Hogs set to play season opener

WAYZATA, Minn.-The University of Arkansas men’s golf team is set to make its first appearance of the season at the Gopher Invitational on Sunday. The tournament hosted by the University of Minnesota is in its fifth year and this will be the second year for Arkansas to participate.

The competitive field of 12 teams spanning 10 different collegiate conferences has multiple returning teams. Arkansas will be appearing for the second year as will as the University of Iowa and the University of Wisconsin will mark it as a third. Southern Methodist University is making its fifth consecutive visit to the Gopher Invite and Lamar University is returning after taking home the team title in 2007. Notre Dame (fourth appearance) and UNC Wilmington (second appearance) also will be in attendance as well as Miami (Ohio), Northern Iowa, UNC Charlotte and UNC Greensboro — who are all making their first trip to the Gopher Invitational.

The Hogs were last seen at 2009 NCAA Division I Championships in which they were runner’s up in the head-to-head shootout with Texas A&M.

“I think our team has grown a lot from the point they were last year at this tournament,” head coach Brad McMakin said. “It would be impossible for our team to have not progressed. Obviously, confidence has increased after the run we had at the National Championship.”

Playing for Arkansas in the season opener are Ethan Tracy, David Lingmerth, Jamie Marshall, Dalton Owens, and Ty Spinella.

The Gopher Invitational was the second tournament of the 2008-2009 season for the Razorbacks. After taking a team win among 18 teams in the season opener at the Maryland Collegiate Invitational, the Hogs posted 26-over 890 for a ninth place finish of twelve teams. David Lingmerth ended in a three-way tie for second place with a 1-under 215(74-70-71).

The Razorbacks will begin teeing off at 8:30 at the Tom Fazio designed par 72, 7020-yard Spring Hill Golf Course. For results please log onto ArkansasRazorbacks.com