Fort Lewis Men's Golf Heads to Otter Invitational with Strong Field

Strategic Insights -

Fort Lewis College men's golf is preparing to face a tough test as they travel to the West Coast for the Otter Invitational at Bayonet Black Horse in Seaside, California. The event, hosted by California State University Monterey Bay, marks the final competition of the fall season for the Skyhawks. Following a strong performance at the NCAA National Preview, where they tied for 14th place just 17 strokes above par, Fort Lewis is looking to build momentum with a talented field that includes two opponents ranked in the Golf Coaches Association of America Bushnell/Golfweek coaches poll.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Otter Invitational marks Fort Lewis men's golf's second appearance in as many years at this event.
  • The tournament will feature a 16-team field, including two ranked opponents: No. 17 California State University East Bay and No. 20 California State University Chico.
  • The Skyhawks will compete with a strong lineup, featuring Jordan Jennings, Traejan Andrews, Benjamin Harding, Jake Chesler, and Chase Rogers.
  • Fort Lewis is coming off a strong tie for 14th place at the NCAA National Preview, where Jordan Jennings earned a tie for 39th with an even-par 216.
  • The tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, with the forecast calling for a chance of storms and near-identical highs of 62 and 61 degrees for Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
  • The Par-72 Bayonet Black Horse course, redesigned by golf course architect Gene Bates, spans 7,025 yards from the black tees with a rating of 73.9 and a slope of 136.
  • The course features sweeping vistas of the Pacific, fescue-framed fairways, bunkers with distinctive serrated edges, and slickly-contoured greens.
  • The renovation included the creation of the par-three hole 15, which faces the bay and is expected to become one of the greatest holes on the Peninsula.

Statistics:

  • The Skyhawks finished 17 strokes above par with an 881 score at the NCAA National Preview.
  • Jordan Jennings earned the highest individual finish on the squad, tying for 39th with an even-par 216.
  • The Otter Invitational field includes 16 teams, with two ranked opponents: No. 17 California State University East Bay and No. 20 California State University Chico.

Sources:

  • Fort Lewis College Athletics (no specific date mentioned)
  • Bayonet Black Horse golf course
  • NCAA Golf National Preview (no specific date mentioned)
  • Golf Coaches Association of America Bushnell/Golfweek coaches poll (no specific date mentioned)