This Week's Syllabus: Oct. 14-20

__FAB FIVE

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1. Oklahoma State (Last week: 1)

The Cowboys had to come from behind to claim their second title of the fall, trailing Arkansas by two strokes at the Jack Nicklaus Invitational this past week before closing with a four-over 284 to finish in first, six strokes up on Illinois. Meanwhile, Peter Uihlein extends his streak of top-two finishes in college events to six, dating back to last spring.

Next event: Isleworth Collegiate Invitational, Isleworth CC, Windermere, Fla., Oct. 23-26

2. Florida (2)

The Gators have three more top-10s from Tyler McCumber (third), Bank Vongvanij (T-5) and Phillip Choi (ninth) while finishing second at the Jerry Pate. No more surprising anyone for Buddy Alexander's squad

Next event: Isleworth Collegiate Invitational, Isleworth CC, Windermere, Fla., Oct. 23-26

3. Auburn (NR)

Impressive finish at the Jerry Pate as Tigers come from four back of Florida in the final round to win by seven strokes. Scary (long-term) thought: Nick Clinard's winning squad had three sophomores and a freshman in the starting five.

Next event: Bridgestone Collegiate, Forest Oaks CC, Greensboro, N.C., Oct. 23-24

4. Iowa (5)

The Hawkeyes continue to impress, winning a third straight tournament at the Rod Myers Invitational. And to think their lineup gets deeper next semester with the addition of transfer Jed Dirksen. Just anxious to see them play in the same event with Illinois to see what Big Ten fans might be able to expect at the conference championship next spring.

Next event: Baylor Intercollegiate, Royal Oaks CC, Dallas, Nov. 1-2

5. Augusta State (4)

Jaguars' 13-under 275 in final round of the Brickyard nearly let them catch Georgia for the team title, as the defending NCAA champs fell one stroke short. Still no wins in the fall, but also no finishes worse than T-4 either.

Next event: Gifford Collegiate Championship, CordeValle CC, San Martin, Calif., Nov. 8-10

__WOMEN

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1. Alabama (2)

The Crimson Tide, fresh off a commanding victory at the Tar Heel Invitational this past weekend, have still not posted a round as a team over par this year. Nine rounds: eight sub-par, one at even par. Six of the nine tournament rounds have also led to either an individual player or the team setting some sort of school scoring record. No need to ask what the mood is like in Tuscaloosa.

Next event: Pac-10/SEC Challenge, Stanford GC, Palo Alto, Calif., Nov. 5-7

2. LSU (1)

The Tigers have a 47-2 head-to-head record so far in the 2010-11 season. Only problem is the two loses have been to Alabama. Still, you have to be impressed that LSU has maintained its level of play for three events. Meanwhile, is there any more clutch performer right now than Megan McChrystal (see below).

Next event: Pac-10/SEC Challenge, Stanford GC, Palo Alto, Calif., Nov. 5-7

3. Purdue (3)

The hiccup that was the NCAA Fall Preview, in which the Boilermakers finished 10th, has been silenced with three successive top-two finishes, including two straight wins. Might actually be the perfect way to enter the winter break for coach Devon Brouse ... upbeat about the victories but able to remind his group that being reigning NCAA champs doesn't mean you don't have work to do.

Next event: Fall season over

4. USC (4)

The Trojans are reminding me of last year's UCLA squad. Consistently good but unable just yet to get that momentum building victory. Still, even while finishing runner-up to California at the Edean Ihlanfeldt a few weeks ago, USC shattered its 18-hole scoring record, posting a 13-under 275. Considering the impress squads Andrea Gaston has had over the years, this is a pretty encouraging sign that this group has a W in them real soon.

Next event: Pac-10/SEC Challenge, Stanford GC, Palo Alto, Calif., Nov. 5-7

5. California (NR)

A year ago the Bears won the Edean Ihlandfeldt after a runner-up finish in their season opener, yet couldn't really transfer the success into consistency the rest of the year. This year's group appears to have a different feel. Maybe its the fact that two Cal players—Pia Halbig and Emily Childs—already have individual titles this fall. Just feels like there is more depth in Berkley this year.

Next event: Pac-10/SEC Challenge, Stanford GC, Palo Alto, Calif., Nov. 5-7

__STAT OF THE WEEK

22

__Number of years since an Auburn freshman won a individual title. Niclas Carlsson, a Sweden, went wire-to-wire at the Jerry Pate National Invitational, opening with a 64 at Old Overton CC en route to a eight-under 202 total and a two-shot victory over Alabama's Bobby Wyatt (also a freshman). Carlsson was just the third Tiger freshman to earn medalist honors at a college tournament and the first since Jimmy Green in 1988.

__RANDOM THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

__Is the best women's golf program in the state of Florida the Daytona State College Falcons? Three wins in three starts and a 30-0 records versus Division I program. Not bad for a junior college.

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WHAT TO WATCH FOR

__* It's asking a lot for LSU senior Megan McChrystal to maintain the crazy pace she's been on regarding her play in the final round of golf tournaments, but it's going to be fun to see how she does through next spring. Through three events this fall, she has a 66.50 final-round stroke average with a 65 at the NCAA Fall Preview, a 68 at the Mason Rudolph and a 66 at the Tar Heel Invitational.

A deeper look at her stats shows that her low scores aren't necessarily because she's made a lot of birdies (she's had 25 this year, only three more than teammate Mary Michael Maggio). It's the lack of bogeys and worse that she's made. McChrystal has a 1.33 bogey per round average, the fourth best in the country. Meanwhile, she has yet to make a double bogey this fall.

__TOURNAMENT PREVIEWS

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Bank of Tennessee at The Ridges

__   (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)

The Ridges G&CC, Jonesborough, Tenn.

Oct. 15-17

Host: East Tennessee State

Field: Chattanooga, Coastal Carolina, Denver, East Tennessee State, Kent State, Louisville, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, UNC Wilmington, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest

Defending champion: Tennessee (three-under 861) in scorecard playoff over Oregon State; Oregon State's Diego Velasquez (10-under 206) by seven strokes over three players

__Skinny:__Tournament being held for the 13th time and yet the host Bucs have yet to win the title.

[__Lone Star Invitational at Briggs Ranch

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Briggs Ranch GC, San Antonio

Oct. 17-18

Host: UT San Antonio

Field: Houston, Louisiana-Monroe, North Texas, Notre Dame, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas State, UT Arlington, UT Pan American, UT San Antonio, UTEP, Weber State

Defending champion: Texas A&M (16-under 848) by 10 strokes over Texas; Texas A&M's John Hurley (10-under 206) by one stroke over Texas' Dylan Frittelli

Skinny:

__David Toms Intercollegiate

__   (For live scoring, click here to link to Golfstat)

CC of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, La.

Oct. 18-19

Host: LSU

Field: Arkansas, Georgia Southern, Kansas State, LSU, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, North Florida, Rice, South Alabama, S.E. Louisiana, UAB

Defending champion: LSU (eight-under 844) by one stroke over Kent State and North Florida; Rice's Jade Scott (nine-under 204) by one stroke over LSU's John Peterson

Skinny:

__Alister MacKenzie Invitational

__Meadow GC, Fairfax, Calif.

Oct. 18-19

Host: California__

Field:__ California, Colorado, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, San Diego State, San Francisco, San Jose State, UC Davis, UC Irvine, Wisconsin

__Defending champion:California (23-under 545) by five strokes over Oregon; California's Stephen Hale (10-under 132) by one stroke over San Diego State's Johan Carlsson

Skinny:__ This is the eighth edition of the event, played on the MacKenzie design built in 1927. The host Bears, coming off a win at the Prestige this past week, have won four of the eight events, including last year's rain-shortened edition.

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WOMEN

Harvard Invitational

__The International GC, Bolton, Mass.

Oct. 16-17

Host: Harvard

Field: Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, Yale

Skinny: First time Harvard has hosted a tournament since the 2000-01 season.

__MAC Preview

__Longaberger GC, Nashport, Ohio

Oct. 18-19

Host: Akron

Field: Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green State, Cleveland State, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Western Michigan, Toledo, Xavier

__Defending champion:__Ball State (69-over 933) by two strokes over Eastern Michigan; Bradley's Breanne Neufeld (seven-over 223) by one stroke over Western Michigan's Britney Hamilton

Skinny: Somebody other than Kent State will claim a MAC crown of sorts. While the event will serve as a dry run for next spring's conference championship, it will be missing the Golden Flashes, the MAC champion for the past 12 seasons.