Spartans Open Spring with Big Ten Match Play Championship

Feb. 9, 2012

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's golf spring season gets underway on Friday with the 2012 Big Ten Match Play Championship at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla. The two-day event begins for the Spartans with an 8 a.m. match against Nebraska.

Championship Bracket |Live Scoring

"Our guys at excited to get the spring season going at the Big Ten Match Play Championship," said first-year head coach Casey Lubahn. "This event, now in its fourth year, is a great way to get some intense competition against our rivals while working our way towards the heart of the competition calendar.

"Nebraska is going to be a good test for us right out of the box - we know they are going to be ready and it will be important we take care of the details - especially on this golf course. Concession is one of the most demanding layouts we will see all year.

"For us to continue to be successful, we are going to have to prepare with tremendous focus and intensity - thankfully, the wonderful weather and great facilities here at MSU have been huge for us as we look to zero -in over the next couple days."

Traveling to Florida for the Spartans this weekend are senior Chris Mory, juniors Dan Ellis, Dave Ellis, Will Morris and Matthew Moseley, and freshman McCormick Clouser.

Five of the Spartans have experience in this event, as Dan Ellis, Mory and Moseley all competed for MSU in the last two Big Ten Match Play Championships, while Morris played in 2010 and Dave Ellis was in the lineup last year.

The Spartans are looking to build off of a successful fall season, which saw four-top-5 finishes in five events, including tying for first in the Georgetown Intercollegiate, the last event in the fall. Dan Ellis led MSU all fall, posting a 72.8 scoring averaging and placing in the top-15 in all five events, including three top-5 showings. Mory was second with a 73.4 mark, having three top-10 individual finishes. Moseley (2), Dave Ellis (1) and Clouser (1) all also had a top-10 event.

Last year, the Spartans lost their Big Ten Match Play opener, but bounced back with two wins on Saturday (Penn State and Wisconsin) to finish the event at 2-1.

Northwestern has won the last two Big Ten Match Play Championships.

Saturday's action will be broadcast on Big Ten Network on tape delay, airing on March 11 at 12 p.m. ET.