Golf Weekly Release #7: Championship Preview

April 25, 2007

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Horizon League Athlete of the Week

Ryan Stocke

Youngstown State
Sophomore * Elida, Ohio

Stocke posted a career-best second-place finish and was the top Horizon League finisher among five schools at the Dayton Spring Invitational, held April 23-24. Stocke had a three-round total of 227 with rounds of 77, 76 and 74. He finished one shot behind medalist John Powers of Bowling Green. Stocke's 74 was the fourth best round on Tuesday. He finished with a tournament-high 34 pars.

Other Top Men's Performances

Kyle Thomas

Butler

Fr. * Indianapolis, Ind.

Thomas placed fourth at the University of Dayton Spring Invitational.  The first-year Butler golfer shot rounds of 75, 78 and 75 in the 54-hole tournament to finish two strokes behind tournament medalist John Powers of Bowling Green.  He had seven birdies in the tournament, which tied for fifth-best in the meet.

Jake Scott

Cleveland State

So. * Strongsville, Ohio

Scott closed with a 74 to finish alone in seventh place to lead the Vikings to a fifth-place showing at the Dayton Spring Invitational. He now has a team-best four top 10 finishes on the season.

Note: No Horizon League women's teams competed in the past week

Horizon League Championships Preview

Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio, will host the 2007 Horizon League Golf Championships starting April 30 and continuing through May 1.

On the men's side, teams will try to dethrone Cleveland State after the Vikings edged Youngstown State by five strokes, 858-863, to earn the League's automatic bid into the NCAA Men's Golf Championship last season.

Wright State's Brandon Knutson will be back to defend his individual medalist honors as he defeated Butler's Will Turner in a four-hole playoff to claim the 2006 victory.  Knutson owns one of the lowest averages in the League this season at 74.1.  Detroit's Mark Sommerfeld currently leads the League with a 73.0 average.  Sommerfeld was the Horizon League's Player of the Year last season and looks to improve upon a third-place individual finish for the championship.

The Butler women claimed their second consecutive League Championship in 2006.  The Bulldogs return several of their top performers from a year ago, including individual medalist Lauren Showers who took top honors after defeating her older sister Lynnsey in a first hole playoff.  Detroit's Rachel McHenry has posted the lowest women's score of the current season with a 68 at the Grand Valley State Invitational.  McHenry also owns the second-lowest average in the League, while Butler's Niki Garden leads the circuit with a 78.8.

Fans will be able to follow live results from the tournament by visiting http://www.golfstatresults.com and clicking on either the Horizon League Men's or Women's Championships page.

Highlights of the Championships can be seen free on the Horizon League Network and will become available as soon as possible following the tournaments.