Team to face 10 ranked teams at 3 day Illinois tournament

After placing third last week at the Northern Intercollegiate, the IU men’s golf team will compete Friday, Sept. 16, through Sunday, Sept. 18, at the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational.

The 15-team field includes 10 teams ranked in the Preseason Top 25, including second-ranked Oklahoma State and third-ranked Alabama.

IU Coach Mike Mayer said the team needed to improve its performance around the greens, but he is confident after its last experience at Olympia Fields Country Club.

“It’s a golf course we like to play. It’s difficult, but we’re the kind of team that can handle it,” Mayer said.

Senior co-captain Chase Wright, who tied for sixth place last week with a final round three-under-par 68, said previously playing the challenging course will be a major advantage. The North Course at Olympia Fields Country Club will have a similar setup as the U.S. Open, which was there in 2003. There will be identical tee and hole locations.

The Hoosiers placed 13th at the invitational in 2010 with the same lineup as this weekend of Wright, senior co-captain David Erdy, junior Brant Peaper, sophomore David Mills and junior Corey Ziedonis.

Erdy also emphasized the team’s need to practice its short game after last week’s performance.

“We need to make more putts and work on getting up and down more often,” Erdy said. “We play this course quite a bit. It’ll be challenging, but we have a good team and can play well.”