What: Golfweek Spring Division II Invitational
When: Feb. 27-March 1
Where: Reunion Resort, Davenport, Fla.
Lynn University
Conference: Sunshine State Conference
Coach: Chris Greenwood
Location: Boca Raton, Fla.
The scoop: The Fighting Knights have been solid this season winning three tournaments - all of which took place in Florida. Despite finishing sixth as a team at the Matlock Collegiate Championship in Lakeland, Fla., earlier this month, freshman Pepito Joia logged his second straight top-five individual finish this season. Fellow freshman Ricardo Gouveia leads the team with three top-10 finishes and a 71.0 stroke average this season.
Abilene Christian University
Conference: Lone Star Conference
Coach: Mike Campbell
Location: Abilene, Texas
The scoop: The Wildcats return to action in 2011 and sophomore Alex Carpenter hopes to keep his success going. Carpenter, who's scheduled to return to Orlando later in March to play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, won the 2010 Southern Amateur to earn an exemption into the PGA Tour event at Bay Hill. Carpenter finished first in four tournaments last fall and has a 69.54 stroke average. Seniors Tyler Sheppard and Cyril Bouniol, last year's NCAA champion, finished 2010 on the right foot, finishing T-2 and T-4, respectively at the Queens Invitational at TPC Sawgrass.
Barton College
Conference: Conference Carolinas
Coach: John Hackney
Location: Wilson, N.C.
The scoop: Barton College is expected to have a strong spring season after being picked No. 1 in the Conference Carolinas Spring Poll. The Bulldogs returned six players from the 2009-10 squad that finished second in the conference. Sophomore Daniel Claytor led the Bulldogs this fall by finishing in the top five at each tournament, including a win at the Kiawah Island Invitational. Claytor has improved his stroke average from to 71.69 from last season's 74.78.
The Bulldogs currently have five players averaging under 75.
University of Indianapolis
Conference: Great Lakes Valley Conference
Coach: Brent Nicoson
Location: Indianapolis, Ind.
The scoop: The Greyhounds finished tied for sixth at this event last year and hope to put up another solid outing. This year they will be without GLVC Player of the Year Seth Fair, who turned pro. Leading the Greyhounds is junior Aaron Monson who had three top-ten finishes in the fall. The Greyhounds had three players finish in the top 20 and they were third overall at the Division II Preview in Ford City, Ala.
CSU-Monterey Bay
Conference: California Collegiate Athletic Association
Coach: Jason Owen
Location: Seaside, Calif.
The scoop: The defending CCAA Champions are off to a great start this season. The Otters have rotated their starting lineup in each of their three events this season and it's paid off - finishing fifth, second and first. Oskar Nystrom and John Jackson each have played in one tournament this season and walked away as the overall individual winner. Nystrom won the Dennis Rose Invitational and Jackson, the individual champion at the CCAA Men's Golf Championship, won the InterWest Wildcat Invitational.
Nova Southeastern University
Conference: Sunshine State Conference
Coach: Kevin Marsh
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
The scoop: It has been an up-and-down season for Nova Southeastern. The Sharks have placed as high as second, at the NSU Shark Invitational, and as low as 12th, at the Matlock Invitational in February. Bobby Bode has been having a nice season after finishing T-6 at the 2009-10 NCAA D-II Championship. The senior finished T-3 at the NSU Shark Invitational and earned two straight T-10 finishes heading into this weekend.
Queens University of Charlotte
Conference: Conference Carolinas
Coach: Eric Baldwin
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
The scoop: So far the Royals have finished higher than conference foe Barton College in two-of-three meetings this season. Queens University was picked second to Barton College in the Conference Carolinas Spring Coaches' Preseason Poll.
Lander University
Conference: Peach Belt Conference
Coach: Roger Bagwell
Location: Greenwood, S.C.
The scoop: The Bearcats haven't had things go their way in 2011, finishing near the bottom of the standings in the two tournaments they've competed in. Lander hasn't had a golfer finish in the top 10 so far this season. As a team, their best performance was at the Queens Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla., where they finished fourth.
Coker College
Conference: Conference Carolinas
Coach: Tommy Baker
Location: Hartsville, S.C.
The scoop: Sophomore Jack Murphy has been the rock this season for the Cobras. The 2009-10 All-Conference selection and Freshman of the Year won the individual title at the Myrtle Beach Intercollegiate tournament and had a 73.20 stroke average last fall. The Cobras opened the spring season with a sixth-place finish at the AASU Pirate Invitational.
St. Mary's University (Texas)
Conference: Heartland Conference
Coach: Wes Skidmore
Location: San Antonio, Texas
The scoop: The Rattlers have been a contender in the Heartland Conference this season, finishing in the top five in four of their five fall tournaments. Last year's Heartland Conference Individual Champion Matt Vela has finished in the top 10 in each tournament he's competed in this season. Vela's best finish was third at the Northeastern State University Golf Classic in September.
Carson-Newman College
Conference: South Atlantic Conference
Coach: John Minor
Location: Jefferson City, Tenn.
The scoop: The Eagles are hoping their steady success continues into 2011 after finishing fourth at the Southeast Region Championship Preview. Leading the charge will be Liam Ashby who is currently holding a scoring average of 72.5. The All-SAC selection had three top-five finishes in the fall. Also looking to have a strong tournament will be Gavin Hay, who is second on the team in scoring 73.9. Hay had a top-10 finish at the Kiawah Island Invitational.
St. Edward's University
Conference: Heartland Conference
Coach: Todd Ohlmeyer
Location: Austin, Texas
The scoop: The Hilltoppers have been in contention but haven't been able to make the jump to the front of the pack this season. St. Ed's had two fourth-place finishes in the fall and began the spring season with a seventh-place finish at the Outback Steakhouse Intercollegiate tournament. Senior Matt Rogers had the only Hilltopper top-10 finish at the MGA Regional Preview in October. The losses of 2010 PING/GCAA Honorable Mention All-Americans Matthew Hatcher and Collin Mayer have had an impact on the team this year.
Mount Olive College
Conference: Conference Carolinas
Coach: Chip Spiron
Location: Mount Olive, N.C.
The scoop: The Trojans were picked sixth in the Coastal Carolina Preseason Spring Coaches' Poll, below fellow tournament participants Barton College, Queens University of Charlotte and Coker College.
Washburn University
Conference: Mid America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Coach: Doug Hamilton
Location: Topeka, Kan.
The scoop: Junior Riley Piles and sophomore Brian Walker have led the Ichabods this season. Piles has two top-five finishes and a 74.1 stroke average, while Walker has a 74.5 stroke average and one top-five finish. The Ichabods placed second overall at the Missouri Western Fall Invitational then ended the fall season on a sour note, finishing seventh out of nine teams at the MGA Collegiate Invitational.
Northern Kentucky University
Conference: Great Lakes Valley Conference
Coach: Daryl Landrum
Location: Highland Heights, Ky.
The scoop: Danny Lewis won the individual title at the Wisconsin-Parkside Fall Invitational for Northern Kentucky's only individual victory this season. Lewis, a senior and PING second team All-American, carries a 72.0 stroke average this season. The Norse finished the fall with a 14th-place finish at the Division II Preview in Ford City, Ala.
Eckerd College
Conference: Sunshine State Conference
Coach: Bill Buttner
Location: St. Petersburg, Fla.
The scoop: The Tritons began the season with a fifth-place finish at the Webber Intercollegiate Tournament. Unfortunately, they haven't been able to get back in contention in their last four events. The Tritons opened the spring season with a 13th-place finish at the Matlock Collegiate Classic and hope for a better result this weekend. Callum Georgallide leads the team with a 73.50 stroke average.
St. Andrews Presbyterian
Conference: Conference Carolinas
Coach: Lisa Becka
Location: Laurinburg, N.C.
The scoop: The Crusaders have had a rough season so far, finishing in last place in four tournaments in the fall. Despite the fall's struggles, things may be looking up for the Crusaders. The team finished in third place out of five teams in the St. Andrews Spring Invite and Matt Latham earned his third top-five finish this season.
The Field (with national rank)
3.) Lynn University
4.) Abilene Christian Univ.
10.) CSU-Monterey Bay
17.) Barton College
18.) Univ. of Indianapolis
24.) Nova Southeastern Unviv.
26.) Queens Univ of Charlotte
33.) St. Mary's U. (Texas)
36.) Lander University
40.) St. Edward's Univ.
46.) Eckerd College
55.) Carson-Newman College
59.) Coker College
63.) Washburn University
66.) Northern Kentucky Univ.
78.) Mount Olive College
131.) St. Andrews Presbyterian
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