April 2, 2011

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Looking to build upon its solid third-place finish last weekend, the Baylor men's golf team continues its spring season April 4-5 with the Wyoming Cowboy Classic. The 54-hole tournament hosted by Wyoming will be held on the North Course at the par-70, 7,133-yard Talking Stick Golf Club.

Mostly consisting of west coast schools, the 20-team field includes four Big 12 programs - Baylor, Colorado, Kansas and Kansas State. First and second rounds will be played Monday, while the final round will take place Tuesday.

After going 0-4 at the Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship last month, the Bears bounced back with a third-place finish March 26 at the Border Olympics in Laredo, Texas. Defending Border Olympics champion Joakim Mikkelsen carded a final-round 66 to Baylor solidify its fourth top-five finish of the season. Mikkelsen set 18-, 36- and 54-hole career lows, finishing tied for third at 11-under-par.

Mikkelsen, the team leader in nearly every major statistical category, will once again anchor Baylor's veteran starting lineup. The Drammen, Norway, native leads the Bears in rounds counted (21-of-21), scoring average (72.48), score vs. par (0.91), rounds of par or better (nine) and top-25 finishes (six). Mikkelsen has finished in the top 25 in six of Baylor's seven tournaments this season.

Joining Mikkelsen in the lineup are seniors Cody Paladino, Payne Gniewek and sophomores Jerry Ruiz and Ryan O'Rear. Mikkelsen, Paladino and O'Rear all posted top-20 finishes at the Border Olympics. Paladino tied his 36-hole career low en route to a 15th-place finish, while O'Rear carded a career-best 54-hole score to finish 18th.

Following its trip to Arizona, Baylor will have one final regular-season tune-up before the Big 12 Championship in Hutchinson, Kan. The Bears will head 90 minutes south on Highway 6 for The Aggie Invitational April 16-17 at The Traditions Golf Club in Bryan.