URI Golf Looks to Ride Fall Momentum into Spring Season
The University of Rhode Island golf team opens their spring season on Monday down in Florida at the World Golf Village Collegiate.
The Rams won four times in five tournaments during the fall season and will hope that the momentum carries over.
“The expanded Spring schedule reflects the growing talent of the players in the program and the incredible generosity of our donors. It will be interesting to see which five players make it all the way to the A10’s,” said URI head coach Gregg Burke.
Rhody was originally scheduled to start the spring season at Torrey Pines, but dropped out of that tournament due to schedule changes.
“We had planned a trip to Torrey Pines to play in UC San Diego’s event, but given the change in format to four-missed class days for the Atlantic 10 Championship, we couldn’t play in a tournament, even one as special as Torrey Pines, that would cause us to miss four class days as well,” added Burke.
Instead, the Rams open at the World Golf Village Collegiate down in Florida.
“Playing at the World Golf Village will be a tremendous treat for our guys. Being able to be at the World Golf Hall of Fame and play on the only course in the world that was a collaboration of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer is truly special,” said Burke.
Rhode Island got down to Florida on Saturday and walked the grounds of TPC Sawgrass. They also got a tour of PGA Tour Headquarters and the newly built PGA Tour Studios.
URI will then head to the Golden Horseshoe Intercollegiate in Virginia, followed by the Dragon Match Play Invitational.
Rhody finished second in the Dragon Match Play Invitational last season.
Rhode Island will close the regular season at The Rutherford Intercollegiate, hosted by Penn State.
“We return to The Rutherford which is one of the most respected tournaments in the East. We have had players finish in the top five, and we had a win from Bryson Richards, but we have never put it all together for a team title. Hopefully the depth of this year’s team will prevail,” said Burke.
That will bring the Rams to the A-10 Championship at Grand Cypress Links in Florida from April 22-24.
“The A10 Championship is back at Grand Cypress in a setting we just love. The golf course is phenomenal and being able to stay right there in brand new townhomes is a special experience. That said, we’re not going down there for a nice stay – we want to scratch and claw our way into the final group on Thursday,” added Burke.
Last season, URI finished tenth at the A-10 Championship.
URI’s Spring Schedule
Feb 23-25 – World Golf Village Collegiate
March 24-25 – Golden Horseshoe Intercollegiate
April 7-8 – Dragon Match Play Invitational
April 12-13 – The Rutherford Intercollegiate
April 22-24 – A-10 Championship