Air Force Academy

Sept. 16, 2010

The Air Force golf team opens the 2010 fall season Sept. 19-20 as it hosts the 42nd-annual Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational at the Eisenhower Golf Club - Blue Course. The 54-hole tournament is slated to begin with two rounds on Sunday, starting at 8:15 a.m., while the final round will begin Monday at 8:15 a.m.

Scouting the Falcons...
Ten Air Force golfers from the 2009-10 season return to the team this year, along with six newcomers who are looking to make an immediate impact. Among the leading returners this season are team captain Kyle Bailey, the lone senior for the Falcons, and sophomore Andrew Hoops, who competed in every tournament as a rookie.

Robert Belz, the Falcons' top performer at the 2010 MWC Championship, Mark Boyer, Travis Deckert and Caleb Leestma return as juniors this season, while the sophomore class is five-deep, with Wes Denny, Tyler Downing, Brian Hwang and Daniel Katz joining Hoops. The freshman class features Todd Berglund, Philip Colwell, Blake Jones, Jack Howard, Miguel Macias and Kyle Westmoreland.

Air Force Head Coach George Koury...
This fall, Air Force head coach George Koury enters his ninth season at the helm of the Falcons' golf program. After serving three seasons as an assistant under legendary coach Gene Miranda, Koury took over the program at the start of the 2002-03 season.

About the Gene Miranda Invitational...
This fall, the Falcon Invitational enters its 42nd season. Formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Invitational and the Pikes Peak Invitational, the event was named the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational in 2003, in honor of the legendary coach who headed up the Air Force program for 25 years.

The Field...
Eighteen teams are slated to compete in this year's Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, including four of Air Force's MWC rivals. A full list of this year's field follows: Air Force, Air Force `B', Colorado, Colorado State, Denver, New Mexico State, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, San Diego, Southern Utah, UCCS, UNLV, Utah, Utah State, Utah Valley, UTEP, Weber State and Wyoming.

Last Year at the Falcon Invitational...
With a three-round score of 866 (+2), the Air Force golf team tied for sixth place at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational in 2009. Colorado State won its second-straight team title at the event, while Northern Colorado's Steve Bidne captured medalist honors.

The top performer for the Falcons at last year's event was senior Tom Whitney, who tied for third place in the individual standings at 211 (-5).

Eisenhower Blue Course Named One of the Best...
In its recent list of the Best Campus Courses, Golfweek has recognized the Eisenhower Golf Club - Blue Course as one of the best in the nation. The Falcons' home course checks in at No. 20 on the list and is one of just two Mountain West Conference home courses to be recognized (New Mexico's Championship Course is listed at No. 13).

To qualify for Golfweek's Best Campus Courses list, a course must be part of a school's recreational life in terms of preferential access for students, faculty and alumni.

Find Us On Facebook...
Air Force golf is now on Facebook! For even more information about the Falcons, don't forget to visit the Air Force Golf page on Facebook (facebook.com/AFGolf) and click "Like."

Up Next...
Air Force is back in action Sept. 27-28, when they head to Boulder, Colo., for the Mark Simpson Invitational, hosted by Colorado.

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