Feb. 13, 2009

BOCA RATON, FL - The Florida Atlantic University men's golf team will begin its spring schedule at the inaugural Jacksonville University Invitational on Monday, February 16 and Tuesday, February 17. The invite will be hosted at the TPC at Sawgrass on the Dye's Valley Course (Par 72/ 6,864 yards).

Teams participating include Jacksonville University, Jacksonville State University, University of South Carolina-Upstate, University of Kentucky, Lamar University, Loyola University, Bethune-Cookman University, Stetson University and Charleston Southern University. Golfers will complete 36 holes on Monday followed by 18 on Tuesday. "We had a great fall," FAU head coach Angelo Sands said. "I hope we keep it going this spring, starting at the Jacksonville Invitational".  FAU's projected starting five are Kelly McHugh, Ben Silverman, Michael Baskovich, Billy Bowling and Sterling Searcy Jr.

FAU's spring slate also includes meetings with the University of Dayton, St. Johns University, Niagara University and Rutgers University while competing in the Butler North/South tournament. Additionally, the team is excited to host the first annual "FAU Spring Break Championship" at Gleneagles Country Club in Delray Beach. The tournament, from March 27-29, will field 14 teams from across the country. The tournament will be the last competition before heading to the Sun Belt Conference Championships in Houston, Texas from April 20-22.

FAU is coming off a fall season that saw much progress in the team's play as it averaged 296.10 strokes per round, sixth best in the Sun Belt Conference. The team finished runner-up at both the Bethune-Cookman and Stetson Invitational while four Owls broke into the top 10 at a fall tournament. The Owls will look to improve upon its 12th place finish at the Sun Belt Championships last spring.

Name                    Class               2008 Fall Results

Kelly McHugh          So.         (10 rounds, 739 strokes, 73.90 avg.)

Ben Silverman         Jr.          (7 rounds, 518 strokes, 74.00 avg.)

Michael Baskovich    Fr.          (10 rounds, 738 strokes, 73.80 avg.)

Billy Bowling            Jr.          (5 rounds, 369 strokes, 73.80 avg.)

Sterling Searcy        Fr.          (10 rounds, 757 strokes, 75.70 avg.