After finishing as runners-up to Stanford at the NCAA Finals last season, the Texas Longhorns enter this season as the preseason No. 1 ranked team, per the opening Golfweek Coaches Poll.
Long-time head coach John Fields boasts one of his most talented returning groups this season, as Texas returns four of its starting five golfers from last year’s squad. They’ll be led by the nation’s top-ranked amateur in Cole Hammer. Hammer gained valuable experience away from a collegiate setting while competing for the U.S. Walker Cup team in England this past summer. He contributed towards the United States’ first cup victory overseas in 12 years.
Parker Coody and Pierceson Coody both advanced all the way to the Round of 16 at this year’s U.S. Amateur Championship.
Along with returning sophomores Hammer and the Coody twins, incoming freshman Travis Vick brings in more talent to an already stacked squad. Vick and senior Spencer Soosman are likely to round out the starting five on a regular tournament basis.
Vick (ranked No. 17), Hammer (ranked No. 1), and Pierceson Coody (ranked No. 8) each made the 2019-20 Preseason Haskins Award Watch List. The Fred Haskins Award is presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding collegiate golfer at the end of the season, as voted on through players, coaches, and media members.
Five Longhorn golfers have won this award in the past — Ben Crenshaw (‘71, ‘72, ‘73), Bob Estes (‘88), Justin Leonard (‘94), Brad Elder (‘97), and Beau Hossler (‘16).
As they look to avenge last year’s championship loss, the men’s golf team begins their 2020 championship quest towards program title No. 4 this weekend at the Fighting Illini Invitational. Along with perennial powerhouse Oklahoma State (No. 4) and tournament-host Illinois (No. 19), the tournament field includes 11 programs ranked among the preseason Coaches Poll Top 25.
To stay updated on the men’s golf team throughout their season, you can follow along with them via Twitter (@TexasMGolf).
2019-20 Men’s Golf Schedule
FALL SCHEDULE
(Fri. 9/20 - Sun. 9/22): Fighting Illini Invitational — Olympia Fields Country Club, IL
(Sun. 9/29 - Tue. 10/1): Nike Collegiate Invitational — Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, OR
(Fri. 10/11 - Sun. 10/13): Big 12 Match Play — The Club at Houston Oaks, TX
(Sun. 10/20 - Tue. 10/22): Tavistock Collegiate — Isleworth Golf and Country Club, FL
(Mon. 10/28 - Wed. 10/30): East Lake Cup — East Lake Golf Club, GA
SPRING SCHEDULE
(Thu. 2/6 - Sat. 2/8): Amer Ari Invitational — Waikoloa Golf Club, HI
(Mon. 2/17 - Wed. 2/19): The Prestige — PGA West, Greg Norman Course, CA
(Sun. 3/1 - Wed. 3/3): Southern Highlands Collegiate — Southern Highlands CC, NV
(Mon. 3/16 - Tue. 3/17): Valspar Collegiate — Floridian Golf Club, FL
(Mon. 4/13 - Wed. 4/15): Western Intercollegiate — Pasatiempo Golf Club, CA
(Mon. 4/27 - Wed. 4/29): Big 12 Conference Championship — Southern Hills Country Club, OK