Table of Contents INTRO Intro 1 Contents/Credits 2 Quick Facts 3 Why LSU? 4 University Club 5 Bilyeu Golf Practice Facility 6 Practice Facilities 8 University Club Layout Preview 14 Season Preview 16 Tournament Information Coaches 18 Head Coach Chuck Winstead 20 Assistant Coach Garrett Runion Tigers 21 Rhyne Jones 22 Brandon Pierce 23 Eric Ricard 24 Blake Caldwell 25 Sam Burns 26 Luis Gagne 27 Nathan Jeansonne 28 Drew Gonzales 29 Carter Toms Review 30 2015-16 Season Review 32 2015-16 Statistics & Results 33 2015-16 Round-by-Round Results 34 2015-16 Tournament Summaries 36 2015-16 SEC Recap 37 Tigers on the PGA TOUR History 40 2015 NCAA Champions 42 NCAA Semifinals: LSU vs. Georgia 44 NCAA Quarterfinals: LSU vs. Vanderbilt 46 2015 SEC Champions 48 2014 NCAA Semifinalists 50 John Peterson: NCAA Champion 52 Tigers in Major Championships 53 2012 U.S. Open Championship 54 LSU at the SEC Championships 55 LSU at the NCAA Championships 56 Record Book 58 All-Time Tournament Wins 59 Home Tournament History 60 All-Time Honors 62 Letterwinners LSU 63 Campus Life 64 LSU Board of Supervisors 65 President Dr. F. King Alexander 66 Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Joe Alleva 68 Athletics Administration 72 Academic Success 74 Championship Legacy 76 LSU Greats 78 Prominent Alumni 80 LSU Athletic Hall of Fame 81 LSU Social Media 2016-17 MEN’S GOLF MEDIA GUIDE 1 INTRO Quick Facts UNIVERSITY 2016-17 MEN’S GOLF SCHEDULE Location: Baton Rouge, La. SEPTEMBER Founded: 1860 9-11 Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic Rocky Face, Ga. The Farm GC Enrollment: 31,527 23-25 Maui Jim Intercollegiate Scottsdale, Ariz. Mirabel GC Nickname: Tigers or Fighting Tigers Home Course: The University Club (Par 72) OCTOBER Mascot: Mike VI (Live Bengal Tiger) 8-9 David Toms Intercollegiate Baton Rouge, La. University Club Colors: Purple and Gold 21-23 Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate Alpharetta, Ga. The GC of Georgia Conference: Southeastern Affiliation: NCAA Division I NOVEMBER President: Dr. F. King Alexander 4-6 Ka’anapali Collegiate Classic Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii Ka’anapali GC Faculty Representative: Dr. Bill DeMastes FEBRUARY ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT 20-22 The Prestige at PGA West La Quinta, Calif. PGA West Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics: Joe Alleva 27-28 Louisiana Classics Lafayette, La. Oakbourne CC Deputy Director of Athletics: Eddie Nunez Deputy Director of Athletics: Verge Ausberry MARCH Sr. Associate AD/Chief Financial Officer: Mark Ewing 11-12 General Hackler Championship Myrtle Beach, S.C. Dunes GC Sr. Associate AD/Sr. Woman Administrator: Miriam Segar 19-21 Valspar Collegiate Invitational Palm City, Fla. Floridian GC Sr. Associate AD/Compliance & Planning: Bo Bahnsen Sr. Associate AD/Athletic Facility Management: Ronnie Haliburton APRIL Associate AD/Ticket Manager: Brian Broussard 1-2 Aggie Invitational College Station, Texas Traditions Club Associate AD/Facilities & Project Development: Emmitt David 21-24 SEC Men’s Golf Championships St. Simons Island, Ga. Sea Island GC Assistant AD/Marketing: Matt Shanklin Assistant AD/Fiscal Operations: Neal Lamonica MAY 15-17 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional Baton Rouge, La. University Club MEN’S GOLF STAFF 26-31 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships Sugar Grove, Ill. Rich Harvest Farms Head Coach: Chuck Winstead Alma Mater: LSU, 1991 Season at LSU: 12th SUPPORT STAFF Assistant Coach: Garrett Runion Alma Mater: LSU, 2008 Season at LSU: Fifth TEAM INFORMATION 2015-16 Record: 125-45-5 2015-16 SEC Finish: 5th Postseason: NCAA Quarterfinalists Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 7/1 WILL STAFFORD KATIE O’BRIEN KIRSTIN DEFUSCO Athletic Communications Administrative Assistant Academic Counselor Top Returnees: Sam Burns (So.), Luis Gagne (So.), Eric Ricard (Jr.), Brandon Pierce (Jr.) Top Newcomers: Drew Gonzales (Fr.), Carter Toms (Fr.) Inaugural Season: 1932 Tournament Titles: 128 NCAA Championships: 5 SEC Championships: 16 SPORTS INFORMATION Sr. Associate AD/Athletic Communications Director: Michael Bonnette CORY COUTURE RICK LEFEBVRE Senior Associate Communications Director Kent Lowe Athletic Trainer Strength & Conditioning Coach Senior Associate Communications Director: Bill Franques Senior Associate Communications Director: Jennifer Rodrigues Associate Communications Director: Brandon Berrio MEDIA INFORMATION Associate Communications Director: Will Stafford The 2016-17 LSU Men’s Golf Media Guide was written to provide members of the media with statistics Associate Communications Director: Clyde Verdin and information needed to adequately cover the LSU Men’s Golf team. For further information on Executive Director of Creative Services: Jason Feirman the team and the scheduling of interviews with head coach Chuck Winstead, assistant coach Garrett Creative Services Manager: PJ Odom Runion or any of the student-athletes, please contact Will Stafford in the LSU Athletic Communications Creative Services Coordinator: Amanda Qubty Department at (225) 578-8226. Creative Services Coordinator: Clint Self Staff Photographer: Steve Franz MAILING ADDRESS OVERNIGHT MAILING ADDRESS Staff Photographer: Chris Parent LSU Sports Information Athletic Administration Building, Fifth Floor Men’s Golf Contact: Will Stafford LSU Box 25095 North Stadium Drive Administrative Specialist: Pam LeBlanc Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Baton Rouge, LA 70894 CONTACT INFORMATION (AREA CODE 225) CREDITS LSU Athletic Communications: 578-8226 Editor: Will Stafford LSU Athletic Communications Fax: 578-1861 Design and Layout: PJ Odom Will Stafford’s Cell: 436-4389 Covers: PJ Odom Will Stafford’s E-mail: [email protected] Photography: Steve Franz Men’s Golf Office: 578-1280 Chris Parent LSU Athletic Department: 578-0628 Tim Cowie Ticket Office: 578-2184 Website: www.LSUsports.net 2 2016-17 MEN’S GOLF MEDIA GUIDE Why LSU? INTRO David Toms 2001 PGA Champion Why LSU? 13-time PGA TOUR Winner “As far back as I can remember, I have literally bled purple and gold. It never crossed my mind that there was anywhere else to go other than LSU. The experiences and relationships that I developed at LSU have been an integral part of my life. No other colleges existed in my mind. I am fortunate to have attended a place that I considered a dream and look forward to my association with the University until the day I die.” “I came to LSU to improve myself as “I’ve bled purple and gold from Day “Both of my parents played golf for a player and to have an awesome One. I grew up an LSU fan in Baton LSU, so it was always my dream to experience as a student-athlete. I Rouge, my parents went there and I play golf there too. At LSU, you are was able to do both while playing had always wanted to go to school given the opportunity to play and for a great coach in Chuck Winstead there. I had that opportunity when it practice at top-notch facilities and and a great program he has came down to deciding where I wanted play one of the best schedules in the continued to build at LSU. It really to continue my career. It’s the best country. I got better every year at LSU helped me get to where I am today. University on the planet, and I’m proud and made lasting relationships with After graduating, I bought a house to call it my home.” my coaches coaches and teammates. in Baton Rouge and have always I truly believe this is why I will be enjoyed my time here.” playing on the PGA TOUR next year.” John Peterson Andrew Loupe Smylie Kaufman PGA TOUR Veteran PGA TOUR Veteran PGA TOUR Veteran 2011 NCAA Champion 2-time NCAA All-American PGA TOUR Winner Did You Know? • In the 2009 and 2010 editions of U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges, LSU is ranked in the first tier for “Best National Universities.” • LSU is the only public university in Louisiana designated as having very high research activity (RU/VH) by the prestigious Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the highest ranking awarded to doctorate-granting institutions. classification in 2008, one of 68 public funding, from agencies such as the • LSU was named to the 2009 President’s institutions nationally with this elective National Science Foundation, National Higher Education Community Service classification based on community Institutes of Health and the Department Honor Roll by the Corporation for engagement. of Homeland Security has increased 86 National and Community Service, the percent or more than $90 million over the highest federal recognition a college or • LSU is one of only a handful of universities last five years. university can receive for its commitment in the nation having land-grant, sea-grant to volunteering, service-learning and civic and space-grant status. • Newsweek magazine named LSU the engagement. “Most Diverse” school in the nation in • LSU currently ranks among the Top the Sept. 3, 2003, issue. The enrollment • LSU earned the prestigious Carnegie 30 public universities in total research consists of 24 percent minority students. Community Engagement and Outreach awards. The University’s total federal 2016-17 MEN’S GOLF MEDIA GUIDE 3 ONLYOnlyINTRO OneONE University Club University CLUB legend and PGA TOUR pro David Toms and renowned golf course architect Jim Lipe, who designed the original University Club in 1998. The course is carved into nearly 300 acres of land just seven miles south of the LSU campus on Nicholson Drive. It came as no surprise that the University Club was selected as an NCAA Men’s Golf Regional host site during the 2013 season, marking the first time in the illustrious history of the LSU Men’s Golf program that the Tigers served as hosts to an NCAA postseason tournament on its home course. The men’s team has again been chosen to play host to NCAA Regional competition in the spring of 2017, while the Lady Tigers hosted a women’s regional in 2015. The challenging 18-hole, par-72 course at University Club plays to 7,700 yards from its championship tees and features wide fairways bordered by pine hammocks and native grasses, in addition to 2,000 feet of beautiful bulkhead.