The University of Wisconsin Men’s golf team will compete in the Kepler Invitational Tournament this weekend at Scarlet Golf Course in Columbus, Ohio. The first two rounds will be played Saturday with the final round taking place Sunday, April, 14.
The Badgers tied for eighth place at the Kepler Invite last season. They were led by departed senior John Carlson, who shot a 226 en route to a 19th-place finish.
Wisconsin comes into the event looking to improve upon their performance at last week’s Marshall Invite, where they finished in a tie for ninth place at the Guyan Country Club. UW junior Jon Turcott led the Badgers during the 20-team tournament. Turcott’s five over par 218 earned him a tie for fourth place. One of only three returning letter winners, Turcott has been the most dependable golfer on this year’s squad. He will be relied on heavily to pace Wisconsin this weekend.
Turcott already has three top-10 finishes this season, including his victory in the season opening Badger Invite at University Ridge Golf Course. Turcott is also on pace to break the UW single-season scoring mark set by C.J. Brock during the 1998-99 season. Turcott holds a 72.56 average over his first 16 rounds of the year, slightly better than Brock’s mark of 73.26 from three years ago.
The young UW team will need solid contributions from fellow redshirt freshmen Dylan Esterling, Kevin Tassistro and Michael Baldwin at the Kepler Invite. All three players have shown flashes of their brilliant potential at times this season. Esterling was the top UW finisher at Tillinghast during the fall. His seventh-place finish was even more impressive than his season average of 74.79, which ranks second on the team.
Tassisttro has not been far behind in the first campaign of his career. He ranks third on the team with a scoring average of 74.29. Tassistro finished in 14th place at Tillinghast, shooting a two-round total of 146. Michael Baldwin also had his best tournament finish at Tillinghast, where he finished in a tie for 60th with a 155.
Wisconsin will also expect quality play from junior Joel Rechlicz and senior Eric Reno who are both returning letter winners. Rechlicz looks to regain his form from the fall of this season. He had his best tournament finish of the season at the Badger Invite during September’s home meet. Reno is coming off his best tournament finish of the year. He finished in a tie for 37th at last week’s Marshall Invitational.
UW could also benefit greatly if true freshman Brian Brodell matches his enormous potential. The 1999 Wisconsin high school player of the year and PGA junior player of the year saw his first action during September’s Wolverine Invite. In that tournament he shot a two round 155 to tie for 76th place.