The UW men's golf team will play host to 12 teams this weekend as the 2004 Northern Intercollegiate takes place at University Ridge.
The Badgers return home after coming from behind to take the title at the University of Michigan Radrick Farms Invitational Championship last weekend. The tournament ended in a tie, but because UW posted the lowest team score on the final day, it took the championship.
\It was a really great way to start the season for a lot of reasons,"" Head Coach Jim Schuman said. ""[The tournament] was close and to be able to come from behind is a great feeling.""
Sophomore Garrett Jones led the Badgers last weekend, posting a career-low 54-hole score of 254. His score was good enough for a second place tie.
Freshman Jeff Kaiser also played strong in his first match at UW, posting a 217 to tie for eighth place.
The Badgers should be comfortable playing on their home course this weekend. University Ridge was recently recognized as the eighth-best collegiate course in the country.
""Playing your home golf course, your expectations are a little higher,"" Schuman said. ""We feel confident and comfortable.""
The field features Big Ten opponents Penn State, Illinois, Iowa and Michigan, as well as in-state rival Marquette.
""There are 13 teams here that are pretty strong so there's going to be some great competition,"" Schuman said.
The tournament will provide a preview of the Big Ten Championships which will be held at University Ridge next spring.
""We don't have all the Big Ten teams, but it will give us an idea of how other teams are going to play the golf course and what we might expect next spring,"" Schuman said.
The Intercollegiate will feature 36 holes on Saturday and 18 more Sunday, with play beginning at 8 a.m. both days.
-compiled from staff reports
