March 2, 2000

LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech men's golf team opens the spring season at the 2000 Wolverine South Invitational hosted by the University of Michigan at Hunter Golf Club in Savannah, Ga. The 54-hole event begins Sat., March 4, and runs through Sun., March 5. The format consists of 36 holes Saturday and 18 holes Sunday.

"We have been working very hard to prepare for this tournament," Texas Tech Director of Golf Jeff Mitchell said. "Playing on a golf course with a lot of grass and the possibility of some rain make this a good test for us."

Texas Tech finished the fall season ranked 87th nationally by the Sagarin Collegiate Rankings, after closing the 1999 spring season ranked 250th.

The newcomer trio of sophomore David Bolen and freshmen Mark Hull and Trey Pyka will be looked upon to lead the Red Raiders in the first tournament of the season. Bolen led Tech with a 73.7 stroke average, while Hull and Pyka teamed with fellow freshman Brooks Kelly to earn a No. 11 national ranking in Sagarin's freshman impact rating. Hull posted a 73.8 stroke average in the fall, while Pyka and Kelly turned in averages of 75.7 and 77.5, respectively.

Junior Corey Henegar is the team veteran and won in his last outing at the Hal Sutton Invitational last November. Henegar averaged 75.6 strokes in the fall.

"Corey Henegar is coming off of a victory in our last outing," Mitchell said. "David Bolen and Mark Hull are starting off this season after very solid performances all of last fall."

Tournament Field
Air Force Academy
University of Akron
Ball State University
Bowling Green State University
Eastern Kentucky University
James Madison University
Marshall University
Miami (Ohio) University
University of Michigan (Blue)
University of Michigan (Maize)
Methodist College
Northern Illinois University
Ohio University
University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Texas Tech University
University of Wisconsin
Wright State University
Xavier University