March 13, 2013

TUCSON, Ariz. - The University of Arizona men's golf team hosts the Don Puckette National Invitational Tournament, March 16-17, at Omni Tucson National Golf Club. It is Arizona's second home tournament of the season.

The 2013 Don Puckette NIT is a 54-hole event, which will be contested at Omni Tucson National Golf Club, a par 72, 7,094-yard layout. 36 holes will be played on Saturday, March 16 with continuous play scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. MST. The final 18 holes will start at 8 a.m. on Sunday, March 17.

Seven of the teams in the field of 16 currently are ranked in the top 50 of the current Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index, which includes (ranking): Arkansas (19), Hawaii, Long Beach State, Nevada, New Mexico (3), New Mexico State, Oklahoma State (13), San Diego, San Diego State, SMU (18), TCU (8), Texas A&M (27), UNLV (37), UTEP, Wyoming and host Arizona.

On the individual side, seven players are ranked in the top 50 nationally including Julien Brun of TCU (4), James Erkenbeck of New Mexico (10), Gavin Green of New Mexico (23), Talor Gooch of Oklahoma State (27), Kevin Penner of UNLV (36), Ian Davis of Oklahoma State (44) and Sebastian Cappelen of Arkansas (46).

In the event's 10-year history, Arizona has won the event once (2003) and finished as the runner-up two times (2004 and 2009). In that same span, Jonathan Khan is the lone Wildcat to claim individual medalist honors, accomplishing the feat in 2011.

In last year's tournament, San Diego State finished with a final of 859 (-5) for the team win. UNLV was one stroke behind San Diego State, finishing with an 860 (-4) for second place, while SMU rounded out the top three with a final of 863 (-1).

In the individual race, San Diego State's J.J. Spaun claimed medalist honors after carding a final round 68 for a total of 201 (-15). BYU's Zachary Blair finished four strokes behind Spaun with a final total of 205 (-11). Teammate Justin Keiley, UNLV's Kevin Penner, Memphis' Jonathan Fly and SMU's Marc Sambol finished in a tie for third place with totals of 214 (-2).

For the Wildcats, Erik Oja led the squad, finishing in a four-way tie for eighth place with a 216 (E) total. Junior Juan Pablo Hernandez finished two strokes behind Oja with a 218 (+2) to tie for 16^th.

Live tournament scoring will also be available at www.golfstat.com.

For continued coverage of Arizona Wildcat men's golf, visit ArizonaWildcats.com.

2013 Don Puckette NIT (March 16-17)

Omni Tucson National Golf Club (Par 72, 7,094-yards)

Tournament Field (Golfweek/Sagarin Top 50 Ranking in parentheses):

Arizona

Arkansas (19)

Hawaii

Long Beach State

Nevada

New Mexico (3)

New Mexico State

Oklahoma State (13)

San Diego

San Diego State

SMU (18)

TCU (8)

Texas A&M (27)

UNLV (37)

UTEP

Wyoming

Schedule:

Friday, March 16 - Practice Round

Saturday, March 16 - First Round, 8 a.m. (Second Round follows immediately)

Sunday, March 17 - Third Round, 8 a.m.

2012 Champions:

Individual: J.J. Spaun, San Diego State; 67-66-68=201 (-15) 

Team: San Diego State, 282-284-293=859 (-5)