May. 1, 2005
Galena, Ohio - The 2005 Horizon League Men's and Women's Golf Championship tees off on Monday at 8:30 a.m. EST at the Royal American Golf Course in Galena, Ohio. Teams spent Sunday afternoon becoming familiar with the course, which sits about 20 minutes northeast of Columbus.
Due to possible frost in mid-Ohio early Monday morning, the first round of the 2005 Horizon League Golf Championship will now begin at 8:30 a.m. EST, while the second round is set to start at 1:00 p.m. The tournament's final round is scheduled to tee off at 8:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday, May 3.
MEN'S PREVIEW
Men's Championship Page
On the men's side, Wright State attempts to capture its third consecutive title and fifth overall since joining the League. There have only been two other schools, former members Xavier (1990-93) and Oral Roberts (1980-83), to win three-straight championships as both schools captured four-straight crowns.
Brandon Judy is the lone returnee for the Raiders to finish in the top-10 in last season's League tournament, as he tied for ninth place with a three-round total of 226 (74-75-77). Sophomore Brandon Knutson, the 2004 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year and senior Marty Miller, both 2004 all-league selections, also return for the Raiders.
Butler, the tournament runner-up the past two seasons, returns one top-10 scorer from last season in junior Will Turner. Turner finished tied for third in 2004 as he carded a three-round total of 220 (75-73-72).
UW-Green Bay, last season's third-place team, returns one top-10 player from 2004. Eric Mabee tied for ninth last year as he carded a three-round total of 226 (74-72-80). The Phoenix is currently led by senior Jason Hill, who is tied for the League's best average this season with a 20-round average of 75.35.
Detroit's Kyler Murphy returns this season after placing seventh in 2004 with a three-round tally of 224 (75-75-74). The Titans are paced this season by freshman Mark Sommerfeld, who is tied for first in the League with an average score of 75.35, including one top-5 and two top-10 and top-20 finishes this year.
Youngstown State is the only other school to return a top-10 golfer from last year's championship. Nate Komsa, the 2004 tournament medalist, took the top honors last season after carding a 72-70-75 for a championship-best 217.
Cleveland State and Loyola are the only participating schools without a top scorer returning from last season. However, the Raiders are led by Mike Rutgers, who currently holds the League's fifth-best average this season (75.75), including two top-5 and three top-20 finishes this season. The Ramblers are paced by Keith Nelson, who holds the League's fourth-best average this year (75.72), including three top-10 showings.
WOMEN'S PREVIEW
Women's Championship Page
On the women's side, Loyola looks to defend its title from last season, as it edged out Butler by one stroke in the 2004 championship.
The Ramblers return three top-10 finishers from a year ago in senior Nicole Puch (third, 85-77-87--249), junior Marissa Capriola (fifth, 85-82-88--255) and sophomore Sarah Van Vooren (ninth, 88-89-87--264).
Butler returns the 2004 tournament medalist in sophomore Lynnsey Showers. Showers, the 2004 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, won last year's tournament after carding a three-round total 239 (80-79-80), three shots ahead of the nearest competitor.
Cleveland State and Youngstown State both return the 2004 Co-Golfers of the Year in Kristen Obush and Gina Abruzzino. Obush placed second for the Vikings in last year's tournament with a three-round total of 242 (84-75-83), while Abruzzino finished in fourth place for the Penguins (79-80-93--252).
This is the first season for the Detroit's women's program to participate in the Horizon League. The Titans are led by freshman Mandi Dupuis who is currently sixth in the League in scoring average with a 16-round average of 81.56.
