March 10, 2010

Seminole Intercollegiate Live Scoring (available via www.GolfStat.com)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The No. 43 Baylor men's golf team prepares for a busy seven-day stretch that begins this weekend with the Seminole Intercollegiate at the par-72, 7,172-yard Southwood Golf Course.

Last week, sophomore Joakim Mikkelsen earned individual medalist honors for the first time in his career, winning the Border Olympics by two shots. Baylor, which won the 2009 Border Olympics, finished eighth in this year's edition.

The 54-hole tournament will feature 18 holes Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hosted by Florida State, the 14-team Seminole Intercollegiate field includes Arkansas, Cincinnati, George Mason, Georgia State, Mercer, Mississippi State, North Carolina, North Texas, South Carolina, Troy, Vanderbilt and Western Carolina. Live scoring will be available at www.GolfStat.com.

"We are looking forward to playing again after a disappointing team effort at the Border Olympics," Baylor head men's golf coach Greg Priest said. "We had some very good individual performances with Joakim (Mikkelsen) winning and Payne (Gniewek) finishing 16th."

Mikkelsen anchors a lineup that will include Payne Gniewek, Lorenzo Scotto, Ryan O'Rear, Austin Berkovsky and Jerry Ruiz. Either Berkovsky or Ruiz will compete as an individual. Mikkelsen leads the Bears with a 71.86 scoring average, 0.14 score vs. par and 12 rounds of par or better. Gniewek ranks second to Mikkelsen in stroke average (73.24), score vs. par (1.52) and rounds of par or better (eight).

Since joining the Bears at the semester break, Ruiz has posted a 75.33 stroke average through six rounds, while O'Rear has a 75.83 average (also through six rounds).

"We need to get more consistent as a team and put 54 holes together," Priest said. "The saying around Baylor has been `Star fast, finish strong' and we need to learn to do that."

After the Seminole Intercollegiate, Baylor will head west March 17-18 to Tucson, Ariz., for the National Invitational Tournament