Men's Golf Begins Fall by Hosting Spartan Classic
9/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 12, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State men's golf begins the 2008-09 season on Sunday, as they host the Spartan Classic at the Kingsley Club in Kinglsey, Mich. The Spartans will face off with Chicago State, Detroit, Dusquesne, McNeese State and Oakland in the 36-hole event. First tee time is set for 7:45 a.m.
The Spartans, who received votes in the preseason Golf World/NIKE Golf Division I Coaches' Poll, ended last season ranked among the nation's top-25 by both Golfweek/Sagarin and Golfstat, after winning their second straight Big Ten Championship and placing 11th at the NCAA East Regional. Michigan State won two tournaments last season, including the Big Tens, while also placing in the top-five in eight of the 12 events. Individually, five Spartans (four by graduated All-American Ryan Brehm and one by junior Jack Newman) won tournaments, and five different MSU golfers placed in the top-three at some poitn during the season. Also, showing their depth, nine Spartans had a top-20 individual showing.
Michigan State returns four starters from last season's Big Ten Championship squad. Two All-Big Ten performers - senior Randy Hutchison and Newman - highlight returning core. In addition, a pair of sophomores - Graham Baillargeon and Payne Gniewek - look to build off of their initial collegiate campaigns. Rounding out the MSU five on Sunday will be senior Jordan Ensrud.
The Kingsley Club, opened in 2001, plays nearly 7,000 yards at a par 71. Golfweek recently ranked the Kingsley Club the 18th best Modern Course (1960-present) in the country, while Footjoy tabbed it as one of the "greatest walks in golf."
Players Mentioned
