WVU to Host Tavistock Collegiate Invite

WVU to Host Tavistock Collegiate Invite

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Oct. 21, 2017) – In conjunction with the University of Central Florida, the West Virginia University men’s golf team will host the Tavistock Collegiate Invitational on Oct. 22-24 at Isleworth Golf and Country Club in Windermere, Florida.

Arizona, No. 17/21 Cal, No. 36 Illinois, No. 26 Arizona State, Augusta, No. 13/12 Texas Tech, No. 11/10 Florida, North Texas, No. 9/10 Vanderbilt, Purdue, No. 20 North Carolina, No. 35 North Florida, UAB, No. 7/12 LSU and No. 6/8 Auburn are slated to join the Mountaineers and the Bulls at the event. (Rankings via Golfstat/Golfweek).

First played in 2003, the tournament is referred to as “college golf’s major championship” and consistently boasts a field of the nation’s top programs. The Gators enter the event as the defending champions. Illinois, who returns in 2017, previously took home the team trophy in 2015 while Cal won the event in 2012

WVU is paired with No. 11/10 Florida and Big 12 foe No. 13/12 Texas Tech for the first round. Tee times will start at 8 a.m. on Sunday, with WVU set to tee off on No. 10 at 10-minute intervals from 8:05 to 8:45. Golfers will play one round each day on the par-72, 7,544-yard course for a total of 54 holes across three days.

Max Sear, Philipp Matlari, Etienne Papineau, Tristan Nicholls and Matthew Sharpstene make up the scoring lineup for WVU. Avery Schneider, Drew Dewald, Mark Goetz and Logan Perkins will play as individuals.

Covich has used the same starting lineup in both prior events, going 25-1 overall. The five combined to win the Janney VCU Shootout in mid-September and most recently finished as the runner-up after a third-round run at The Health Plan Mountaineer Invitational on Oct. 9-10.

“I think the first two events should give us a lot of confidence,” Covich said. “Finishing first out of 11 teams and second out of 16 teams … that’s a pretty good start. We should have a lot of confidence going into this event. Obviously, it will be the best competition we’ve seen to date.”

Papineau leads the Mountaineers with a 70.83 stroke average at -1.17 vs. par. He tied for the runner-up spot at The Health Plan Invite, shooting a career-low 211 for five under par. Sear is a close second, averaging 71.17 per round, while Nicholls averages an even-par 72.00. All five starters have averaged 73.00 or better through two tournaments this fall.

Schneider tied a program record with a 66 in the second round of The Health Plan Invitational, while Sear shot a 66 for the third time in his career. Perkins made his career debut for the Mountaineers, shooting a 69 in the third round while playing as an individual.

Following the conclusion of the Tavistock, West Virginia will head to Lahaina, Hawaii, to close out the fall season at the Ka’anapali Classic Collegiate Invitational on Nov. 3-5.

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via WVU Sports