STATESBORO – For the three Eagle seniors, it is one of their fondest memories in their Georgia Southern careers, and it happened about a year ago at Forest Heights Country Club during the Schenkel Invitational.

Jonas Vaisanen was standing by the 18th green cheering on his teammates as they finished the round, hoping the Eagles could make some magic. 

Archer Price was standing in the 18th fairway with Coach Carter Collins waiting to take his next shot, pondering how he was going to get on the green in two.

Jake Storey was the man lining up the chip from the right side, the short side, hoping to get it close and maybe give it a chance. 

Storey drew the club back, made good contact and chipped in for eagle. The crowd surrounding the green went bonkers, and the Eagles still had a chance.

"Typical Jake – short-sided, no chance, and he holes it for eagle and everybody went nuts," Price remembers. "That was pretty awesome because we knew it was close, and we knew we needed it."

"We kind of needed it, and I thought at the moment that chip would get us tied or at least the chance to compete for the title," recalls Vaisanen.

"There was a lot of people there, and it was good to see it go in because we were in contention as well," said Storey. "In the moment, it was pretty sweet."

The Eagles wound up finishing second to Florida by two strokes, but Storey's chip helped GS shoot 4-under on 18 to top Vanderbilt by a shot. It is one of many memories the Eagle seniors will cherish, and they hope to add to them this week. 

The 2018 Schenkel Invitational, Georgia Southern's home tournament, starts Friday at 9 a.m. as 14 teams, including 13 in the top-100 in the country, will play 18 holes Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Forest Heights Country Club. Georgia Southern has finished in the top-6 at the Schenkel in four of the last five seasons and won the team title in 2014, the first time they won their home tourney in school history.

There is a buzz around Statesboro each year when Schenkel Week rolls around. The annual Youth Clinic brought 75 kids out Wednesday, and the community support for the event rivals or surpasses any in college golf. 

"It's our favorite week of the year," said Georgia Southern junior Steven Fisk, the 10th ranked player in the country, who was recently named to the Haskins Award Watch List and the Ben Hogan Award Watch List. "The community comes out and supports us, and it is unlike any other golf tournament in the country. We love it and try to embrace it the best we can."

Playing on their home course gives the Eagles plenty of advantages, which they hope to exploit again this week.

"We have to play it like it's our home course," said Price. "We play qualifying out here all year long, just go out and take care of business, just like it's qualifying."

"I think we're playing really well, and we know this course better than anybody here," added Fisk. "We had a good showing last year, and I think we can build on that."

With everything that goes into the week, the Eagles will have to temper their emotions and try to treat it like a normal tournament, even though it clearly is not. It can be tempting to try to manufacture something for the gallery to get excited about. 

"We're really well prepared - we just need to realize it's just another week and just another tournament," said Storey. "I know we've got people watching and a lot of support, but we've played here 1,000 times so just do what we do and let it go."

"What I've learned here is that when you have a little bit harder pins and faster greens, you can't be too aggressive because if you try to push things, it will backfire," said Vaisanen. "Guys will take it low here so you have to make birdies but stay patient, so it's a two-edged sword."

That's sage advice from a guy who has caddied for a pro. Vaisanen's brother, Linus, played collegiately at Central Florida and plays professionally on the Challenge Tour. While back home in Finland, Jonas has caddied for his brother three times. He feels that competing from a different perspective has helped his game. 

"It's almost like whenever you caddy for somebody who is better than you, you realize how simple it can be," said Jonas. "It kind of simplifies things, so you start thinking maybe I can do this or that and see things for your own game too."

Though they are only halfway through the spring season, the Eagle seniors did not have to pontificate very long when asked how they want to be remembered from their time competing for the Blue and White.

"I want people to say that I had a bit of an impact on this golf program, whether it was through scores or helping people or just being on the team," said Storey.

"I want people to say that I made an impact and that I came here and did whatever Coach Collins, the school and the team needed me to do and that I helped my teammates behind me like the my teammates before me helped me," said Price.

"The job of the coaches is to keep us focused, but within the team, you need have guys who are able to keep it light and the closer the guys are, the more they want to play for each other, and that's the role I tried to fill," said Vaisanen.

However the week or the season concludes, they can rest assured they have done their job.

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