KANSAS CITY, MO. – After a fifth consecutive top-five finish, the University of Sioux Falls Men's Golf Team will look to continue the momentum of the spring as they compete at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships at the Shoal Creek Golf Course on Friday through Sunday, April 16-18.

Due to the weather forecasts, the opening round on Friday starts with a 9 am shotgun start on the par 71, 6,983 yard course. On Saturday, the competitors will begin with tee times at 9 am with the final round a 9 am shotgun start. Each of the teams in the conference championship will shoot 18 hold rounds on each of the three days. To follow along, click here for live scoring.

Winona State is the defending champion from 2019 as the 2020 Championship was cancelled dueto CoVID-19. At that conference meet, USF was fifth as they recorded a 65-over par 917 (313-306-298). USF placed two in the top-15 with Brenden Bassing, 11^th; and JJ Cooney, 13^th. 

USF ranked 7^th in the NCAA DII Regional Rankings
USF has been ranked a program-best seventh in the second of three NCAA Men's Golf Regional rankings. USF is the highest NSIC team ranked at No. 7 with Bemidji State entering the rankings at 10^th. The USF Men's Golf Team has had a tremendous spring with five straight top-five finishes against high quality competition. They won the Hillcat Classic in Owasso, Okla., on March 15-16 and was most recently fifth at "The Mule" with 23 teams and 119 players. In 14 rounds, USF has compiled a 300.1 scoring average. USF is led by JJ Cooney who is sixth in the NSIC in scoring average at 75.1 but has shot the most rounds. Jack Evans is 10^th at 75.9 with Brenden Bassing, 11^th, 76.1; Jacob Zosel, 12^th, 76.4; and Gavin Metz, 16^th, 76.9. USF is the only team with five golfers in the top 16 in the league. USF has been ranked a program-best seventh in the second of three NCAA Men's Golf Regional rankings, which was released today by the NCAA Golf Committee. 

USF at NSIC – History
USF's best finish at the NSIC meet was second place in 2015 when three players placed in the top-20 and two (Derek Dillon and Jon Van't Hul) were top 10. USF was also third in 2014 and fifth in 2019, which was the most recent NSIC Championship. USF has had just two player, including the 2021 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year JJ Cooney, place in the top-20 at three different NSIC Championships. Cooney has the best NSIC individual finish at sixth when he was a sophomore in 2018. He also placed 13^th in 2019 and was 12^th in 2017. Derek Dillon was 17^th, 2014; 10^th, 2015 and 20^th in 2017. USF has had at least one golfer finish in the top-20 in every meet except 2016.

2013 – 3rd place, 120 over par 1272 (315-317-309-331) – Jordan Mueller, 11^th, 29-over par 317 (71-82-80-84); Nick Gottsleben, 34-over par 322 (80-85-76-81); Andrew Nelson, 19^th, 34-over par 322 (80-85-76-81)

2014 – 10^th place, 104-over par (338-325-305) – Derek Dillon, 17^th, 21-over par 237 (86-76-75)

2015 – 2^nd place, 62-over par 1,198 (307-304-290-297) --  Derek Dillon, 10^th, 17-over par 301 (75-74-77-75); Jon Van't Hul, 10^th, 17-over par 301 (82-73-72-78); Talon Eich, 13^th, 20-over par 304 (76-79-69-80).

2016 – 9th place, 125-over par 1,270 (313-315-329-313)

2017 – 8^th place, 75-over par 939 (311-308-320) – JJ Cooney, 12^th, 9-over par 225 (75-77-73); Derek Dillon, 20^th, 14-over par 230 (78-74-78)

2018 – 8^th place, 65-over par 929 (313-312-304) – JJ Cooney, 6^th, 8-over par 224 (76-75-73); Jacob Zosel, 9^th, 9-over par 226 (79-74-73)

2019 – 5^th, 65-over par 917 (313-306-298) – Brenden Bassing, 11^th, 12-over par 225 (79-73-73); JJ Cooney, 13^th, 14-over par 227 (78-72-77)
Review of the Spring

Review of the season
The USF Men's Golf Team has had a tremendous spring with five straight top-five finishes against high quality competition. Most recently, Led by the top-17 finishes from JJ Cooney and Jack Evans, USF recorded a program-best three-round total and registered its fifth straight top-five finish at the highly competitive "The Mule" on April 5-6. Hosted by Central Missouri, USF put together a program-best mark of 864 (285-293-286), which bettered its previous mark (877 -297-299-291, Holiday Inn Express Classic, Oct. 7-8, 2019). On the par 70, 6,455-yard course, USF finished just one shot out of fourth place which was held by Missouri Western State at 863 (288-282-293). Washburn, led by Andrew Beckler who was tied for the individual medalist honors with Nick Westrich of Central Missouri at 210, won the team title at 850 (283-280-287).  Of special note, USF's highest individual round among its five scoring players was a 76 with the lowest 68 (Jack Evans).  At "The Mule," Cooney, a native of Pickstown, S.D., led the way for USF by placing in a tie for 14^th at four-over par 214 (71-73-70). Cooney who led the entire tournament with 14 birdies, also finished sixth in par four scoring at -1. Cooney, who now has 28 top-20 career finishes, recorded his career-best three round total of 214 (71-73-70), better the 216 (74-72-70) at the MSSU Fall Invite on Sept. 24-25, 2018. Junior Jack Evans finished tied for 17^th with a career-best 215 (74-73-68), which was five-over par and he jumped from 44^th to tie for 17^th or a move of 27 spots up the individual leader board. And, the Brainerd, Minn., native also recorded the single best individual round score by a USF golfer this year with his final round total of 68. With that 215, Evans, who was 12th in par three scoring and 21st in par four scoring at "The Mule," bettered his previous mark of 218 (75-73-70) at the Holiday inn Express Classic on Oct, 2019. During his three rounds this week, he was fourth in the tournament with 39 pars. In 16 rounds, USF has compiled a 300.8 scoring average, which is second to Bemidji State at 22.8 but through 10 rounds. USF is led by JJ Cooney who is seventh in the NSIC in scoring average at 75.3 but has shot the most rounds (16). 

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, Okla.; fourth at the Washburn Invitational and fifth (611 - 309-302) at the NSIC Preview Invitational at Shoal Creek Golf Course in Kansas City on March 29-30. At that meet, USF had its best two-round total of the season. Through five tournaments, USF is averaging 303.69 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. 

Senior Jacob Zosel led three players in the top 22 as USF earned its fourth straight top-five finish by claiming fifth place in the team standings at the NSIC Preview Invitational at Shoal Creek Golf Club on March 29-30. Despite the windy weather, USF had a solid tournament with a second round bettering round one by seven shots. As a result, the Cougars finished at 611 (309-302) or 43-over par.

Player Notes – Cougars led by a senior group paced by JJ Cooney, 75.25 round avg.

Senior Brenden Bassing was named the NSIC Player of the Week on March 7 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 1,219 strokes in 16 rounds with a low round of even par 71 at the Washburn Invitational on March 22, 2021 (second round). He also had an even par 72 in the third round of the Battle for the Belt on March 9 and carded one-over par 71 in the first round of "The Mule." He owns a 76.19 scoring average  and has played his best three-round total at "The Mule" where he was 10-over par and 38^th with his 220 (71-75-74). He has 14-of-16 rounds at 79 or lower and seven rounds of 75 or lower.  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 1,204 shots on 16 rounds for a team-best 75.25 average and a low round of 70 (Hillcat Classic). His best performance of the year was at the Hillcat Classic, a three-round total of  two-over par 218 (76-72-70) and finished tied for third in helping USF win the title at the Hillcat Classic. Cooney, who has had a 74 or lower in his last four rounds and a 79 or lower in 14-of-16 rounds with eight rounds of 75 orlower.  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 16 rounds and 1,229 strokes for an average of 76.81. He has a low round of two-under 68 at "The Mule."  He has nine top-20 finishes with five top-10 and one top-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 1,218 shots on 16 rounds for a 76.13, which ranks second on USF. For the first time in his career, he was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Golfer of the Week on March 31. Zosel earned the second NSIC Golfer of the Week honors by a USF golfer this year. Earlier this spring (March 10) senior Brenden Bassing was named. His top three-round score is 12-over par 222 (73-75-74) at The Mule as he finished 48^th. Zosel, who has had two top-10 finishes this year, finished in a tie for ninth place as he jumped up 20 spots on the leader board following the first round at the NSIC Preview Invitational at Shoal Creek Golf Club in Kansas City (March 29-30). He finished at a seven-over par 149 (78-71), which included an even par 71 in the final round and led USF to a 5th place finish - tops among all NSIC schools in the tourney. Like Cooney, Zosel had major improvement in his play at the Hillcat Classic. With a season-best fifth place finish he carded a four-over par 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 carded 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 finishedsand 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 77.44 average with 16 rounds and 1,239 shots. He had his low round of 69 at the Hillcat Classic when he finished 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.  Metz's top career three-round total is the eight-over par 218 (70-72-76) when he was 32^nd overall at "The Mule. Eleven times he has a 79 or lower round.

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. Hank Eggebraaten has played two rounds with 179 shots and an average of 89.50.