Feb. 18, 2009
Contact: Greg Murphy
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State sets out to defend its Horizon League Championship when the Vikings open the 2009 spring season by competing in the 54-hole Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate in Hilton Head, S.C. on Sunday (Feb. 21) and Monday (Feb. 22).
The 54-hole event, which is being hosted by Francis Marion, will be contested at the par-72, 7,000-yard Wexford Plantation.
"We are excited to open the spring season," head coach Steve Weir said. "We have been working hard during the winter months and it will be nice to get out and play some quality rounds.
"This is a big opening tournament for us because it will give us a chance to further our development and showcase our recent success."
The Vikings enjoyed success during the fall season, posting three top-five finishes in their five events. CSU placed third at its own CSU/Telich Sun Life Financial Invitational at Sand Ridge G.C., fourth at the John Piper Invitational and fifth at the F&M Bank Austin Peay Invitational.
"Overall, we had a pretty successful fall season," said Weir, the 2008 Horizon League Coach of the Year. "I think we have the potential to play better and we know that we have some things to work on as we get enter the spring season with the ultimate goal of defending the league championship."
Senior Jake Scott, the medalist at last year's Horizon League Championship and a two-time first team all-league pick, paced the Vikings in the fall with a 72.9 scoring average. He fired a low round of 68, while his 72.8 career scoring average is the lowest in school history.
"I expect some big things from Jake this spring," Weir said. "He has been consistent during his entire career at CSU and has consistently shown the younger players what it takes to compete at this level."
Junior Kyle Cobb and sophomore Kent Monas, who both averaged 75.1 per round in the fall, and junior Patrick Elber, who posted a 75.5 scoring average, round out CSU's top four in the lineup.
Sophomores Kellen Erdman and Derrick Williams, who both averaged 77.7 in the fall, will vie for the fifth spot in this weekend's lineup.
Following the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate, the Vikings will have almost a month off before competing at the Desert Shootout from March 19-21 in Phoenix, Ariz.
