Another team I will bring into play or in this case, on the fairway, is the men's golf team. The men's golf team is coming off a season that had some rough starts, but will bounce back. The team finished fifth out of seventh in the A-SUN Tournament.
The team is led by head coach Eric Booker. Booker enters his third season as head coach for the Eagles.
Prior to his coaching career, Booker graduated with his degree in Business Administration from Mississippi State University. After graduating, Booker served as a teaching coach before deciding to play professionally and join the PGA from 1990-2007. Booker finished in the top-5 three times in tournaments on the PGA Tour and also played in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship.
Booker played in 62 career events on the PGA Tour, with his best finish being a tie for 3rd place at the 1999 Honda Classic. Booker won the 1997 Nike Greater Austin Open and 1998 Nike Lehigh Valley on the Web.com Tour as over the course of his career where he recorded 14 top-10 finishes. In 1998, he was ranked fourth on the money list as he posted his best single season with nine top-10 showings in 23 events.
After his 17 years in the PGA, Booker took the position as head coach. In his first season as head coach, the Eagles also secured top-10 single-season program records in birdies (5th, 398), par-4 scoring (6th, 4.22) and par-or-better rounds (T-9th, four). Additionally, Booker guided FGCU to either 2nd- or 3rd-place finishes in four-straight tournaments, marking the first time since the 2011-12 season that the Eagles secured four-straight top-3 showings and that squad incredibly won four straight tournaments.
In his second season, FGCU continued to improve under Booker’s tutelage, highlighted by a head-to-head victory over FAU in October. In the rain-shortened, one-round event, FGCU posted an incredible round of 273 to emerge victorious. The 273 total was tied for the 3rd-lowest round in program history (lowest: 267), and the 15-under score was the 2nd-lowest in program history relative to par (lowest: -16).
For Booker's third season, he will make sure that the boys give all they got on the fairway.
Joining to back up Booker is Austin Schultz.
Schultz enters his second season as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Prior to coaching, Schultz was a golfer for NCAA DII Florida Southern College of the Sunshine State Conference.
In his freshman year at FSC, Schultz played 28 rounds in nine tournaments. Schultz's best finish was a tie for 5th (213) at the Bobcat Invitational and his best round was a 69 in the final round of the NCAA D-II National Championships. Schultz finished tied for 19th (221) at the NCAA D-II National Championships, tied for 13th (220) at the NCAA D-II Super Regional, had seven rounds of par or better on the season and shot a 224 to finish tied for 21st at the SSC Championships (4/14-16/13). As a result, Schultz was named a member of the PING All-South Region Team and was the Mocs top finisher in one tournament and finished as its No. 3 golfer in four other tournaments.
In his sophomore year at FSC, Schultz played in 29 rounds and had a stroke average of 74.04. Schultz qualified for the Division II South/Southeast Super Regional where his low round was a 69, had 3-under 69 in the Second Round at the 33rd-Annual Matlock Invitational, which tied for the second-lowest round to par on the team during the season. Schultz's best finish on the year was a tie for 12th at the AFLAC/Cougar Invitational with rounds of 73-70-70 (216/+3). He also finished tied for 13th at the Sunshine State Conference Championship following rounds of 72-74-72 (218/+2).
After his time with FSC, Schultz transferred to FGCU at his junior year. Schultz played in nine of 10 tournaments and posted a 75.92 stroke average to finish third on the team in that category with 21 of 26 rounds used in FGCU’s team score. Schultz broke into the top-20 twice after finishing tied for 19th out of 64 golfers at the Pinetree Intercollegiate, finished tied for 10th out of 46 golfers at the Grub Mart Intercollegiate, posted a career-low 4-under 68 during the final round of the Jim West Intercollegiate, recorded three rounds of even par or better on the year. Schultz also had two eagles on the season, tied for the 14th-most in single-season program history.
In his senior year, Schultz played 29 rounds in nine tournaments and posted a team-low 74.19 scoring average. He was responsible for five of FGCU’s eight total rounds in the 60s all year and was one of only two team members to compete in all nine tournaments on the year. Schultz had four top-11 finishes and consecutive runner-up performances in his final two tournaments, finished in the top 25 in almost every tournament except one and of all 27 rounds played, his score was used 26 times. Schultz finished the year with 80 birdies, the 14th-most in single-season program history, tied his career-low round with a 68 at the Homewood/Hilton Garden Airport & FGCU Classic at Old Corkscrew Golf Club and all four of his rounds of 69 came in the spring, including two consecutively to end the A-Sun Championship after shooting a 3-over 75 in the first round where he responded with consecutive 3-under rounds to finish at -3 (213) for the tournament, just one shot behind the medalist in which the runner-up performance at the A-Sun Championship came just a couple weeks after his first career runner-up showing at the East Carolina Intercollegiate. Schultz played three consistent rounds of 73-73-72 (218) to finish second in the field of 77 golfers en route to his only A-Sun Men’s Golfer of the Week honor, finished in a tie for 7th at the Homewood/Hilton Garden Airport & FGCU Classic and tied for 11th at The Legacy Intercollegiate and his 3.17 scoring average on par 3s led the team. As a result of his hard work, Schultz was named A-SUN Men's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year, a member of A-SUN All-Conference Second Team and a member of the A-SUN All-Academic Team.
After finishing his golfing career with FGCU, Schultz became assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Booker. In his first season, Schultz helped coach two different ASUN Golfer of the Week and A-SUN All-Freshman Team members, the first such selection for FGCU since 2013. For Schultz, he will continue to spread his experience for FGCU.
With a new team means changes. Keaton Jones and Casper Howells departed as they graduated.
Sophomore Christopher Abdilla, junior Willam Kelly and senior Anthony Quintessenza have also departed from the team.
This year's team consists of three seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and three freshman.
The three seniors have been with FGCU since day one: James Leadbetter, Grant Renegar and Michael Keymont.
The first of three seniors is James Leadbetter.
At 6-3 and hailing from my second home, Bradenton, Florida, Leadbetter has been more than ready for the Eagles.
Prior to FGCU, Leadbetter spent his freshman year at Arkansas. He utilized a redshirt his freshman year and transferred to FGCU as a redshirt sophomore.
In his redshirt sophomore year, Leadbetter participated in seven of FGCU’s nine tournaments during the year with a 76.05 scoring average, which was 4th-best on the roster. Leadbetter had a pair of top-20 finishes, including a tie for 19th at the A-SUN Conference Championship where he opened the tournament with a season-low 71 before finishing with a pair of 76s for a season-low-tying 223 total and out of 21 total rounds, his score was used 18 times, including a stretch of 14 in a row from late September through mid March. Leadbetter's best finish of that season was a tie for 18th out of 67 golfers at the Pinetree Intercollegiate after opening with a 77, he responded with two rounds of 73 for a 223 total.
During the summer, Leadbetter finished 12th in the Rice Planters Amateur Championship with rounds of 75-73-66-72
In his redshirt junior year, Leadbetter played in four tournaments, recording a 75.40 scoring average over 10 rounds. Leadbetter secured three par-or-better rounds with a career- and season-low 70 (-1) in the final round of the Frontier Secure Intercollegiate. His best finish was 10th at the one-round, rain-shortened FAU Dual after an even-par round of 72. Leadbetter also tied for 11th playing as an individual at the Homewood/Hilton Garden Airport & FGCU Classic (Oct. 24-25) with rounds of 76-72-76 (224) and in the pair of three-round tournaments, he played in as a member of the five-man lineup, his score was used in the team total all six rounds.
For Leadbetter's final season, it will be a journey for the ages.
Next on the tee is Grant Renegar.
At 5-11 and coming to you from McComb, Mississippi, Renegar can make Dustin Johnson break a sweat.
Prior to FGCU, Renegar played his first two years at Meridian Community College (MCC), an NJCAA DII Independent college (formerly in the Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges [MACJC]). There, Renegar claimed his first collegiate victory at the 2016 Mississippi College Invitational with a 7-under 209 three-round total, helped lead his team to an 8th-place finish at the national tournament in 2016 with a four-round 296 (+8) total as a freshman. Renegar entered his sophomore season at MCC ranked 29th in the country among all junior college players by Golfstat and 8th overall among players in the D-II ranks. Renegar landed on the MACJC State Golf Championship All-Tournament Team with a with a two-round 145 and was named to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) First Team All-State with a 72.08 stroke average.
Renegar transferred to FGCU his junior year where he played 19 rounds in seven tournaments where he posted a 75.37 scoring average became the just the fifth player in program history to post multiple wins in the same season as he claimed medalist honors at the one-round, rain-shortened FAU Dual and the East Carolina Intercollegiate in which the two wins were tied for the 2nd-most in a single season in program history (Joseph Lamielle: 5 victories in 2003-04). Renegar shot a season-best 66 in the FAU Dual, tied for the 8th-lowest round in program history and relative to par, the 6-under performance is tied for the 7th-best in program history and signed for rounds of 73-76-73 (222) to finish 1st in a field of 65 at the East Carolina Intercollegiate where he won the medalist honor with a par on the second playoff hole. Renegar also secured four top-20 finishes on the year, tied for 11th out of 90 golfers at the Homewood/Hilton Garden Airport & FGCU Classic following rounds of 75-75-74 (224) and tied for 19th at the A-SUN Championship with rounds of 76-73-76 (225).
For Renegar, he will show that he is Mississippi's finest for FGCU.
The last senior is Michael Keymont.
At 6-2 and hailing from Orlando, Florida, Keymont is also a transfer for the team.
Prior to FGCU, Keymont spent his first two years at Eastern Florida State College of NJCAA DI Region 8/FCSAA. There he finished his two-year stay at Eastern Florida ranked 30th in the nation by Golfstat for all junior college golfers at the Division-I level. Keymont posted a scoring average of 74.51 as a sophomore and helped lead Eastern Florida to the NJCAA D-I District 4 title for the third time in four years with a 222 total to tie for 12th at the tournament where he shot a four-round 289 at the national championship as Eastern Florida tied for 4th.
Keymont transferred to FGCU where he played six of the team’s 10 tournaments, posting a 77.50 scoring average over 18 rounds where his score was used in the team total 11 times including a season-low 73 (+1) in the final round at the Cape Fear National Intercollegiate and Fort Lauderdale Intercollegiate. Keymont's best three-round performance was a 227 (76-77-74) at the season-opening EKU Intercollegiate and a best finish was a tie for 35th at the Fort Lauderdale Intercollegiate following rounds of 81-76-73 (230).
For Keymont, he will give it all he's got.
The three juniors have been the backbones to help Leadbetter, Renegar and Keymont: Remec Carlson, Robert Renner Jr. and Andrew Potter.
The first of three juniors is Remec Carlson.
At 6-2 and hailing from Bradenton, Florida, Carlson comes with plenty of passion.
Prior to FGCU, Carlson started his collegiate golf career at the University of Utah, but did not play for the Utes.
After transferring to FGCU as a redshirt sophomore, Carlson made one appearance as an individual at the East Carolina Intercollegiate where he recorded rounds of 84-78-80 (242).
For Carlson, he will make his mark this season.
Next up is Robert Renner Jr.
At 5-7 and hailing from Arlington Heights, Illinois, Renner is here to make a statement out of the rough.
In his freshman year, Renner utilized a redshirt season and did not compete in any tournaments, but in his redshirt freshman year, Renner made his only appearance of the year as an individual at the Homewood/Hilton Garden Airport & FGCU Classic where he shot rounds of 76-77-78 to finish with a 231 total and in a tie for 32nd out of 71 golfers.
In his redshirt sophomore year, Renner played in three tournaments and posted a 75.57 scoring average over seven rounds. He secured a career-best 70 (-2) at the one-round, rain-shortened FAU Dual to finish in a tie for 6th, competed at the WKU Kenny Perry Invitational where his scores of 76-78-71 (225) were used in the team total each round in which the final-round 71 (-1) marked his second career under-par round. Renner also played as an individual at the Homewood/Hilton Garden Airport & FGCU Classic posting rounds of 77-75-82 (234).
For Renner, he will show everyone that he is one of Illinois' top collegiate golfers.
The last junior and my personal favorite men's golfer is Andrew Potter.
At 6-2 and hailing from Naples, Florida via Queensland, Australia, Potter is here to bring FGCU from down under to the top.
In his freshman year, Potter played in four tournaments, three of which came consecutively to end the season and posted a 76.50 stroke average over 12 rounds, half of which were played as an individual and three of which were below par.
Potter had a season-best finish of a tie for 10th at the FAU Slomin Autism Championship as an individual, opened that tournament with a 5-under 66 in his first competitive round in five months, missing tying the program’s record-low round by just two shots. The 66 was the best performance by a Green and Blue member since October of 2013.
Potter followed it up with a 1-under 70 in the second round as the 36-hole 136 total was two shots shy of matching the program record and finished with a final-round 75 for a 211 total, tied for 21st at the East Carolina Intercollegiate and was solo 24th at the A-SUN Championship after closing with a 1-under 71 in six possible rounds, his score was used in the team total each time.
In his sophomore year, Potter played in eight of the team’s 11 tournaments and completed 24 rounds in which he led FGCU with a 74.04 scoring average. Potter secured four par-or-better rounds and a pair of rounds in the 60s, three top-10 finishes and four top-20 showings in which his score was used in the team total 22 of 24 rounds, including 12 in a row to end the season.
Potter was consistent all year as he only shot in the 80s once, but bounced back from that round to post a top-10 finish and all but six of his rounds were 75 or lower. Potter's best finish was a tie for 4th out of 90 golfers at the Homewood/Hilton Garden Airport & FGCU Classic with rounds of 74-72-75 (221) and also a tie for 4th at the FAU Slomin Autism Championship with rounds of 69-72-76 (217). His best round was a 69, recorded twice in consecutive rounds – the first was during the final round of the Cape Fear National Intercollegiate and and the second occurred in the first round at FAU. Potter finished the year strong with a tie for 8th at Cape Fear (81-73-69: 223), tie for 4th at FAU and solo 18th at the A-SUN Championship (76-73-74: 223).
For Potter, he will give it a go to make it further than you can imagine.
Hoping to bring more experience to the table are three sophomores: Doug Smith, Landon Weber and Brent Fredericksen.
The first of three sophomores is Doug Smith.
At 6-0 and hailing from Windermere, Florida, Smith came to make his presence ready off the rough.
In his freshman year, Smith played 21 rounds in seven tournaments with a 75.05 scoring average to rank 3rd among all A-SUN freshmen. Smith posted two top-10 finishes in seven tournaments, had three top-20 showings and was never outside the top 30 and secured two par-or-better rounds and a season-low round of 69. Smith played as an individual in the fall finale at the Homewood/Hilton Garden Airport & FGCU Classic and qualified for each of the Eagles’ six spring tournaments where he was just one of two FGCU golfers to play in every event.
Smith made three eagles, tied for the 4th-most in single-season program history. His best finish was a tie for 4th out of 93 competitors at the Cape Fear National Intercollegiate with rounds of 75-71-76 (222) and his best three-round total was a 221 at the Fort Lauderdale Intercollegiate with following rounds of 78-69-74 to tie for 10th out of 83 golfers. In addition, Smith was the only member of the Green and Blue who played in multiple events and did not shoot in the 80s all year and as a result of his hard work, Smith was named a member of the A-SUN All-Freshman Team.
Next up is Landon Weber.
At 6-2 and coming locally from Ft. Myers, Weber brings local experience to the table. Although joining the team in the spring, he did not play in any tournaments, but rest assure, he will be ready
The last sophomore is Brent Fredericksen.
At 5-9 and hailing from Staten Island, New York, Frederickson is here to bring his NY style to FGCU.
Frederickson only played one tournament at the Patriot Intercollegiate where he recorded rounds of 76-73-79 (228).
For Fredericksen, he will get more time to play.
You got to have freshman to help understand what to expect and these three boast with excelllence: Cole Castro, DJ Griffiths and Mark Iwinski Jr.
The first freshman is Cole Castro.
At 6-2 and hailing from Homestead, Florida, Castro brings a fulfillment to make Phil Mickelson quiver.
Prior to FGCU, Castro played golf for South Dade High School. A four-year letterwinner, Castro was a two-time All-Dade County Player of the Year, three-time All-Dade County selection, a FHSAA State Medalist,and a representative of the South Team in The Florida Cup where he posted six top-10 finishes and five top-5 showings in the Florida Junior Tour, AJGA and Amateur Tour.
For Castro, he will turn the heads to see what he's made of.
Next up is DJ Griffiths.
At 5-9 and hailing from Binghamton, New York, Griffiths bring plenty of New York experience as Fredericksen.
Prior to FGCU, Griffiths played golf at Susquehanna Valley High School. There, he won the IMG Junior Worlds Qualifier at Charleston Springs GC in New Jersey in the spring of 2016 by four strokes, played in the U.S. Open Sectional tournament which he qualified for at a local U.S. Qualifier, had four top-10 finishes in American Junior Golf Association tournaments and qualified for the NYS High School Championship Final at Cornell University since 7th grade.
For Griffiths, he will Bring New York style strongly to the mix.
The final freshman is Mark Iwinski Jr.
At 5-9 and hailing from Ft. Myers, Iwinski also brings local experience to the table.
Prior to FGCU, Iwinski played at Riverdale High School. There, he was the 2016 First TEE of Naples Collier Player of the Year with 1st-place finishes at the Strand and Esplanade where he won the Jeff Straus Invitational at Old Corkscrew GC with a 71 and finished 10th at the South Florida PGA Titleist Junior Championship. Iwinski had 3rd-place finishes in both his conference and district as a senior, finished 15th at the South Florida Junior PGA Championship at Port St. Lucie and was the Southwest Florida Junior Golf Association Player of the Year.
For Iwinski, he will make sure to keep putting his foot in the door.
Obviously, I never seen a golf game for the men, but seeing the work they do brings wonders for the team. I know they will have a good season and continue to work hard.
PC: FGCUathletics.com
