NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans Golf team will make its annual trip to Jackson Country Club for the 2023 edition of the Grover Page Classic hosted by UT Martin on Monday and Tuesday afternoon.
UNO has played in the Grover Page Classic in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2022. The team’s best finish and score both came in 2021 when the Privateers finished in third place with a score of 865. Individually the best performance came that year as well when Brady Bennett – brother of current Privateer Kyle Bennett – finished tied for 3rd with a 54-hole score of 209.
Of those set to play tomorrow only Bennett and sophomore Canon Clark have prior experience at the Grover Page Classic. Bennett shot a 219 last season, while Clark shot a 236 in his collegiate debut..
The tournament will mark the first edition since the passing of its namesake Grover Page. Page was the first golf coach at UT Martin and served in that role for 35 seasons. He passed away in December at the age of 88.
FORMAT
The teams will play 36 holes of golf on Monday with another 18 on Tuesday. All three rounds will feature the shotgun format. Tee times begin at 8:15 a.m.
The following schools are confirmed to compete in the event: UT Martin (hosts), Austin Peay, Belmont, Eastern Illinois, Missouri State, Murray State, Nicholls, Presbyterian, Samford, SIUE, Southeastern, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech. There will be 94 individual golfers in the competition.
THE LINEUP
- Kyle Bennett Junior, 70.3 avg this season.
- Maximilian Wojciechowski Junior, 72.0 avg this season.
- Ryan Fulton Redshirt Senior, 72.2 avg this season.
- George Trappey Freshman, 73.0 avg this season.
- Mason Roberts Junior, 73.7 avg. last season.
In addition to the starting five, Canon Clark will play as an independent. The Broussard native played in three tournaments last season, including the Grover Page Classic, with an average of 78.4.
THE COURSE
Jackson Country Club – Jackson, Tenn.
6,849 yards, par-72.
72.8 rating, 128 slope.
WEATHER
Monday – high of 79 low of 52, sunshine, 0% chance of rain, N winds at 6 mph.
Tuesday – high of 83 low of 57, sunny and nice, 4% chance of rain, SSE winds at 6 mph.
LAST TIME ON THE COURSE
The Privateers opened the season with a strong score at the Golfweek Fall Challenge in Pawleys Island, S.C. New Orleans carded an 855 – good for 9-under-par as a team, and the program’s second lowest 54-hole score since 2009. As a squad the Privateers finished all three rounds at par or better and led the field with 183 pars made. Individually the Privateers put up six sub-par rounds, with Bennett, Fulton, and Wojciechowski all having rounds below 70.
12 New Orleans, U. of 285, 288, 282 | 855
T25 Kyle Bennett (4) 70, 67, 74 | 211
T54 Maximilian Wojciechowski (5) 72, 75, 69 | 216
T58 Ryan Fulton (1) 76, 74, 67 | 217
T61 George Trappey (3) 71, 76, 72 | 219
T69 Mason Roberts (2) 72, 72, 77 | 221
LAST TIME AT THE GROVER PAGE CLASSIC
New Orleans finished in eighth place after shooting an 882 last season. Three UNO freshman made their debut. Pepe De La Concepcion Quilez finished tied for 20th with a score of 217, Gabriel Gallego (playing as an independent) finished tied for 60th with a score of 226, and Clark finished tied for 88th with a score of 236. Then-sophomore Bennett entered the final round inside the top-10 but finished tied for 31st after finishing with a score of 219.
8 New Orleans, U. of 293, 289, 300 |882
T20 Pepe De La Concepcion Quilez (2) 72, 72, 73 | 217
T31 Kyle Bennett (5) 72, 68, 79 | 219
T47 Thomas Artigas (4) 75, 73, 74 | 222
T60 Grayson Gilbert (3) 74, 76, 76 | 226
T60 Gabriel Gallego (I) 74, 75, 77 | 226
T88 Canon Clark (1) 79, 80, 77 | 236
SOCIAL MEDIA
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