A look back ... The 2019-20 Men's Golf Season
Although the 2019-20 Bellevue University men's golf season was cut short due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Bruins had a very successful fall portion of the season, finishing in the top-five in all five events with several notable individual performances.
2019-20 Schedule/Results | 2019-20 Roster | 2019-20 Season Statistics
Although the 2019-20 Bellevue University men's golf season was cut short due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Bruins had a very successful fall portion of the season, finishing in the top-five in all five events with several notable individual performances.
Bellevue started the season with a second-place showing in the prestigious 12-team U.C. Ferguson Classic in Oklahoma City. The Bruins were just one-of-two teams to break par in the tournament, finishing at 4-under in the 54-hole event. Andre Becerra placed third overall, finishing at 6-under, with rounds of 68, 70, and 69.
In a tournament that featured six nationally-ranked teams, the Bruins vaulted from fifth place to third place following the final round of the Mid-South Classic in Newton, Kan. BU carded a 7-under 281 in the third round to finish at 9-over par, one stroke behind second-place Oklahoma City. Alex Zillig was BU's top golfer in the tournament, finishing in a tie for fifth place at even par.
In a field that featured teams from NCAA Division I, II, and III as well as NAIA and NJCAA schools, the Bruins placed fourth in the 18-team Lewis Flyer Intercollegiate Classic in Lemont, Ill. Becerra finished the tournament at even-par, tying for individual medalist honors. The Bruins finished ahead of 10 NCAA Division I and II teams.
The highlight to the 2019-20 season came at the 19-team NAIA Midwest Invitational, where the Bruins were crowned champions in the 19-team field. After entering the final day with an 8-stroke lead, Bellevue did enough to both pull away from second-place Grand View and fend off charging Lindsey Wilson to win the team title. The Bruins received a pair of top-five performances and all four scoring golfers were in the top 13 and within six-strokes of par in the final round. Zillig finished in a three-way tie for first place in the tournament at even-par (70-72--144).
After a slow start in the opening two rounds, the Bruins shot the second-best round of the day in the final round to move up one spot to third place in the season-ending Southern Plains Intercollegiate Classic. Zillig was the top BU golfer in the 54-hole tournament, finishing at 7-over par (75-73-75), good for 10th place. Floris-Jan Oosterhof finished in a tie for 13th place in the 49-player field at 10-over par.
Becerra proved to be the Bruins' top golfer on the year, finishing the season with a 72.77 strokes-per-round average. He won one tournament and placed in the top five in three events. Becerra earned NSAA Golfer of the Week honors on two occasions in 2019-20.
Zillig was second on the squad with a 73.54 average, including one victory and four top-10 showings. Like Becerra, he also earned NSAA Golfer of the Week honors twice during the season.
Oosterhof was just behind Zillig with a 73.85 average. He placed in the top 10 in two events.
The Bruins had just two seniors on the 2019-20 roster in Becerra and Lucas Leinen. Becerra will be returning next season as the NAIA has granted an additional season of competition to all spring-sport athletes who saw their seasons cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.