Golf's pre-Big Ten tournament report card

The Big Ten Tournament is only one month away. With that in mind, men's golf teams around the Big Ten will be aiming to gain momentum as they head down the stretch. Here's a look at how teams have fared thus far:\nIU -- Best finish: third, Wolverine Invitational, Ann Arbor, Mich.\nTop player: freshman Jeff Overton, 75.3 average in 16 rounds.\nThe Hoosiers have had an up-and-down season to this point. While finishing third at Michigan, they dropped to 14th in the Big Red Classic. The team has finished in seventh place in its other four tournaments since the Wolverine Invitational. The Hoosiers next tournament is this weekend at the Marshall Invitational in Huntington, W. Va.\nIllinois -- Best finish: first place at the Tillinghast, Scarsdale, N.Y.\nTop player: freshman James Lepp, 71.7 average in 20 rounds.\nThe Fighting Illini have finished in the top 10 of every tournament in which they've played this year. They will compete against the Hoosiers in the Marshall Invitational this weekend. Illinois is ranked 38th by Golfweek.\nIowa -- Best finish: tied for sixth, Falcon-Antigua Invitational, Colorado Springs, Colo.\nTop player: junior Aaron Kruegger, 73.8 average in 16 rounds.\nThe Hawkeyes play host to this year's Big Ten Tournament at Finkbine Golf Course. The Hawkeyes play in four tournaments before hosting the Big Tens. Iowa will compete against IU at the Marshall Invitational this weekend.\n"Last week we had a good week of practice, and the guys are all very motivated to go to the Marshall Invite and have a good tournament," Iowa coach Terry Anderson said.\nMichigan -- Best finish: fourth at Badger Invitational, Madison, Wis.\nTop player: senior Andy Matthews, 73.55 average in 18 rounds.\nThe Wolverines' top finish this season was in the opening tournament of the year. Matthews has been consistent, finishing every round in 78 or under. Michigan will compete against IU at the Marshall Invitational.\nMichigan State -- Best finish: first, Pepsi-Cola Invitational, Dallas.\nTop player: junior Eric Jorgensen, 72.4 average in 20 rounds.\nThe Spartans are ranked No. 32 in the nation by Golfweek. While Jorgensen has had a strong year, he has been assisted by fellow junior John Koskien. Koskien and Jorgensen have placed in the top-five twice.\nMinnesota -- Best finish: first, Conrad Spehrling Invitational, Tuscaloosa, Ala.\nTop player: junior Wilhelm Schauman, average N/A\nThe frigid conditions of the Twin Cities can't stop the Gophers from hitting the links in style. Schauman returns as a reigning third-team Ping all-American. Ranked 20th in the nation by Golfweek, Minnesota is a favorite to contend for the Big Ten championship.\nNorthwestern -- Best finish: fourth, The Prestige at Palm Desert, Palm Desert, Calif.\nTop player: sophomore Tom Johnson, 72.67 average in 18 rounds.\nThe Wildcats have won the past three Big Ten titles but are recovering from the graduation of Big Ten Player of the Year Luke Donald. Northwestern was ranked in the top 50 earlier this year but will have to prevent mental lapses if it wants to win the Big Ten again. Johnson was disqualified from the Puerto Rico Classic Feb. 26 for incorrectly signing his scorecard.\nOhio State -- Best finish: first place, Aztec Invitational, San Diego.\nTop player: junior Justin Collins, 72.1 average in 21 rounds.\nThe Buckeyes know what it takes to win the Big Ten title. They have taken the conference 16 times in the 28-year tenure of Head coach Jim Brown. At the beginning of the season, Brown said Collins would have to improve his 75.9 stroke average from last season for the team to succeed.\n"He is the key to our team because if he can get it going, it's only going to improve our team," Brown said in a press release.\nPenn State -- Best finish: first, Hoya Invitational, Leesburg, Va.\nTop player: senior Jeff Turton, 72.56 average in 18 rounds.\nThe Nittany Lions have played well this year, but golf is the furthest thing from their minds. Sophomore Michael Carter was killed in an automobile accident in February.\n"This is an extremely huge loss for our tight team," Head coach Greg Nye said in a press release. "Michael was one of our very brightest lights."\nPurdue -- Best finish: first, Johnny Owens Invitational, Lexington, Ky.\nTop player: senior Lee Williamson, 71.10 average in 20 rounds\nThe Boilermakers are another force to be reckoned with. Williamson is ranked 10th in the nation by Golfweek. As a team, Purdue is just behind Minnesota, ranking 24th.\nWisconsin -- Best finish: eighth, The Tillinghast, Scarsdale, N.Y.\nTop player: junior Jon Turcott, 72.54 average in 13 rounds\nThe Badgers have only played in four tournaments throughout the fall and spring. They finished seventh in the Big Ten last year and will be among the teams at this weekend's Marshall Invitational.