BIG EAST Golf Teams Tee'd Off Opening Weekend

BIG EAST golfers hit the links this past weekend to open the spring season as 12 of 19 league teams were in action.

Louisville senior Derek Fathauer was named to the Ben Hogan Award watch list for the 2008 season. The Hogan is the most prestigious award in men’s college golf and is presented annually to the top men’s golfer. The Hogan Award semifinalists will be announced April 16 and three finalists will be selected on May 7. The final three will be invited to Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, for the Hogan Award presentation May 18. Last season Fathauer became the first UofL golfer to earn All-America honors.

In its mid-season publication, Golf World named Marquette junior Mike Van Sickle as the “Best Player You’ve (Maybe) Never Heard Of” by senior collegiate writer Ryan Herrington.

Cincinnati: The Bearcats men’s squad finished 12th with a 618 (312-306) and the women placed ninth at 611 (312-299) in the rain-shortened two-day Cuthbert Cup in Kiawah Island, S.C. UNC-Wilmington won the men’s side with a 579 and College of Charleston claimed the women’s crown with a 583. Freshman Joe Kastelic tied for 28th with a four-over 148 (74-74). Leading the women’s team was Bambee Dela Paz who fired rounds of 75-76 for a 151 to finish tied for 22nd. The men return to action March 3-4 at the Grover Page Classic in Jackson, Tenn., while the ladies head to the Rio Verde Invitational in Rio Verde, Ariz.

Connecticut (Men): The Huskies finished in 10th at the Argonaut Invitational, which concluded Feb. 26. UConn shot a three-round total of 915 (303-304-308). Host West Florida claimed the team title with a total of 847. Senior A.J. Siekierski finished in a tie for 29th with a 223 (75-75-73) to lead the Huskies. Next up for UConn is the Spring Kickoff Tournament at Coosaw Creek Country Club in Charleston, S.C., March 3-4.

DePaul (Men): The Blue Demons finished the Texas-San Antonio Intercollegiate tied for eighth. DPU carded an 890 (303-299-288). Mississippi State won the event with an 864. Junior Cory Blenkush closed out his 219 total with a par-71 to finish in a tie for 12th. He carded identical scores of 74 in the first two rounds. DePaul returns to action Feb. 29-March 2 at the Ron Smith Invitational at Lake Jovita Country Club in Dade City, Fla., hosted by USF.

Georgetown: The Georgetown women finished eighth of 17 squads at the Fighting Camel Classic in Buies Creek, N.C. The two-day event was shortened to one after rain forced the cancelation of day two. Junior Carly Hunt shot a 79 to tie for 17th. GU carded a team total of 325, with host Campbell posting a winning score of 301. The ladies return to action March 7-8 at the NIU/Springlake Classic in Sebring, Fla.

The Hoya men kick off their season March 17-18 at the William & Mary Invitational to be played at the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va.

Louisville: The Cardinals finished the UCF Rio Pinar Invitational in third place, with a five-under par total of 859 (288-285-286). Host Central Florida won the event with an 846. Fathauer finished in a tie for fourth after shooting three rounds of 70. Next up for UofL is the Seminole Invitational March 2-4 in Tallahassee, Fla.

The Louisville women earned their second 2nd-place finish of the spring season, carding an 872 (290-286-296) at the Lady Gator Invitational. Florida won with an 849. Junior Cindy LaCrosse was the runner-up medalist with a 212, three strokes off the pace. The Cardinals earned a second-place finish at the Qdoba Invitational earlier in the week. UofL travels to Baton Rouge, La., for the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic March 14-16.

Marquette (Men): The Golden Eagles tee off their spring schedule at the Ron Smith Invitational hosted by USF Feb. 29-March 2.

Notre Dame: The Irish began their spring season Feb. 17-19 at the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. ND carded a three-day total of 903 (306-301-296) to finish 15th. Alabama won the team title with an 873. Junior Josh Sandman and sophomore Doug Fortner each finished tied for 29th with a 224 (+8) to lead the squad. Sandman carded rounds of 73-76-75, while Fortner tallied 74-73-77. Notre Dame is back in action March 3-4 at the USC Collegiate Invitational to be held at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, Calif.

The ND women carded a three-round total of 929 (315-300-314) at the Central District Invitational Feb. 18-19. The Irish finished in 10th in the event held at the River Wilderness Golf Club in Parrish, Fla. Michigan State won the team crown after posting an 892. Junior Lisa Maunu posted a 12-over 228 (77-74-77) to finish in a tie for 15th. The Irish returns to the links March 7-9 at the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the Rio Verde Golf Club.

Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights have yet to tee it up this season. The men will take to the course March 29-30 at the Towson Lacrosse Homes Invitational in Towson, Md., while the women hit the links March 28-29 at the Cincinnati Invitational in Crystal River, Fla.

St. John’s: The Red Storm men’s squad took fourth at the Bethune-Cookman Spring Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla. STJ carded a 591 (299-292), while Florida Gulf Coast posted an eight-under 568 to claim the crown. Senior Keegan Bradley finished seventh with a one-under 143 (74-69). The Red Storm head to Huaracoa, Puerto Rico, to host the Palmas Del Mar Intercollegiate March 10-11.

The women’s team will launch its spring season March 7-9 at the NIU/Springlake Invitational at the Springlake Golf Course in Sebring, Fla.

Seton Hall (Men): The Pirates open the 2008 season at the Lonnie D. Small Tournament hosted by Campbell University March 3-4 in Buies Creek, N.C.

USF: The Bulls’ men’s team finished in 17th place at the UCF Rio Pinar Invitational with a total of 903 (299-304-300). Host Central Florida won the event with an 846. Senior Jason Elliot finished tied for 21st with a three-round total of 217 (73-75-69). USF will host the Ron Smith Invitational Feb. 29-March 2 at the Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club.

The women tallied a three-round total of 920 (306-302-312) to finish tied for 10th at the Lady Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., Feb. 22-24. Florida took home the team title with an 849. Senior Christina Jones led the ladies with a 227 (73-73-81) to finish tied for 31st. The Bulls will next tee it up at the Pinehurst Challenge March 9-11 in Pinehurst, N.C.

Villanova (Men): The Wildcats will hit their first strokes at the Palmas Del Mar Intercollegiate hosted by St. John’s in Huaracoa, Puerto Rico, March 10-11.