Barry University men’s golf team opens the season Monday at the Titan Winter Invitational in Melbourne, Florida.
The No. 3-ranked Buccaneers are the two-time defending NCAA Division II champions and are seeking to become the first team to win three in a row since South Carolina-Aiken from 2004 to 2006.
Barry returns All-Americans Adam Svensson and Mario Beltran, along with senior Berry Jole and junior Nico Cavero – the first three who played significant roles in helping the Bucs repeat as champs last season. With the addition of sophomore Mike Anderson, whose scoring average in the fall was second on the team and first among those who competed in multiple tournaments, and sophomore Eirik Groenhaug, 13-year coach Jimmy Stobs believes his team has a legitimate shot to win again. Svensson competed in only one fall event, electing to focus on international and amateur competition in representing Canada. He won the Guy Harvey Invitational, helping the Bucs capture the team title -- its lone win of the fall.
Following the Titan Invitational, in which freshmen Jose Hernandez, Kyle Brey, Juan Yumar and Jeff Alexander will join Jole in the five-man lineup, the Bucs turn their sights to a five-event regular season schedule with a heavy emphasis on team results before the Sunshine State Conference Championships opens postseason April 12-14 at Red Tail Golf Club in Sorrento, Fla. It starts next week at the Matlock Collegiate Classic in Lakeland.
Barry will host the Buccaneer Invitational at Normandy Shores Golf Club in Miami Beach March 30-31.
In addition to the Guy Harvey title, the Bucs had two fourth place and one fifth place finish in the fall season. They are coming off a school-record eight tournament victories last season – the most decorated in school history.