DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Golf is set to host the annual Gary Freeman Spring Invitational beginning Friday, Feb. 27, at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida. This is the first time the annual event will be held at LPGA International since 2012, after spending the previous two years at Halifax Plantation in Ormond Beach, Florida.
This year's field includes a total of 13 teams on the men's side, and two on the women's side. Additionally, the field includes the last two tournament champions on the men's side – Bethune-Cookman (2014) and Florida Atlantic (2013).
The Gary Freeman Invitational will have 36 holes played for the men Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. off the #1 tee and #10 tee. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend. Scoring will be posted to the tournament central website which can be accessed here.
Named after legendary golf coach Dr. Gary Freeman, the annual event was started by current head coach Loritz Clark to pay tribute to a man that was the face of the B-CU golf program for many years before retiring and eventually passing away just under four years ago.
THE COURSE: The Hills Course at LPGA International will be played as a par-72, 6,913-yard setup on the men's side. The women will also play the Jones Course, setup as a par-72, 5,802-yard course.
WHEN: Friday, February 27 – Saturday, February 28
TEE TIMES: Tee times have been set for a shotgun start off the No. 1 and No. 10 holes, respectively. Play begins Friday at 8 a.m.
THE TOURNAMENT FIELD (13 teams): No. 119 Army, Benedict, No. 239 Bethune-Cookman, Edward Waters, Embry-Riddle, Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, Hampton (men & women), Indiana University-Purdue University (Ft. Wayne), Maryland Eastern Shore, North Carolina Central, Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah State (men & women) and Western Illinois
SEASON STATISTICS: BCUathletics.com
TOURNAMENT WEBSITE: BCUathletics.com
BETHUNE-COOKMAN LINEUP
No. 1 – Leon Fricker
♦ Second on the Wildcats squad in scoring, averaging 75.87 in the fall
♦ Started in all 15 rounds through the fall season
No. 2 – Connor O'Brien
♦ Produced an average of 79.13 in the fall season
♦ Competing at the No. 2 spot for the first time in his B-CU career
No. 3 – Jackson Kneeshaw
♦ Saw action in just five rounds in the fall, coming on as a late addition to the active roster
♦ Collected a top-10 finish in the fall
No. 4 – Scott Lemon
♦ Competed in three events in the fall, turning in a single top-10 finish
♦ Held an average of 79.88 in the fall
No. 5 – Alvaro Ramirez
♦ Making his collegiate debut for the B-CU Wildcats
♦ Winner of the 2013 VII Nogal National Amateur Championship
LAST TIME AT GARY FREEMAN SPRING INVITE: Leon Fricker led the Bethune-Cookman University men's golf team to a first place finish in the 2014 B-CU Gary Freeman Spring Invitational at Halifax Plantation Golf Club. In posting a tournament-leading 1-over-par 145, Fricker walked away with his first collegiate individual title. Leon Fricker's opening round 2-under-par 70 proved to be the biggest difference in Monday's final scores, as the Ivybridge, England native held off Scott Rogers of Savannah State by a single stroke. Rogers carded a second round 1-under-par 71, while to finish at 146 for the two-day event. As a team, the Wildcats finished with rounds of 291 and 300, giving them a 591 (+15) for the tournament. They finished six strokes ahead of Army (299-298=597, +21) who finished in second place. Savannah State finished in third in the team field (301-307=608, +32), followed by Stetson and Embry-Riddle, respectively. Finishing tied for third in the individual field was Bethune-Cookman senior Matthew McKnight, turning in a 147 across two rounds (73-74, +3). JaMichael Jones finished tied for fifth after a strong 1-over-par 73 in his second round, finishing with a 5-over-par 149. Jones played the tournament as an individual. Fellow Wildcats Rafael Abad and Ryan Fricker each tied for seventh overall, turning in scorecards of 6-over-par 150. Abad scored a 2-over-par 74 in Monday's round, while Fricker was 6-over-par in his final 18 holes. Senior Emmanuel Petrich finished 23rd overall with scores of 79 and 77, allowing him to card a 12-over 156 for the event.
LAST TIME OUT: The Bethune-Cookman men's golf team completed the fall season, with four individuals competing separately in the SSU Tiger Fall Invitational at Crosswinds Golf Course. The event was hosted by Savannah State in Savannah, Georgia. Jackson Kneeshaw (72-78=150, +6) led the scoring for the Wildcats, as he finished in a tie for eighth place overall as part of just the second tournament of his career for B-CU. Behind Kneeshaw was Scott Lemon (73-78=151, +7) who tied for 10th in the tournament field. Connor O'Brien (77-82=159, +15) was tied for 21st, while teammate Daniel Kovari withdrew prior to the final round. Kovari turned in an opening round even-par 72 on Saturday. Savannah State won the team tournament, using individual medalist Travis Roe (71-66=137, -7) to claim the title.
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