Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University men’s golf team will head north to play in its third straight tournament in as many weeks as it competes in the 54-hole Badger Invitational, Sunday-Tuesday, at the University Ridge Golf Course.
This will be the first time the Govs have appeared in the Wisconsin-hosted event. They will be one of 14 teams in the tourney. In fact, this is the first home event hosted by the Badgers since holding the Big Ten championship in 2005.
The tourney will features several teams from major conferences—the Big 10 (Wisconsin), Big 12 (Kansas), Southeastern (South Carolina), the Big East (Xavier, Marquette), American East (Rutgers) along with mid-majors Illinois State, Charleston Southern, Northern Illinois, UMKC, Northern Kentucky, USC Upstate and Wofford.
The Robert Trent Jones-designed 7,259-yard course will play at a par 72, with a slope rating of 144. University Ridge is considered Wisconsin’s best course and the No. 5 campus course in the country. This will be the first time in three tourneys the Govs will not play a 36-hole first day—only one 18-hole round will be played daily.
“The practice round will be important this week, because we have never seen the golf course before–our preparation will be key,” Kayden said. “After two straight weeks of a 36-hole days it will be helpful on the 18 hole per day format this week.”
APSU will feature the same lineup that has guided the Govs to consecutive third-place finishes at both Missouri and Louisville’s tournaments. Anthony Bradley, who has achieved a pair of Top 10 finishes and co-Ohio Valley Conference Golfer of the Week honors, will lead the Govs along with two other seniors, Marco Iten and Trey Tarpley. A pair of sophomores, Chris Baker and Austin Kramer, will round out the Govs lineup.
