Mike Blackburn is hands-on with the Jacksonville University men’s golf program again.
JU recently announced that Jamey Salmon has left as head coach “to pursue other opportunities” and Blackburn will return as the coach for a second time. Blackburn coached the Dolphins from 2008-19, then became director of golf for the men’s and women’s programs, overseeing fundraising.
Kathyn Dougan remains the women’s coach.
“[Blackburn] has been an asset behind the scenes for both programs the last four years as the director of golf, and now he gets a chance to push the men’s program back to the championship level he saw it reach in his first time as the head coach,” Jacksonville athletic director Alex Ricker-Gilbert said in a statement.
Blackburn, the brother of PGA Tour winner Woody Blackburn and a long-time teacher on the First Coast, said he was eager to get back into direct contact with the team again.
“There is nothing more rewarding for me as a golfer, a teacher, and a coach than helping young men reach for their dreams with a golf club in their hands,” he said in his statement.
Blackburn led JU to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history in 2017, after finishing third in the ASUN tournament. JU then qualified at a regional for the NCAA championship.
David Wicks won the ASUN individual title while playing for Blackburn in 2016, the first conference tournament medalist in a decade for the Dolphins and only the third in school history. Wicks spirit Franck Medal both qualified for the NCAA tournament as individuals.
JU won five tournaments under Blackburn and players earned six individual titles. The top four seasons for total birdies and top three for total eagles recorded in a year all came under Blackburn, and 11 players were All-ASUN. Wicks was the conference player of the year in 2017 and Michael Sakane the freshman of the year in 2018.
Riley, Balaskiewicz headed west
Incoming University of North Florida junior Andrew Riley and Bolles senior Luke Balaskiewicz qualified for the US Amateur Aug. 14-20 at Cherry Hills near Denver, with each finishing second in 36-hole qualifiers.
Riley, the NCAA Division II individual champion at Palm Beach Atlantic in May, shot 69-69–138 at the BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens and finished five shots behind medalist James Earle of Jupiter, but three shots clear of Jonah Wasserstrom too Hollywood. Riley, a Creekside graduate, announced last week that he will transfer to UNF.
Balaskiewicz had to work hard for his spot. He birdied the 18th hole at the Eagle Creek Golf and Country Club in Naples to make a three-for-one playoff with Matthew Foster of Dallas, an incoming SMU freshman, and Austin Churchill of Winter Springs, a Florida Gulf Coast senior. Balaskiewicz then won in sudden death to punch his ticket to Cherry Hills.
NFJGT Foundation scholarships awarded
The North Florida Junior Golf Foundation announced its 2023 scholarship recipients, who will receive a total of $28,000 in aid. The total amount awarded brings the total commitment to $237,000 in 11 years.
The scholarship winners, their colleges and the source of their grants:
∎ Matthew French (Flagler): Northern Chapter PGA $2,000.
∎ Catherine Hoag (Florida): NFJGF $2,000.
∎ Lizzie Thompson (Florida State): Bill Straub Sr., $10,000.
∎ Madison Balaskiewicz (Daytona State College): NFJGF $2,000.
∎ Joshua Lay (Berry College): NFJGF, $2,000.
∎ Shanya Arasu (Flagler): Henry Tuten Gator Bowl Pro Am $2,000.
∎ Ryan Gear (Embry Riddle): NFJGF $8,000.
UNF women set schedule
The University of North Florida women’s golf team has set its 2023-24 schedule, returning to nine of 11 tournaments.
However, one of the new events will be a first for the Ospreys: their first tournament outside the US in the 12-year history of the program. UNF will play in the White Sands Bahamas Invitational October 27-29 to close the fall schedule, then open the spring portion with The Beach Invitational in Long Beach, Calif.
The Ospreys will host the UNF Collegiate for the 11th time on March 4-5 at the Jacksonville Golf and Country Club.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Mike Blackburn takes another turn as the JU Dolphins men’s golf coach