AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University men's golf team hosts the 38th-annual 3M Augusta Invitational April 2-3 at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., for one of Division I golf's top events.
The two-day event on the par-72, 7,005-yard course will begin on Saturday, April 2, with rounds one and two for 36 holes in a shotgun format beginning at 8:30 a.m. The event concludes on Sunday, April 3, for the third and final round with tee times off one and ten from 8:30 – 8:45 a.m. The event is free to the public and an awards ceremony and trophy presentation will take place on Sunday following play.
This year's field includes No. 36 Augusta, Central Florida, Coastal Carolina, No. 3 Georgia, No. 32 Houston, No. 4 Illinois, Kennesaw State, No. 43 New Mexico, No. 38 Pepperdine, Presbyterian, No. 15 South Florida, No. 45 Tennessee, No. 2 Texas, USC Aiken, and Virginia Tech.
Of the 15 teams, eight ranked in the top 50 and three are in the top five nationally according to Golfstat.com.
The Jaguars have won the team title of their home event 13 times and taken 10 individual championships. In 2010, the Jaguars set a new tournament record for the lowest 54-hole total with a 47-under 817. With a 274-270 start in the first two rounds, the Jags also obliterated the previous 36-hole record by seven strokes
The 3M Augusta Invitational marks the 38th edition of the tournament and the 35th at Augusta University's Forest Hills Golf Club. Founded in the rich tradition of golf in Augusta, Ga., the 3M Augusta Invitational has steadily grown since its beginning in 1979 and is widely recognized as one of the finest intercollegiate golf tournaments in the nation with tremendous support from its national and local sponsors. This year's event is the third year of 3M's affiliation with the tournament as title sponsor. This year, presenting sponsors Allianz and Valspar have committed to increase their participation during each of the next five years, providing generous support to the tournament and the Augusta University men's and women's golf teams.
The Augusta Golf Association (established in 1949), a group dedicated to the promotion of golf in the Augusta area with a special emphasis on junior golf development, has served as the long-time host of the 3M Augusta Invitational. Today, the AGA boasts a membership of 150 business and civic leaders.
"Valspar is delighted to partner with the Augusta University golf program and this tournament," Valspar Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Office Gary E. Hendrickson said. "Our ongoing commitment will help enable the university to continue their tradition of attracting the top golfers in the country to Augusta. Supporting amateur golf is important to us and Valspar is very proud of this partnership."
Men's golf Head Coach Jack O'Keefe acknowledges the importance of the tournament sponsors, "The 3M Augusta Invitational tournament is the quality event that teams appreciate because of the commitments from our national and local sponsors," O'Keefe said. "3M, Allianz and Valspar, together with the Augusta Golf Association, the Augusta Sports Council, TaxSlayer and Mercedes Benz, allow us to present a tournament that teams ask to be invited to. We thank each of them for their support and commitments."
Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University at www.augustajags.com and receive short updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Twitter at @AugustaJags
-- 30 --