The University of Mississippi Athletics
Men's Golf Set To Start Season In Ponte Vedra
2/24/2012 | Men's Golf
Feb. 24, 2012
OXFORD, Miss. - After a four-month break, the Ole Miss men's golf team is ready to kick off their spring schedule with a trip to Ponte Vedra, Fla., to compete in the John Hayt Invitational Feb. 26-28 at the Sawgrass Country Club.
Ole Miss will be among a 15-team field that includes four Top-25 teams in defending tournament champion No. 8 Arkansas, host No. 13 North Florida, No. 17 Central Florida and No. 23 LSU. Also joining the field will be No. 27 UAB, No. 38 Tennessee, No. 40 North Texas, and No. 42 TCU.
The Rebels competed in the tournament last year, earning a tie for sixth place with Florida. Two Rebels finished in the top 10 individually, as now-graduated All-American Jonathan Randolph took fifth place honors and current senior Joe David finished in 10th.
"Our team is ready to be tested on a great course in a tough and windy environment," said Ole Miss head coach Ernest Ross. "We have been preparing diligently for this and I feel we are ready. This course also features many fairway and greenside bunkers, so we have put special attention on this in practice."
David leads the Rebels this season with a 70.79 stroke average. The Madison, Tenn., native has enjoyed a breakout season, earning top-20 finishes in all five tournaments this year, including three placements in the top five. David has racked up 23 top-20 finishes in his four-year career and five in the top five.
Fellow senior Billy Brozovich has picked up a pair of top-20 finishes, including a tie with David for third at the Mason Rudolph Championship to help the Rebels to a season-best second place finish. The Greenville, Miss., native has posted a 72.86 stroke average.
A pair of freshmen-Joe Lewis and Blake Morris-have provided early contributions for the Rebels. Each holds a 73.50 average with Lewis earning a top-20 finish this season. During the break, Morris competed in the prestigious Jones Cup Invitational, earning an impressive 12th place finish.
Redshirt sophomore Tom Brown rounds out the lineup for Ole Miss.
Fans can follow the action with live scoring at www.OleMissSports.com. Also follow the Rebels on twitter at @OleMissMGolf and on facebook at www.facebook.com/OleMissMGolf.
