Marquette Golf Preview

Steve Bailey's 2016-2017 Marquette team returns 7 out of their 8 team members from the 2017 Big East championship team and NCAA regional team qualifier. Has the potential to rank among the best teams in Marquette history and should compete for the Big East championship again and an NCAA berth with all 7 members getting varsity starts during the 2016-2017 season.

- Junior Oliver Farrell was the 2016 Big East Freshman of the Year and followed that up with a 2017 Big East First team selection.

- Sophomore Matt Bachman was the Big East tournament champion and was named the 2017 Big East Freshman of the Year. Bachmann recently finished 3rd in the Wisconsin State Open and placed 11th in the 2017 Wisconsin State Amateur.

- Sophomore Matt Murlick was a 2017 Big East Second Team selection and was MU's low scorer in the NCAA regional. Murlick finished 2nd in the 2017 Illinois State Open, was 10th in the 2017 Illinois State Amateur and tied for 8th at the Western Junior.

- Junior Charlie Maleki competed in the starting lineup in 10-12 meets in 2016-2017 and was a member of the lineup in the Big East championship.

- Sophomore Austin Kendziorski started in 2 events last year with 1 being the NCAA regional.

- Sophomore Ferdinand Muller started in 8 events last year as a freshman.

- Senior Garrett Loomis made 2 varsity starts in 2016-2017. Former Wisconsin State junior champion.

- Freshman Hunter Eichorn is one of the most accomplished Marquette recruits in MU history and will compete for a varsity spot from day 1. Despite playing out of the weather challenged Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Hunter averaged 68 last spring in high school events. Won or finished second in 21 of 27 junior starts and won the 2017 Wisconsin State Junior Championship by 4 shots at 4 under par. Finished 10th in the 2017 Wisconsin State Amateur and tied for 12th at the Western Junior.

Awesome update Ted! I find it fascinating that a small, cold weather, private, Catholic school has built and is sustaining a strong golf program. I'm not saying that Marquette will ever challenge the powers but it's no longer out of the question. It would appear that one key to the success has been the ability to identify and attract elite junior players from the region. Presumably these guys, as Ted noted in the case of the newest freshman, have performed in some pretty adverse weather conditions which should serve them well.

I think one thing that is helping the program is the great relationship Marquette has with Erin Hills. To be able to host a college tournament at a U.S. Open level course really puts them on the map. They get calls from all over the country from the best teams, wanting to play their tournament. They certainly are becoming more well known in the midwest and that has to help with recruiting. On top of that, Coach Bailey is an outstanding teacher of the game and the guys love playing for him. Just another really good coach Marquette has been able to secure. And I feel comfortable MU knows this and will do everything in their power to keep him.

Team off to a good start at Badger invitational.....currently in 2nd place

https://m.birdiefire.com/tournament/36087/

Texas AM is the 16th ranked team in the country fwiw