Monday, April 25
Texarkana, Ark.
University of North Texas
vs
Conference USA Championship
Men's Golf Ready For C-USA Championship
4/24/2022 9:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
TEXARKANA, Ark. - The UNT men's golf team begins play at the Conference USA Championship on Monday at Texarkana Country Club and will look to claim a team championship while sophomore Vicente Marzilio will look to defend his individual championship he won last year as a freshman.
Last year, the Mean Green finished second in the stroke play competition before winning a dramatic match play semifinal and advancing to the match play final, while Marzilio fired a 67 with the help of birdies on four of the last seven holes to claim the program's fourth individual championship since head coach Brad Stracke took over the program.
The Mean Green will tee off Monday morning with a lineup featuring Marzilio, Viktor Forslund, Tucker Allen, Diego Prone and Lenny Bergsson, while Sean Wilcox will be the alternate who can be substituted into the lineup for any player on any day up to 10 minutes before the tee time. Wilcox provided the dramatics in the match-play semifinal last year when he extended the semifinal match to a 19th hole with a 25-foot birdie putt and then won the match on the 19th with a 30-foot birdie putt. Bergsson tied for ninth in last year's stroke play competition.
Stracke said he feels good about his team heading into the tournament and with the way its competed this spring, most recently when it tied for sixth at the Aggie Invitational.
"This team has trended in the right direction this spring," Stracke said. "I feel like we have gained a lot of confidence going into the postseason. The conference is probably the most competitive I have seen it since we have entered into Conference USA. There should be a lot of drama and excitement."
Marzilio said the experience last year - which everyone but Allen and Prone was a part of - has the team feeling confident as it heads into the event against a tightly competitive field highlighted by No. 28 Charlotte. Three rounds of stroke play will be played Monday-Wednesday before the match play semifinals and final on Thursday.
"Last year was a great test and experience that showed us that we can win the tournament and do great things," Marzilio said. "It is just a matter of believing it getting it done. Our goal is to have the best chance to get to the final match. That last day, anything can happen, and we definitely believe it can go our way."
Marzilio also said he feels good about where his game is individually and is looking forward to trying to defend his individual championship. This season, he has six top-20 finishes, including three consecutive top-10 showings this spring, highlighted by a T3 showing at the Coral Creek Club Invitational.
"I am feeling great and I am really excited to play Texarkana again," Marzilio said. "I really liked the course last year, felt really confident off the tees and made great putts. My game this season has been really consistent and solid. I'm happy to be heading to this tournament with this momentum, and I don't feel like I need to do anything different this week. The individual win last year was a gift, and I know I can get it done this year as well. I'm really focused on doing my job the best I can, and I'm sure everything will take care of itself."
Â
Last year, the Mean Green finished second in the stroke play competition before winning a dramatic match play semifinal and advancing to the match play final, while Marzilio fired a 67 with the help of birdies on four of the last seven holes to claim the program's fourth individual championship since head coach Brad Stracke took over the program.
The Mean Green will tee off Monday morning with a lineup featuring Marzilio, Viktor Forslund, Tucker Allen, Diego Prone and Lenny Bergsson, while Sean Wilcox will be the alternate who can be substituted into the lineup for any player on any day up to 10 minutes before the tee time. Wilcox provided the dramatics in the match-play semifinal last year when he extended the semifinal match to a 19th hole with a 25-foot birdie putt and then won the match on the 19th with a 30-foot birdie putt. Bergsson tied for ninth in last year's stroke play competition.
Stracke said he feels good about his team heading into the tournament and with the way its competed this spring, most recently when it tied for sixth at the Aggie Invitational.
"This team has trended in the right direction this spring," Stracke said. "I feel like we have gained a lot of confidence going into the postseason. The conference is probably the most competitive I have seen it since we have entered into Conference USA. There should be a lot of drama and excitement."
Marzilio said the experience last year - which everyone but Allen and Prone was a part of - has the team feeling confident as it heads into the event against a tightly competitive field highlighted by No. 28 Charlotte. Three rounds of stroke play will be played Monday-Wednesday before the match play semifinals and final on Thursday.
"Last year was a great test and experience that showed us that we can win the tournament and do great things," Marzilio said. "It is just a matter of believing it getting it done. Our goal is to have the best chance to get to the final match. That last day, anything can happen, and we definitely believe it can go our way."
Marzilio also said he feels good about where his game is individually and is looking forward to trying to defend his individual championship. This season, he has six top-20 finishes, including three consecutive top-10 showings this spring, highlighted by a T3 showing at the Coral Creek Club Invitational.
"I am feeling great and I am really excited to play Texarkana again," Marzilio said. "I really liked the course last year, felt really confident off the tees and made great putts. My game this season has been really consistent and solid. I'm happy to be heading to this tournament with this momentum, and I don't feel like I need to do anything different this week. The individual win last year was a gift, and I know I can get it done this year as well. I'm really focused on doing my job the best I can, and I'm sure everything will take care of itself."
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Bruzzy's Facility Tour | UNT Golf
Friday, November 04