Nation's Best to Compete at Schenkel E-Z-GO Invitational
3/11/2008 4:01:00 AM | Men's Golf
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Eighteen of the nation’s strongest intercollegiate golf programs will converge into one place this weekend to compete in the 29th Annual Schenkel E-Z-GO Invitational. Regarded as one of college golf’s premier intercollegiate tournaments, the 54-hole tournament will run March 14-16, at the par-72, 6,962-yard Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro, Ga.
Historically showcasing some of the finest college teams and golfers that have gone on to compete professionally, this year’s tournament is no less teeming with talent that welcomes five of the nation’s top 15 teams, seven ranked in the top 25, and 12 in the top 50, according to the latest GolfWeek polls.
The field includes (with ranking): Alabama (2), Tennessee (8), Auburn (11), Florida (12), Michigan State (15), South Carolina (20), North Carolina (23), Alabama-Birmingham (29), North Carolina State (38), Augusta State (44), North Florida (46), Louisiana State (48), Kentucky (60), Minnesota (62), Notre Dame (72), host Georgia Southern (98), New Mexico (108) and Boston College (187).
Making their first appearance in the tournament are UAB, Boston College, North Florida and Notre Dame.
Top individuals include (with ranking): Michael Thompson - Alabama (2), Ryan Brehm - Michigan State (4), Kevin O'Connell - North Carolina (15), Clayton Rask - Minnesota (20), Jay Moseley - Auburn (21), Matthew Swan - Alabama (24), Billy Horschel - Florida (28), Matt Hill - North Carolina State (29), Jake Amos - Augusta State (31), Matt Hughes - Alabama (33), Mark Harrell - Alabama (36), Chris Paisley - Tennessee (38), Tyler Brown - Florida (39), Manuel Villegas - Florida (41), and Mark Anderson - South Carolina (46), according to Golfweek.
The activities will commence Thursday morning with practice rounds that begin at 9 a.m. Unlike past tournaments where 54 holes were scheduled into two days, this year’s format will feature three days of 18-hole competition played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tee time is slated for 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Sunday’s tee time is 8 a.m. The weekend’s activities will conclude Sunday with an awards ceremony beginning at approximately 3 p.m.
Admission is free of charge and open to the public.
“This is another great field,” said head coach Larry Mays. “We are looking forward to having them in our back yard. There’s a lot that goes into the tournament - patrons, Schenkel committee - in putting together a first-class tournament year after year. Special thanks go to our title sponsor E-Z-GO.”
Georgia Southern is seeking its first tournament championship in its 29 years of playing host, having placed in the top five 13 times, including a runner-up finish by just four strokes in 2001. Though the team title has eluded the Eagles over the years, Georgia Southern claims two individual medalists, including Jimmy Ellis (1973) and Richie Bryant (1989). Tying for 1st but coming up short in a playoff was Jon David Kennedy (2005).
In 2007, Georgia went wire-to-wire to claim its fifth Schenkel E-Z-GO tournament title, carding a 10-under 854. UGA’s Chris Kirk was the individual medalist shooting a 6-under 210.
Georgia Southern finished in 7th place with a 23-over 887. Bryan Jones was GSU’s top performer, tying for 7th place with an even-par 216.
Fans can follow the action on-line with the latest statistics and results at www.Golfstat.com. For more information on each participating school, the course and more, visit www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com, go to the golf page, and then click on the tournament central ad.
