's side, while Vannoy, Conrad, Bjorkman, McGraw and Fennvik will compete for the women.
Fennvik will tee-off at 7:30 Sunday morning and the remaining four Trojans will follow in 10 minute increments. Clowdus will begin play for the men and tee-off at 8:20, with the four remaining members also following in 10 minute increments.
Fans can follow all of the action live at www.golfstat.com. Be sure to check back with www.TroyTrojans.com following Sunday's Golfweek Program Challenge opening round to get the full recap and results.
For more information on Troy Athletics visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics, @TroyTrojansGolf and on Facebook by visiting www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.
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