April 29, 2008

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's golf team will travel to Nashport, Ohio on May 2-4 to compete at the 2008 Mid-American Conference Championships, hosted by Eastern Michigan. The 72-hole event is being held at Longaberger Golf Club.

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Last Time Out
In the final tune-up before the MAC Championships, the Bowling Green State University men's golf team carded a 36-hole score of 742 (364-378) to finish eighth at the First Energy Intercollegiate, hosted by Kent State. The Flashes won the tournament with a score of 712.

The tournament, which featured a different format that made each team count five scores compared to the normal four, allowed six golfers to compete at the First Energy. If the Falcons were allowed to count just four scores they would have shot scores of 289-299--588.

The Falcons were led by senior Trevor Spathelf, who had his best tournament of the year, carding a 146 (72-74) to finish in a tie for 16th. Fellow classmate Russell Goodwin was not far off the pace with a 147 (73-74) and finished in a tie for 20th.

Sophomore John Powers opened with a 2-over 72, before closing with a 78, to finish in a tie for 37th.

Jace Walker, 151 (72-79), Matt Schneider, 153 (80-73) and Bryan Mitchell, 154 (75-79) finished in ties for 46th, 53rd and 58th respectively.

Directions to Longaberger
From Cincinnati: Take Interstate 71 North to Interstate 70 East. From Interstate 70 East turn left onto State Route 37 North. Follow State Route 37 North to State Route 16 East and turn right. From State Route 16 East take the Scenic Route 146 Exit. Turn left onto Scenic Route 146 North. Longaberger Golf Club is located straight ahead.

From Cleveland: From Interstate 77 South turn right onto U.S. Route 36 West. Follow U.S. Route 36 West to State Route 16 West. Follow SR 16 West to the Scenic Route 146 Exit. Turn right onto Scenic Route 146 North. Longaberger Golf Club is located straight ahead.

From Columbus: From Interstate 70 East turn left onto State Route 37 North. Follow State Route 37 North to State Route 16 East and turn right. From State Route 16 East take the Scenic Route 146 Exit. Turn left onto Scenic Route 146 North. Longaberger Golf Club is located straight ahead.

From Pittsburgh: Take Interstate 79 South to Interstate 70 West. Follow Interstate 70 West to the Zanesville - Maple Avenue Exit (State Route 60 North). At first traffic light, turn left onto Adair Avenue. Adair Avenue becomes Scenic Route 146 North. Follow Scenic Route 146 North to Longaberger Golf Club.

Walker Closes In on Winger's Career Average Record
Current men's head coach Garry Winger, who owns the lowest-ever career average at BGSU with a 75.00 may have to surrender that record to BGSU senior Jace Walker, who will close his Falcon career this weekend. The St. Thomas, Ontario native has played in 119 rounds, carding 8,916 stroke in his career for a 74.92 career average.

Notes on the Team
• Falcons are averaging 294.86 strokes a round this season, which would be a new school record. The previous-best of 297.6 was held by the 2001-02 Falcon squad.
• The Falcons won their opening tournamnet of the season with a 293 at the Purdue Midwest Shootout.
• The Falcons finished sixth at last year's MAC Championships. The last time the Falcons finished higher then sixth was in 1994 when BGSU finished third.

Notes on the Falcon Top-Five
Jace Walker
• Was named MAC Golfer of the Week following a 12th place finish at the Palmas Del Mar (71-74-74).
• Finished in a tie for first at the Purdue Midwest Shootout (71).
• Has seven top-15 finishes (has played in 12 tournamnets this season).
• Has broke 70 four times this season.
• According to www.mac-sports.com, he ranks fourth in the conference in scoring average.

Matt Schneider
• According to www.mac-sports.com, he ranks 11th in the conference in scoring average (74.25).
• Has three top-12 finishes this season.
• Finished third at the MAC/Big East Challenege (69-73-75).

John Powers
• Is third on the team with a 75.07 stroke average.
• Ranks 24th in the MAC in scoring average according to the MAC's official website.
• Best finish of the season came at the MAC/Big East Challenge, where he finished 10th (74-74-73).

Trevor Spathelf
• Is fourth on the team with a 76.48 stroke average.
• Is coming off his best finish of the season this past weekend at the First Energy Intercollegiate, where he finished in a tie for 16th (72-74).
• Is averaging 75.57 strokes a round in his last three tournaments.

Russell Goodwin
• Is fifth on the team with a 77.00 stroke average.
• Is playing some of his best golf on the season in three of his last four tournaments ( Hoosier, Marshall, First Energy) and is averaging 73.83 strokes a round in those three tournaments.

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