Ferris State Football Welcomes Record-Breaking Crowd For Annual Golf Outing

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Big Rapids, Mich. - The reigning NCAA Division II National Semifinalist Ferris State University football program, which is also the preseason #2 team in the country heading into the 2017 season, welcomed one of its largest crowds ever of family, friends, supporters and alumni for the 34th annual Bulldog Football Golf Outing at Clear Lake Golf Club in early June.

The event featured a record-breaking turnout and it came on the heels of recent strong turnouts for the annual fundraising event. 

A contingent of former players and alumni competed in the four-person shotgun golf scramble, which is hosted by the FSU Gridiron Club in conjunction with the Bulldog Athletic Association (BAA) and serves as one of the Ferris State football program's primary fundraising events.

Those taking part in this year's event not only had an opportunity to play the 18-hole round, but were also treated to lunch prior to play, dinner after the event along with a banquet that featured raffle and auction prizes.  A postgame gathering took place at the alumni-owned Buffalo Wild Wings location in Big Rapids. 

One of the day's highlights came in the Player's Cup Division, where the quartet of alumni C.J. Van Wieren, Ryan Kaul, Jeff Hollandsworth and Chris Machalak claimed the Player's Cup Trophy awarded annually to the top team consisting of former Bulldog Football players.

Bulldog football head coach Tony Annese and his staff, along with a number of current student-athletes and returning starters, were on hand or competed throughout the event. Those who took part also had an opportunity to have their photo taken with hardware won by the Bulldogs over the past two years, including back-to-back GLIAC Championships and the Anchor-Bone Trophy.

"It was a tremendous day for the 34th annual event and it was outstanding again to so many former players came back to be part of the Bulldog family and share in our championship success," said Annese.  "The alumni and supporters involved are a huge reason for the success of the Ferris State football program and we thank them, along with our sponsors and the course, for all the support."

The Bulldogs, under two-time reigning Super Region Coach of the Year Tony Annese, have posted the best overall record of all collegiate programs in the state of Michigan over the past five years.

Ferris State is coming off a historic campaign as the Bulldogs posted a 12-3 overall record in 2016 while advancing to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals for only the second time in school history. In 2016, the Bulldogs also posted a school-record tying 12 victories. Ferris State received the program's third-straight NCAA Football Playoff berth and captured the Super Region Four Championship by beating archrival Grand Valley State during a memorable postseason run. The 15-week campaign, which included three postseason playoff wins, was the school's longest in 108 years of Bulldog Football.

Over the last three seasons at Ferris State, the Bulldogs have compiled a 34-5 overall record and claimed two conference championships, posted two unbeaten regular-seasons, captured a regional title and reached the national semifinals. Ferris State has also accumulated two Harlon Hill National Player of the Year trophies, twice had a student-athlete tabbed as the nation's National Scholar-Athlete of the Year and won four postseason games.

In the five seasons under Annese, the Bulldogs have become a national power on the Division II level. FSU has posted a 49-12 overall mark in the last five years and the Bulldogs have also posted the best winning percentage of all 21 collegiate programs in the state of Michigan along with the GLIAC since his arrival.

Overall, Annese has won 83% of his games as a head coach on the collegiate and prep levels and owns 274 wins to date, which is the most of any current GLIAC member head coach at all levels.

Below are the Golf Outing Winners:

Players Cup - C.J. Van Wieren, Ryan Kaul, Jeff Hollandsworth, Chris Machalak
Mixed - Tony Annese, Christine Annese, Dan Rohn, Roxanne Kiesling
Men's - J. Haan, M. Haan, B. Hart, C. Hart