SIOUX FALLS – After a top five finish, the University of Sioux Falls Men's Golf Team will look to continue their strong start as the Cougars compete at the Hillcat Classic, hosted by Rogers State, at the Bailey Ranch Golf Club in Owasso, Okla., on Monday and Tuesday, March 15-16.

Live scoring will be available for the Hillcat Classic. The Hillcat Classic will involve 54 holes with 36 (two rounds of 18) on Monday, March 15. Click here for live scoring.

So far in 2021, USF has finished eighth (623 – 321-302) at the Natural State Golf Classic in Cabot, Ark., and fifth (923 – 311-306-306) at the Battle for the Belt at Hot Springs, Ark. Through two tournaments, USF is averaging 309.20 per round with a 302 at the Natural State Golf Classic in the second round the top team score.

The Cougars, which is ranked 11^th in the Central Region by Golf Stat, started the new season strong, finishing in eight place at their first tournament of the season, the Natural State Golf Classic on March 1-2 in Cabot, Ark. In the classic, the Cougars jumped from 13th after day one to eighth overall and opened the season with a top-10 finish in a competitive field of 19 teams. USF, which improved its round score by 19 strokes (321-to-302), had 23 birdies across two days, which was tied for the second best total. They also had 89 par holes.

 With a 59-over par 923 (311-306-306) at the Battle for the Belt in Hot Springs Ark., the Cougars jumped three spots from day one to finish fifth. After opening with a 311 in the first round of the 54-hole tourney, USF cut five shots off their next round for a 306 and repeated their 306 round on Tuesday.

Player Notes – Bassing named NSIC Golfer of the Week
Senior Brenden Bassing was named the NSIC Player of the Week after leading USF to a fifth place finish at the Battle of the Belt. Bassing, who earned his first-ever NSIC honor played 15^th with a three-round total of 225 (77-76-72) and finished nine-over par.  He was 17^th in pars with 30 and also was 14^th in birdies with nine. In par four scoring, Bassing was sixth with a four-over par. For the season, Bassing has had 383 strokes in five rounds with a low round of 72 (Battle of the Belt, 3^rd round). He is leading USF with a 76.60 average. In his career, he had a career-best round of 68 at the BSU Invite in 2017-18 when he finished tied for a career-best second. He has 11 top-20, three top-five and five-top 10 finishes in his career.

Senior JJ Cooney, who was named NSIC Preseason Player of the Year JJ Cooney, USF's first ever three-time All-NSIC selection last spring.  Cooney has 385 shots on five rounds for a 77.00 average and a low round of 73 (Natural State Golf Classic). Three-time All-NSIC and the 2020 USF Male Athlete of the Year, Cooney has 16 top-10 finishes with five top-five and an individual title in his career. He had his career-best round of 68 at the UIU Spring Invite when he finished fifth. He had a career-best two-round total of 140 (71-69) in winning the Watkins Invitational in September, 2019.

Junior Jack Evans has recorded five rounds and 386 strokes for an average of 77.20. He has a low round of 75 (Battle of the Belt, Round 3).  He has eight top-20 finishes with five top-10 and one too-five. He had a career best two-round score of 145 (75-70) at the Watkins Invitational in Septemeber, 2019 with a ninth-place finish. He had a career-best third place finish at the Augustana Invite.

Senior Jacob Zosel has 399 shots on five rounds for a 79.80 average. He has a low round of 76  (Battle for the Belt, 2^nd round). Zosel had a career-best two-round total of 144 (69-75) while finishing second at the Bemidji State Invite in 2018. The 69 at the BSU Invite was his career-best round. He has seven top-20 finished and four top-10 finishes with a title at the Augustana Invite in fall of 2019 when he led the team to a title with a two-round total of 146 (72-74).

Sophomore Gavin Metz is fifth on the team with an 80.0 average with five rounds and 400 shots. He had his low round of 74 at the Natural State Golf Classic in the second round.  

Also for USF, Jake Oetzmann has played three rounds with 249 strokes for a 83.00 average and a low round of 82 (Battle of the Belt, 2^nd round). Nathan Woodall has played two rounds for 183 strokes and a 91.50 average.