Men's golf tees off 2011 fall season at Olympia Fields Invite


The Arizona State men's golf team will travel to Olympia Fields, Ill., for the opening tournament of the 2011 fall season at the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational Sept. 16-18. The North course, which will be played at the same tee and hole locations as in the 2003 U.S. Open, is a par-70, 7,250-yard course.

For Tim Mickelson, this marks his first tournament as head coach of ASU. Mickelson, a four-time West Coast Conference Coach of the Year, led the University of San Diego to three Top 20 finishes in a row (2009-11), including an eighth-place finish in 2010. He led the Toreros to their most successful season in school history in 2009-10, winning five tournaments along with 10 top-five team finishes.

The Sun Devils won the 2009 15-team title in (Sept. 18-20) with a 30-over 870 (293-284-293) over Oklahoma State, which shot an 872 (295-288-289). The Sun Devils won the 2009 15-team title in (Sept. 18-20) with a 30-over 870 (293-284-293) over Oklahoma State, which shot an 872 (295-288-289). Tristan Bierenbroodspot led ASU with a 4-over 214 (71-69-74) which tied for sixth, while Scott Pinckney (68-76-71) was at 5-over 215.

ASU tied for 15th in last year's tournament, with a 20th-place finish from James Byrne, who led the way for the Sun Devils. This year's lineup includes senior Spencer Fletcher, junior Jin Song and freshmen Mathias Schjoelberg, Cameron Palmer and Austin Quick. Song (Pinnacle Peak High School), Palmer (Hamilton High School) and Quick (Chaparral) all are Arizona prep products. Fletcher has 13 career tournaments under his belt while Song has four.

Live scoring of the tournament will be available at Golfstat.com.

2011 Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational Field

No. 3 Alabama
Arizona State (RV)
No. 9 Auburn
No. 22 Augusta State
No. 8 Duke
No. 7 Florida
Florida State (RV)
No. 13 Illinois
Indiana
Northeastern (RV)
Notre Dame
No. 20 Ohio State
No. 2 Oklahoma State
No. 12 Stanford
No. 5 Texas