UMKC Returns To Kansas City To Host Annual Bill Ross Intercollegiate
10/11/2015 9:25:00 AM | Men's Golf
The Field
The 12-Team Field Includes: Air Force, Drake, Creighton, Gonzaga, Oklahoma Christian, Missouri State, Oral Roberts, South Dakota State, SIU Edwardsville, UMKC, Western Illinois, and Wichita State. As well as three individuals for Kansas State, two each from UMKC and Wichita State and one each from Air Force and Missouri State for a total of 69 golfers.
The Course
The Milburn 18-hole golf course may be stretched as far as 7,054 yards from the championship tees, or played from our member tees at 6,332 yards. Our beautifully maintained course is one of the finest in the Kansas City area and offers a challenging yet enjoyable layout for players of all skill levels with multiple tee locations.
Bill Ross
In his 35 year career, tournament namesake Bill Ross was an instrumental figure in the history of UMKC Athletics. After beginning the men's basketball as its first head coach in the 1969-70 season, he served also as the first head basketball coach for the women's basketball program in its inaugural season in 1980-81. He served as the only coach in the history of the men's golf program until 2003. In his time with the men's golf program, Ross led the Roos to a pair of Mid-Continent Conference runner-up finishes including the 2001-02 season in which he coached current UMKC Director of Golf J.W. VanDenBorn. Ross also landed NJCAA National Individual Champion Robert Russell and guided him to an NCAA Championship appearance and All-American honors in 1997. After 35 years at the helm, Ross retired in 2003. He has since been inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and was a member of the 2009 class of inductees into the UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame. The Bill Ross Intercollegiate was started in his honor in 2005.
Last Time
Antoine Rozner continued his hot play to start the year as the senior was the individual medalist at the Mark Simpson Invitational, leading UMKC men's golf to a co-championship with host Colorado at the Boulder Country Club in Boulder, Colo. After finishing fifth last week in the season opening Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, Rozner won his third collegiate event after firing a -2, 208, tied for the seventh lowest tournament score in school history.
In just his second ever event as a 'Roo, Jakob Garstecki finished three shots back of Rozner, in fourth spot at +1. In round one, the junior teed off on hole 10 and, after a bogey on 10 and a par on 11, proceeded to birdie five of the next nine holes, leading to a first round 68. After a second round 74 that was highlighted by an eagle on 12, Garstecki matched Rozner's third round 69, notching four birdies, including his final one of the day on the par-4 18.
Freshman Francois Lagraulet gave the 'Roos a third top-5 finisher, as the 'Roos second Frenchman tied for fifth at +2. After a birdie-free round one of 74, Lagraulet rebounded in round two with a five birdie, 67 that tied for the lowest round in the entire tournament. Lagraulet then closed out his tournament with a final round 71 that included two birdies on both the front and back nine.
Cameron Wiltse, meanwhile, carded the Kangaroos' fourth best score, registering a top-20 result after tying for 16th. Wiltse opened the event with an even par 70 and followed with a 71 in round two to close out day one with five birdies. In the final round, the senior finished the event with a 75.
Rounding out the UMKC lineup was the 'Roos third player from France, Thibault Vieilledent who finished the tournament in 65th at +21.
Playing as an individual, meanwhile, Matthew Sieg tied for 14th at +5 after rounds of 73, 71 and 71.
Golfer of the Month
Antoine Rozner was named the WAC Golfer of the Month for September after winning the Mark Simpson Invitational and finishing fifth at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invite.
Rozner Tabbed As WAC's Best
After moving into the top spot on both the UMKC single season scoring average and career scoring average and claiming a pair of tournament titles, Antoine Rozner was named as the WAC Player of the Year and First Team All-WAC.
In The Record Books
Antoine Rozner
• 1st, 5th & 6th lowest single season average
• 1st lowest career average
• 1st, 4th & t10th 54-hole tournament scores
• t1st & t8th for lowest rounds
Cameron Wiltse
• 19th lowest career average
Thibault Vieilledent
• 9th lowest career average
Last Season
In 2014-15, the 'Roos notched a pair of runner-up finishes, finishing second at both the Price's “Give 'Em 5” Invitational and the WAC Championship, with Antoine Rozner winning WAC Player of the Year, claiming a pair of individual titles and advancing to the NCAA Championship.
Head Coach J.W. VanDenBorn
Former UMKC men's golf student-athlete J.W. VanDenBorn was named the Director of Golf at his alma mater in June 2007. In this capacity, he oversees both the men's and women's golf programs for the Kangaroos.
Overall, VanDenBorn has been the head coach for the men's program for the past 12 seasons. In five of the past seven seasons (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013), VanDenBorn guided the 'Roos to at least a second place showing at The Summit League Championship with his 2011 squad winning the first tournament title in school history and the 2013 squad winning the second. He has led the 'Roos to top-four finishes in the league championship tournament eight times.
