SIOUX FALLS – After consecutive top four finishes, the University of Sioux Falls Men's Golf Team will look to continue their strong start as the Cougars compete at the  NSIC Preview Invitational, hosted by Winona State, at Shoal Creek Golf Course in Kansas City, Missouri on Monday – Tuesday, March 29-30. 

So far in 2021, USF has finished eighth (623 – 321-302) at the Natural State Golf Classic in Cabot, Ark., fifth (923 – 311-306-306) at the Battle for the Belt at Hot Springs, Ark. first (889 -- 301,298,290) at the Hillcat Classic in Owasso, OK and fourth at the Washburn Invitational. Through four tournaments, USF is averaging 303.36 per round with a season low of 290 at the Hillcat Classic in the third round. USF has had three rounds of sub-300 already this season including two at the Hillcat Classic of 290 (3^rd round) and 298 (second round) with a 295 (2^nd round) of the Washburn Invitational.

Led by a balanced squad, the Cougars have started the new season strong, finishing in eighth 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.

As a group at the Hillcat Classic, the Cougars, led by two top five finishes from JJ Cooney (T-3rd, 218 - 76-72-70) and Jacob Zosel (T-5th - 220 - 75-75-70)  registered a first place total of 889 (301-298-290) as they improved their round scores each day. The final round total of 290 was not only a season-best but the top round by any team at the competition. In total,  USF, which won its first tournament since capturing the Augustana Fall Invitational on Sept. 29, 2019, carded 47 birdies, two eagles, and 170 pars during their stellar and season-best performance.

Led by three golfers in the top 25, including an 11-place finish from junior Jack Evans, the USF Golf Team finished fourth in the team standings at the Washburn Invitational, which concluded Tuesday (March 23) at the Topeka Country Club. With a final round of 302, the Cougars finished at 50-over par, 902 (305-295-302) for fourth place as they placed eight shots out of third place which was held by Southwestern Oklahoma State with a 42-over par 894 (301-293-300).USF finished in the top-five for the third straight tournament and five of the last seven competitions dating to spring 2020. The Cougars were led by Evans, who was tied for 11th as he moved up four spots on the final day to finish 11^th at 10-over par 223 (72-77-74).  His 223 was 16 shots before than his 239 at the Hillcat Classic and nine shots better than his previous best of 232 at the Battle for the Belt on March 8-9. The 72 by Evans in the opening round was his best 18-hole round of the season. USF also had a second top-15 finish as senior Brendan Bassing carded a 12-over par 225 (79-71-75). Bassing also carded his best round of the year with an even par 71 on round two.  With his 75 in the final round, Bassing moved up two spots.

Player Notes – 

Senior Brenden Bassing was named the NSIC Player of the Week two weeks ago 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.   For the season, Bassing has had 846 strokes in 11 rounds with a low round of 72 (Battle of the Belt, 3^rd round) and a 76.91 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, has opened strong this season. USF's first ever three-time All-NSIC selection last spring, Cooney has 603 shots on eight rounds for a 75.38 average and a low round of 70 (Hillcat Classic). He is coming off his best performance of the year with a three-round total of 218 (76-72-70) when he was two-over and finished tied for third in helping USF win the title at the Hillcat Classic. He shot 15 shots better than his 233 (76-76-81) at the Battle for the Belt. He opened the year with a two-round total of 152 (79-73) at the Natural State Golf Classic when he finished 21st. Three-time All-NSIC and the 2020 USF Male Athlete of the Year, Cooney has 17 top-10 finishes with six top-five and two individual titles 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 11 rounds and 848 strokes for an average of 77.09. He has a low round of 72 (Washburn Invitational).  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 847 shots on 11 rounds for a 77.00 average. Like Cooney, Zosel had major improvement in his play at the Hillcat Classic. With a season-best fifth place finish he carded 220 (75-75-70) with his three best individual rounds of the year. In fact, his total of 220 was 14 shots better than his 234 (80-76-78) at the Battle for the Belt. he has careded a low round of 70 (Hillcat Classic) and five straight scores of 78 or lower. 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 78.09 average with 11 rounds and 859 shots. He had his low round of 69 at the Hillcat Classic when he had a career-best finish of T-12th as he finished with a 227 (69-80-78). Metz, who has the top individual round of the season by a USF golfer, bettered his total of three-rounds of 240 (79-78-83) at the Battle of the Belt by 13 shots at the Hillcat Classic. For the first time in his career, he led a tournament after the first round with that 69 at the Hillcat Classic.   

Also for USF, Jake Oetzmann has played nine rounds with 737 strokes for a 81.89 average and a low round of 77 (Hillcat Classic). Nathan Woodall has played two rounds for 183 strokes and a 91.50 average.