Hoosiers pushing for tournament bid

With one tournament before the Big Ten Championship, the IU men's golf team is running low on opportunities to better its odds of securing a bid in the NCAA Regionals. \nFortunately for the Hoosiers, this weekend's Fossum/Spartan Invitational provides the chance for the team to move up in the Midwest District rankings. \nThe Michigan State-hosted Fossum will be played for the 39th time this weekend, and the stakes are high for IU. All but three of the Big Ten's teams will compete, including Minnesota and Northwestern, who held the second and third positions respectively in the most recent Golfweek district rankings. \nAfter besting the Hoosiers in the final round to claim last weekend's Kepler Intercollegiate Championship, the Wildcats are now most likely the Big Ten's highest-ranked team in the Midwest district. Considering this likelihood, coupled with Northwestern's Kyle Moore capturing medalist honors last weekend through a playoff with IU freshman Seth Brandon, it's evident why freshman Drew Allenspach says the team is ready for another shot at Northwestern. \n"As soon as we finished (the Kepler Intercollegiate), we were talking about how they were going to be at Michigan State," he said. "It's going to be good to see them again." \nWhile outperforming Northwestern might have its significance to the team, there are several other teams with trophy-winning potential in the Fossum field. Defending champion Minnesota struggled in its last event, finishing last at the Boilermaker Invitational, a tournament that the Hoosiers won. But the team's roster includes all but one of the participants from last year's lineup. A few Michigan State golfers agreed that playing host might give them a slight advantage.\n"We know our home course better than anyone else, so I think we have a good chance this weekend," said Michigan State's Matt Harmon in a statement from the school's Web site. \nThe Hoosiers have a great opportunity to move up in their district rankings, but it won't be an easy task. All but one of the participating teams are from the Midwest district, and each have resided in the top 20 in the latest rankings. Coach Mike Mayer said no outcome would surprise him.\n"You're never really surprised in this sport because it's such an unpredictable sport," he said. "Things change with these student athletes ... and that has a tremendous effect on what happens with their scores." \nHaving finished in the top