Marquette senior Mike Van Sickle carries a two-stroke lead into Tuesday's final round while the Golden Eagles sit in third place to complete day one of the 20-team Xavier Invitational on Monday. MU will need to make up some ground at the Oasis Golf Club in order to successfully defend its 2007 team title, while Van Sickle is in position to add to his school record seven collegiate victories.

Marquette returns to the Xavier Invitational, held Oct. 13-14 at Oasis Golf Club, as the event's defending champion. Dustin Schwab posted the team's lone top-10 finish last year, but the Golden Eagles still managed to place two strokes ahead of runners-up Western Carolina and Campbell. This year's tournament opens with 36 holes Monday.

Marquette's second round struggles continued on into Monday's final round of play, as the Golden Eagles finished ninth at the 15-team Windon Memorial Classic hosted by Northwestern University at the par-71 North Shore Country Club. Senior Mike Van Sickle had MU's best individual finish, tying for seventh.