STATESBORO – The Georgia Southern men's golf program, the Schenkel Invitational Committee and Forest Heights Country Club are set to host the 44th playing of the Schenkel Invitational, one of the premiere events and longest-running tournaments in college golf, March 15-17 at Forest Heights in Statesboro.
Admission is free, and spectators are welcome.
Live scoring is available through
GolfStat.
As of March 13, 11 participating teams are ranked in the top 100 nationally, according to Clippd, with several more ranked in the top 100. Army West Point, Campbell, Florida (#17), Florida Gulf Coast (#54), Georgia Southern (#90), Kentucky (#67), Middle Tennessee (#78), Mississippi State (#25), NC State (#66), Notre Dame (#29), South Carolina (#58), UAB, West Virginia (#97) and Wisconsin (#96) make up the 14-team field.
Individually, eight competitors are ranked in Clippd'd top 100 in Kentucky's Alex Golf (#14), Florida's Ian Gilligan (#17), Mississippi State's Hunter Logan (#50), Florida's Tyler Wilkes (#60), Florida's Matthew Kress (#73), Mississippi State's Drew Wilson (#86), Wisconsin's Cameron Huss (#88) and South Carolina's Nathan Franks (#92).
Four teams playing this weekend have won a Schenkel title: Georgia Southern (4), Florida (4), Florida (1) and South Carolina (1). The Eagles are the two-time defending champions, have won their home tournament four times and have won the event or earned runner-up honors each of the last six times it was contested (2020 was canceled because of COVID). Florida makers its 34th appearance and has four titles. NC State won this event in 2021 and makes its 35th appearance. South Carolina won the Schenkel in 2009.
The practice round for competitors is Thursday, and the first round of the tournament is scheduled for Friday with teams teeing off the first and 10th holes beginning at 9 a.m. The second round is slated for Saturday starting at 9 a.m., and the third and final round will begin at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. The trophy ceremony is expected to be at approximately 3 p.m. Sunday.
HOST: Georgia Southern University
TOURNAMENT: 44th Schenkel Invitational
DATES: Fri.-Sun., March 15-17;
Practice round on Thurs., March 14
COURSE: Forest Heights Country Club
CITY: Statesboro, Ga.
SET-UP: Par-72, 7,123 yards / 5 golfers, count 4 (foursomes); 14 teams, 84 total golfers (24 individuals)
FORMAT: 54-hole stroke play –
Thursday, practice rounds
Friday – 18 holes; 9 am start on holes 1 and 10
Saturday – 18 holes; 9 am start on holes 1 and 10
Sunday – 18 holes; 8:30 am start on holes 1 and 10
Georgia Southern Lineup (scoring average)
Reece Coleman (24 rds., 71.54 avg.)
Hayden Carner (24 rds., 72.67 avg.)
Luke Koenig (24 rds., 72.79 avg.)
Brycen Jones (24 rds., 71.71 avg.)
Hogan Ingram (15 rds., 72.87 avg.)
Indy
Brantley Baker (21 rds., 74.57 avg.)
Parker Claxton (24 rds., 73.29 avg.)
Lindsey Cordell (9 rds., 75.22 avg.)
Luke Dasher (12 rds., 75.92 avg.)
Ian Glanton (12 rds., 73.92 avg.)
LIVE SCORING: Live scoring through
GolfStat
Schenkel Invitational – 2024 Field (14 teams, 84 golfers):
Army West Point, Campbell, Florida, Florida Gulf Coast, Georgia Southern, Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, NC State, Notre Dame, South Carolina, UAB, West Virginia, Wisconsin
HISTORY: Now in its 44th year, the Schenkel Invitational is one of the most prestigious tournaments in collegiate golf. Though the official tournament began in 1971, the story begins much earlier than that.
During World War II, the U.S. Army sent a young Chris Schenkel to a language institute at then called Georgia Teachers College in Statesboro, Georgia. Schenkel lived in Sanford Hall overlooking Sweetheart Circle during his nine-month stay, and the Indiana native built a bond with Statesboro that would last a lifetime and serve as the beginning of what would become an annual event in the town.
After the war, Schenkel embarked on a Hall of Fame broadcasting career, one of the most distinguished in the history of the industry. He was the first to cover The Masters on television, the first to anchor a live telecast of the Olympics and the first to call a nationally broadcast college football game. He was inducted into 16 halls of fame and received an Emmy for Lifetime Achievement.
COURSE INFORMATION: Playing at a par-72, 7,123-yard layout, Forest Heights Country Club was originally a 9-hole golf facility opened in 1947. In the early 1960s, the club membership acquired adjoining land and added a second nine. The original course designer was George Cobb. In 1990, Bob Cupp redesigned several holes and made changes to all green complexes. The course has mini Verde Bermuda grass on greens which are in immaculate condition most of the year thanks to our course superintendent, Steve Collins, and his crew.
