Spartans Set To Open Season At Rutgers Invitational
9/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 11, 2008
Spartanburg, S.C. - The USC Upstate men's golf team is set to open the 2008-09 season Friday at the Rutgers Invitational in Piscataway, N.J., as the Spartans look to make a triumphant return to the tournament that sparked Upstate's strong start in the Division I era a year ago.
Coming off of a second-place finish in the 2007 NCAA Division II National Tournament, Upstate traveled to Rutgers to participate in its first tournament as a member of NCAA Division I last year. The University moved the athletics program to the Division I level beginning in the 2007-08 season. When the Spartans teed it up a year ago at Rutgers, the team had no idea they would turn in such a tremendously successful season.
Michael Lawrence paced the Spartans to a 15-stroke victory over second-place Notre Dame, giving the Spartans its first team championship on the Division I level in its first tournament playing on the Division I level. Lawrence finished the tournament at 4-under, claiming the individual championship by three strokes over teammate Josh Gallman.
The performance at the tournament last year set a tone for the entire season as the Spartans claimed a second team championship in the spring and five more individual tournament titles. Gallman claimed four individual tournament championships, earned A-Sun All-Conference honors and was named the A-Sun Golfer of the Month three of the six times it was awarded. Tyler Tucker also won an individual title, giving the Spartans six total tournament titles in 12 tournaments.
"Coming off of a strong appearance in the Division II Championships, we had pretty high expectations as we entered Division I," said Upstate head coach Todd Lawton. "We went up against some pretty strong competition and won the tournament. But, to not only win but to win convincingly, it planted the seeds of confidence for the entire year. By winning six individual and two team championships last year, it proved that we were truly a team and not just a one-man show."
Last year's 18-team field has been extended to a 24-team field for the 36-hole Rutgers Invitational this year. Upstate will face the likes of Boston College, Rutgers, Towson, Villanova, Dartmouth, Temple, Seton Hall, Mt. St. Mary's, Monmouth, Sacred Heart and Fairfield in the tournament. Upstate will be paired with Boston College, Rutgers and Fairfield Friday morning with the first tee time at 8:20 a.m. The Spartans' five golfers in the tournament are returnees Gallman, Lawrence and Baxter Culler as well as newcomers Scott Boston and Bryan Otis.
"The field is deeper this year," said Lawton. "It is a who's who of Northeast college golf. I know the guys are pretty excited and pumped about getting out there and teeing it up."
