Men's Golf Prepares for Big Ten Championship
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 10, 1999
THE WEEKEND ... The Les Bolstad Golf Course in Minneapolis, Minn., plays host to the Big Ten Championship May 14-16. Michigan State hopes to improve upon its sixth-place finish in last year's conference championship this weekend at the 6,514-yard, par-71 course. The Spartans have won one Big Ten title, in 1969.
The Spartans were among eight Big Ten teams that competed in the Northern Intercollegiate at the Les Bolstad Course last fall in a preview of this weekend's tournament. Michigan State finished seventh in the 12-team field (fifth among Big Ten schools) with a three-round total of 860, its best three-round score of the 1998-99 season.
THE SPARTAN SEASON ... Michigan State has had an up-and-down season in 1998-99, but when the Spartans are at their best, they can play with the best in the Big Ten. Highlights have included a season-opening title at the Detroit Titans Invitational and a pair of fourth-place finishes at the Tulane Green Wave Intercollegiate and the Dr. Pepper Intercollegiate.
The Spartans have had tremendous depth this season, as six different golfers have led the team in at least one tournament. At the top of the stroke average list are three golfers separated by less than a stroke (Matt Pumford at 74.09, Carlos Foulquie at 74.94 and Brent Goik at 75.0).
THE COACH ... Already in the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame, Bruce Fossum returned to the Spartan program this winter to serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Fossum guided the Spartans for 24 years from 1965 to 1989 and produced 16 top-five finishes at the Big Ten Championship. He also led the school to its only Big Ten title, in 1969.
THE STARS ...
MATT PUMFORD (Sr., Saginaw, Mich.): Originally a walk-on, he has emerged as MSU's most consistent golfer has led the team in three of the last four tournaments, including top-20 finishes in each of the last three leads the team with six top-20 finishes has led the team in five tournaments overall tied for 30th (No. 2 among MSU golfers) at the Northern Intercollegiate best finish was tied for fourth overall, helping lead the team to the title at the Detroit Titans Invitational.
STROKE AVG.: 74.09 TOP-20 FINISHES: 6 TOP-10 FINISHES: 1 LOW ROUND: 67 (-4, Xavier)
CARLOS FOULQUIE (Jr., Madrid, Spain): A transfer from Lon Morris J.C. (Texas), he has made an immediate impact with the MSU program has produced top-20 finishes in two of the last three tournaments entering this weekend tied for seventh at Tulane, his lone top-10 finish of the year has led the team in three tournaments.
STROKE AVG.: 74.94 TOP-20 FINISHES: 5 TOP-10 FINISHES: 1 LOW ROUND: 66 (-4, Colorado State)
BRENT GOIK (So., Bay City, Mich.): Burst on to the Big Ten golf scene with a fifth-place finish in the Big Ten Championship as a redshirt freshman last season tied for fourth in his earlier trip to the Bolstad Course, at the Northern Intercollegiate started the season on a tear, leading MSU in the first four tournaments and producing three top-10 finishes took home medalist honors at the Detroit Titans Invitational.
STROKE AVG.: 75.0 TOP-20 FINISHES: 4 TOP-10 FINISHES: 3 LOW ROUND: 66 (-5, Detroit; -5 North.)
ALBERTO QUEVEDO (Sr., Canary Islands, Spain): Like countryman Foulquie, came to MSU from Lon Morris J.C. (Texas) finished second individually at the Detroit Titans Invitational has two rounds of 71, most recently at the Fossum Invitational two weeks ago led the team at the Southwest Classic.
STROKE AVG.: 76.00 TOP-20 FINISHES: 1 TOP-10 FINISHES: 1 LOW ROUND: 71 (three times, all -1)
NATHAN CLARK (R-Fr., Mason, Mich.): Has played in five of the last six tournaments for MSU after not seeing any action in the fall coming off back-to-back top-15 finishes took ninth place at the Wolverine Invitational last weekend shot a 69 last Sunday, the low round of his career competed as an individual in the Fossum Invitational and turned in a 75-74-74=223, good for a share of 15th place.
STROKE AVG.: 76.47 TOP-20 FINISHES: 2 TOP-10 FINISHES: 1 LOW ROUND: 69 (-2, Wolverine Inv.)
ADAM WALICKI (Fr., Saline, Mich.): Has been a solid contributor for the Spartans as a true freshman finished tied for fourth at his first collegiate tournament (Detroit) led the team at the Border Olympics (225, tied for 33rd) shot a two-under-par 69 in his last visit to the Bolstad Course.
STROKE AVG.: 76.57 TOP-20 FINISHES: 1 TOP-10 FINISHES: 1 LOW ROUND: 69 (-2, Northern Int.)
MICHIGAN STATE IN THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP
BEST TEAM FINISHES Result: Year(s) First: 1969 Second: 1971, 1968, 1960 Third: 1979, 1975, 1974, 1970, 1967, 1961 Fourth: 1992, 1988, 1966 Fifth: 1994, 1990, 1987, 1986, 1981, 1980, 1973, 1972BEST INDIVIDUAL FINISHES Result: Player (Year) Second: Heath Fell (1993 and 92); John VanderMeiden (1971) Third: Tom Harding (1985); Rick Grover (1980); Lynn Janson (1969); C.A. Smith (1960) Fourth: Todd Marston (1988); Jon Kosier (1987); Steve Broadwell (1975); Lynn Janson (1970); Steve Benson (1968); Ken Rodewald (1956) Fifth: Brent Goik (1998); Todd Marston (1986)