Missouri State University

The Missouri State men’s golf team will host the 2009 Branson Creek Invitational Monday and Tuesday (April 6-7) in Hollister, Mo. The 12-team field will compete on the par 71, 7,036-yard Branson Creek Golf Course.  Play will begin with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start each day, 36 holes scheduled for Monday and 18 on Tuesday. 

The Bears will play host to six conference competitors including Bradley, Creighton, Drake, Illinois State, Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois.  Completing the field will be Nebraska, Oral Roberts, Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas-Little Rock and Western Illinois. 

The Bears aim to defend the 2008 team title, coming from behind in the last round of the 36-hole tournament to earn a two-stroke victory over second place Illinois State.  The Bears were led by John Cronly who claimed a second place individual finish with a two-over-par 144 total.

The men enter the tournament led by freshman Jordan McLaurin, who comes in averaging a team-best 74.65 strokes per round. Junior Ryan Weinhaus led the team last week at the UALR/First Tee Intercollegiate.  Out of 95 individual golfers, he finished tied for 51^st, carding rounds of 74-79-77.

Results for the Branson Creek Invitational will be available following each day’s competition at www.MissouriStateBears.com.