AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta University men's golf head coach Jack O'Keefe guided the Jaguars to their 20th NCAA Tournament appearance last season and the third under his tenure. With O'Keefe entering his fourth year at the helm of the program, Augusta is ready to continue their success with focus on the 2016-17 schedule that was released Thursday afternoon.
The 2016-17 men's golf schedule consists of 10 regular-season tournaments, five in the fall and five in the spring. After reaching the NCAA Regional last year and missing a trip to the NCAA Championships by two strokes, the Jags return starters Broc Everett, Emmanuel Kountakis, and Jake Marriott for the new slate.
"I am looking forward to our 2016-2017 golf schedule. We start out at the Ocean Course at Kiawah, the site of the 2012 PGA Championship won by Rory McIlroy. The Ocean Course was also the site of the 1991 Ryder Cup," O'Keefe said. "We also have two great trips out west to Scottsdale, Arizona in late September and back to California in February for Pepperdine's tournament again."
The season commences Sept. 12-13 at The Invitational at Kiawah, hosted by the College of Charleston, in Kiawah Island, S.C. – the first of two trips to Kiawah Island for the Jags.
For the first time in the O'Keefe era, Augusta competes in the Maui Jim Intercollegiate Sept. 23-25 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Georgia State is hosting the event at Mirabel Golf Course.
Closing out the fall schedule like last season, the Jags return to the N.C. State Wolfpack Intercollegiate (Oct. 3-4) in Raleigh, N.C., the Tavistock Collegiate Invitational (Oct. 16-18) in Windermere, Fla., and the Kiawah Classic (Oct. 30-Nov. 1) in Kiawah Island, S.C., to wrap up play in 2016.
"The guys are also looking forward to going back to Raleigh, North Carolina to defend our tournament title from a year ago in the NC State Wolfpack Intercollegiate."
The 2017 regular-season spring schedule mirrors the 2016 spring schedule.
After a three month break, the Jags open the spring slate Feb. 27-28 for the second-consecutive year in Westlake Village, Calif., at the Southwestern Invitational presented by Travis Mathew hosted by Pepperdine at North Ranch Country Club.
"The tournament schedule will be challenging again this year as we play the best teams on some of the best courses in the United States," O'Keefe said. "We will need some guys to step up this year as we lose All-American Robin Petersson and Maverick Antcliff who were our top two players from last season. I am eager to get started for the year."
The team travels back to historic Palmetto Golf Club for the annual Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate March 6-7 hosted by USC Aiken in Aiken, S.C.
A revisit to the Linger Longer Invitational takes place March 19-21 in Eatonton, Ga. Kennesaw State and Mercer split hosting duties at Great Waters Reynolds Plantation.
The Jaguars host the 39th annual 3M Augusta Invitational April 1-2 at Forest Hills Golf Club – home of the Jags. The Augusta Golf Association once again provides their support for one of Division I golf's finest tournaments on the eve of The Masters.
Oklahoma State and the University of Oklahoma host The Maxwell April 14-15 at Dornick Hills Country Club. The tourney in Ardmore, Okla., concludes the regular season for Augusta.
After joining the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) as an associate member for men's golf in Fall 2014, the Jags will compete in their third MEAC Golf Championship April 20-22.
The NCAA Regionals take place May 15-17 and will be held at six different sites across the nation that will be released at a later time. Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill., will play host to the 2017 NCAA Championships May 26-31.
To view the full 2016-17 men's golf schedule click here
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