Fossum/Spartan Invitational
From a modest beginning in 1966, the Fossum/Spartan Invitational has developed into a showcase of fine collegiate golf. In 1996, the tournament celebrated its 30th anniversary and was added to the College Golf Foundation/Rolex Golf Tour as one of the top 75 collegiate golf tournaments.
The tournament annually draws some of the top collegiate golfing talent in the nation to the Forest Akers West Course.
2009 Fossum/Spartan Invitational Champions  |
|
The Fossum/Spartan Invitational began in 1966 with eight schools participating and grew to 25 teams in the late 1970s. In 1998 and 2008, Michigan State did not host the Fossum Invitational because the Big Ten Championship was held at Forest Akers West.*
Bruce Fossum - Michigan State Men's Golf Coach (1966-89) |
|
The tournament was renamed in 1992 in honor of Bruce Fossum, longtime Spartan coach and teacher. Among his many coaching laurels is his induction into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame in 1985. Fossum's wife, Mary (MSU's former women's golf coach), was inducted into the hall in 1988, making the pair the only husband-wife team in the GCAA Hall of Fame. Bruce was the chairman of the NCAA Golf Committee from 1971 to 1975 and president of the Golf Coaches Association of America from 1977 through 1979.
Michigan State has won the title 11 times, including three of the last four held in 2007, 2009, 2010 (fall) and 2010 (spring), in the 44-year existence of the Fossum/Spartan Invitational.
Fossum/Spartan Invitational History
| YEAR | TEAM CHAMPION | SCORE | INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION | SCORE |
| 1966 | Michigan State | 298--298 | Al Thiess (MSU) | 71--71 |
| 1967 | Michigan State | 308-305--613 | Steve Benson (MSU) | 75-74--149 |
| 1967 | Michigan State | 308-305--613 | Steve Benson (MSU) | 75- 74--149 |
| 1968 | Michigan | 363-383--736 | Timo Kilpelaninen (Western Michigan) | 68-74--143 |
| 1969 | Indiana | 362--362 | Rod Sumpter (Michigan) | 33-36--69 |
| 1970 | Michigan State | 378-376--754 | Ron English (MSU) | 73-74--147 |
| 1971 | Michigan State | 376-371--747 | Jeff Reaume (Eastern Michigan) | 66-78--144 |
| 1972 | Michigan State | 286-297--583 | Dick Bradow (MSU) | 70-72--142 |
| 1973 | Ohio State | 377-378--755 | Steve Groves (Ohio State) | 72-72--144 |
| 1974 | Ball State | 369--369 | Tom McParlan (Michigan) | 37-33--70 |
| 1975 | Illinois State | 382-383--765 | Mark Weston (MSU) | 74-73--147 |
| 1976 | Ohio State | 373-375--748 | Harold Payne (Marshall) | 74-68--142 |
| 1977 | Ohio State | 370-357--727 | Ray Pontinen (Minnesota) | 72-70--142 |
| 1978 | Ohio State | 364-363--727 | John Cook (Ohio State) | 68-68--136 |
| 1979 | Ohio State | 355-362--717 | Dave Brilliant (Miami) | 70-70--140 |
| 1980 | Ohio State | 357-346--703 | Rocky Miller (Ohio State) | 69-68--137 |
| 1981 | Ohio State | 368-365--733 | Steve Lubbers (MSU) John Morse (Michigan) |
69-75--144 75-69--144 |
| 1982 | Ohio State | 361-360--721 | Greg Ladehoff (Ohio State) | 73-68--141 |
| 1983 | Ohio State | 366-356--722 | Dan Roberts (Michigan) | 69-73--142 |
| 1984 | Ohio State | 370-369--739 | Clark Burroughs (Ohio State) | 71-70--141 |
| 1985 | Notre Dame | 297--297 | John O'Donovan (Notre Dame) | 72--72 |
| 1986 | No Fossum/Spartan Invitational | |||
| 1987 | Michigan State | 297-289-300--886 | Jon Kosier (MSU) | 72-69-75--216 |
| 1988 | Illinois | 290-312-289--891 | Steve Stricker (Illinois) Mike Small (Illinois) |
70-74-73--217 73-75-69--217 |
| 1989 | Wisconsin | 299-298-292--889 | Jeff Schmid (Iowa) | 69-72-72--213 |
| 1990 | Illinois | 293-282-287-301--1,163 | Brent Kish (MSU) | 71-70-74-66--281 |
| 1991 | Minnesota | 287-298-286--871 | Dean Kobane (Michigan) | 72-71-70--213 |
| 1992 | Michigan State | 284-289-295--868 | Joe Gullion (Minnesota) | 68-67-76--211 |
| 1993 | Northwestern | 301-294-290--885 | Bert Roney (Northwestern) | 72-73-71--216 |
| 1994 | Ohio State | 295-305-290--890 | Eric Frishette (Kent State) | 74-71-73--218 |
| 1995 | Ohio State | 287-291-294--872 | Donnie Darr (Kent State) | 70-74-67--211 |
| 1996 | Minnesota | 298-290-295--883 | Aaron Barber (Minnesota) | 75-72-69--216 |
| 1997 | Northwestern | 291-290-300--881 | Randy Leen (Indiana) | 71-70-73--214 |
| 1998 | No Fossum/Spartan Invitational | |||
| 1999 | Illinois | 298-288-287--873 | Larry Nuger (Illinois) | 68-68-72--208 |
| 2000 | Kent State | 288-285-297--870 | Jess Daley (Northwestern) | 72-69-70--211 |
| 2001 | Northwestern | 278-287-286--851 | Luke Donald (Northwestern) | 69-72-64--205 |
| 2002 | Toledo | 286-295-295--876 | David Jones (Toledo) | 73-74-69--216v |
| 2003 | Kent State Illinois |
299-278-287--864 284-293-287--864 |
James Lepp (Illinois) | 69-67-72--208 |
| 2004 | Indiana | 288-295-297--880 | Jeff Overton (Indiana) | 73-70-67--210 |
| 2005 | Minnesota | 292-291-284--867 | Ben Greve (Minnesota) | 70-74-66--210 |
| 2006 | Indiana | 292-283-295--870 | Charlie Soule (Denver) | 69-71-69--207 |
| 2007 | Michigan State | 279-284-278--841 | Matt Harmon (MSU) Jack Newman (MSU Jason Kokrak (Xavier) |
73-66-67--206 67-72-67--206 69-68-69--206 |
| 2008 | No Fossum/Spartan Invitational | |||
| 2009 | Michigan State | 289-286-139--714 | Payne Gniewek (MSU) | 69-71-37--177 |
| 2010 (spring) | Michigan State Ferris State |
287-297-295--879 299-291-289--879 |
Josh Gallman (USC Upstate) | 70-70-70--210 |
| 2010 (fall) | Michigan State | 294-297--591 | James Ross (MSU) | 74-72--146 |
| 2011 | IUPUI | 300-289-286--875 | Michael Davan (IUPUI) | 75-70-69--214 |
TEAM RECORDS
Low 18-Hole Score
278, Michigan State, 3rd round, 2007 (five golfers)
*278, Northwestern, 1st round, 2001 (five golfers)
282, Illinois, 2nd round, 1990 (five golfers)
346, Ohio State, 2nd round, 1980 (six golfers)
Low 36-Hole Score
279-284--563, Michigan State, 2007
*278-287--565, Northwestern, 2001
288-285--573, Kent State, 2000
Low 54-Hole Score
279-284-278--841, Michigan State 2007
*278-287-286--851, Northwestern, 2001
292-291-284--867, Minnesota, 2005
284-289-295--868, Michigan State, 1992
Low 72-Hole Score
293-282-287-301--1,163, Illinois, 1990
Â
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
Low 18-Hole Score
64, Cam Burke, Eastern Michigan, 2007
*64, Luke Donald, Northwestern, 2001
*64, Chris Thayer, Northwestern, 2001
66, Brent Kish, Michigan State, 1990
66, Jeff Reaume, Eastern Michigan, 1971
Low 36-Hole Score
64-71--135, Cam Burke, Eastern Michigan, 2007
68-68--136, John Cook, Ohio State, 1978
Low 54-Hole Score
*69-72-64--205, Luke Donald, Northwestern, 2001
73-66-67--206, Matt Harmon, Michigan State, 2007
67-72-67--206, Jack Newman, Michigan State, 2007
69-68-69--206, Jason Kokrak, Xavier, 2007
Low 72-Hole Score
71-70-74-66--281, Brent Kish, Michigan State, 1990
*Par-71 format used in 2001 due to golf course construction.