Ping/Golfweek Invitational: A closer look
The fifteen teams competing in the Ping/Golfweek Invitational.
Podcast episode
College Golf
Ping/Golfweek Invitational preview
Lance Ringler and Asher Wildman preview the Ping/Golfweek Invitational.
Where: Olympic Course at Gold Mountain, Bremerton, Wash.
When: Sept. 27-28
• • •
Team: Oklahoma State
Coach: Mike McGraw
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: 2nd
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 1st
Top Players: Morgan Hoffmann, Peter Uihlein, Trent Whitekiller
Ringler’s Take: Despite the loss of Rickie Fowler and Trent Leon, the Cowboys may again have the most talented roster in college golf. Expect to see Oklahoma State contend for a tournament title each time it tees it up.
• • •
Team: Southern California
Coach: Chris Zambri
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: 16th
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 3rd
Top Players: Matt Giles, Steve Lim, T.J. Vogel
Ringler’s Take: Trojan golf has a much different look than what we have been used to seeing the last few years. However, Matt Giles, a junior, is back and will try to keep the USC name amongst the teams that are mentioned as national contenders.
• • •
Team: Washington
Coach: Matt Thurmond
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: 3rd
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 4th
Top Players: Nick Taylor, Richard Lee, Darren Wallace
Ringler’s Take: Expectations are high in Seattle. Last year Washington made its name known throughout the entire season, but ended the year disappointed with a first round match play loss at the NCAA Championship. Confidence should be at an all-time high with Player of the Year candidate Nick Taylor leading the way.
• • •
Team: Arizona State
Coach: Randy Lein
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: 5th
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 11th
Top Players: Tristan Bierenbroodspot, Chan Kim, Scott Pinckney
Ringler’s Take: Here we go again. The Sun Devils are coming off a big win at the Olympia Fields Illini Invitational and are certainly one of the best teams in the country. But the big question is, Will Arizona State stay away from its annual roller-coaster ride and find consistency this season?
• • •
Team: Texas A&M
Coach: J.T. Higgins
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: 4th
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 12th
Top Players: Cameron Peck, Andrea Pavan, John Hurley
Ringler’s Take: On paper the Aggies may be better than last year’s team that won the national championship. Expect to see this young team get better as the year goes on.
• • •
Team: Indiana
Coach: Mike Mayer
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: N/R
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 21st
Top Players: David Erdy, Alex Martin, Chase Wright
Ringler’s Take: Life without Jorge Campillo has started for the Hoosiers. Indiana will need Alex Martin and David Erdy to step up big if the Hoosiers want to find a spot in the top 30.
• • •
Team: TCU
Coach: Bill Montigel
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: N/R
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 16th
Top Players: Travis Woolf, Tom Hoge, Pontus Gad
Ringler’s Take: TCU returns all five starters from last years team that won the Mountain West Conference Championship and competed at the NCAA Championship. Don’t be surprised if Horned Frog golf is talked about this year.
• • •
Team: Colorado State
Coach: Jamie Bermel
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: 23rd
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 27th
Top Players: Zahkai Brown, Riley Arp, Bryce Hanstad
Ringler’s Take: Last year was a breakout year for the Rams, which managed to remain in the top 25 throughout the season. Four starters return and with a beefed up schedule, Colorado State could again be a team that garners some attention.
• • •
Team: Kent State
Coach: Herb Page
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: N/R
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 52nd
Top Players: John Hahn, Brett Cairns, J.P. Paiement
Ringler’s Take: The Golden Flashes will rely heavily on All-American candidate John Hahn. Kent State will need to find production at the bottom of the lineup to be competitive with the nation’s elite.
• • •
Team: Chattanooga
Coach: Mark Guhne
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: N/R
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 25th
Top Players: Stephan Jaeger, Fredrik Qvicker, Derek Rende
Ringler’s Take: There might not have been much expected this year out of the Mocs, but after a runner-up finish at the Carpet Capital Collegiate maybe Mark Guhne’s team has a surprise for us this season.
• • •
Team: Alabama
Coach: Jay Seawell
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: 9th
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 10th
Top Players: Bud Cauley, Hunter Hamrick, Scott Strohmeyer
Ringler’s Take: Alabama has been of the top programs in college golf the last few seasons, but will need a full team effort to remain near the top this year. Alabama is strong at the top with Bud Cauley and Hunter Hamrick, but needs its youth to step up in a big way this year.
• • •
Team: North Carolina State
Coach: Richard Sykes
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: 26th
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 22nd
Top Players: Matt Hill, Brad Revell, Mitchell Sutton
Ringler’s Take: All eyes will be on Matt Hill. Hill, last year’s Player of the Year, will have to be big again this year if the Wolfpack are to make any noise.
• • •
Team: LSU
Coach: Chuck Winstead
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: 12th
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 19th
Top Players: John Peterson, Sang Yi, Clayton Rotz
Ringler’s Take: Head coach Chuck Winstead has recruited well to Baton Rouge, but now is the time for those recruits to start posting low numbers and giving LSU golf fans something to talk about.
• • •
Team: UNLV
Coach: Dwaine Knight
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: 29th
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 23rd
Top Players: Derek Ernst, Colby Smith, Eddie Olson
Ringler’s Take: UNLV has missed advancing to the national championship in each of the last three years. A sense of urgency is expected out of the Rebels, who should be out to prove something. A big win to start the year at the Tucker is a step in the right direction.
• • •
Team: New Mexico
Coach: Glen Millican
2009-10 Golfweek Preseason Rank: N/R
2008-09 Golfweek/Sagarin Rank: 37th
Top Players: Nick Geyer, James Erkenbeck, Brandon Putnam
Ringler’s Take: Last year the Lobos were up-and-down and this year will rely on new players to round out their lineup. New Mexico does return three of its top five from last year’s team that advanced to regional play.
Pullman Regional: Cal claims 11th season title
Tempe Regional: UCLA advances by 17 shots
Fayetteville Regional: Illinois wins first region title
Baton Rouge Regional: 'Bama keeps rolling
Columbus Regional: Erkenbeck, New Mexico win
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