AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The 26th annual Cleveland Golf/Augusta State Invitational will boast one of the top fields in the tournaments rich history.
The 54-hole, two-day event, set for April 3-4 at Forest Hills Golf Club, will feature 10 of the nations top 25 teams, including seven of the top 18. In fact, of the 18 teams scheduled to compete, all are ranked among the top 84 in the nation, according to the latest rankings released by Golfweek magazine. The teams will begin preparations for the tournament with a practice round on Friday, April 2.
Augusta State will again serve as the official host for the tournament. The Jaguars are coming off a seventh-place showing on Tuesday in the Atlanta Intercollegiate at Eagles Landing Country Club in Stockbridge, Ga.
Augusta State captured the 2003 Cleveland Golf/ASU Invitational title in record-setting fashion, firing a tournament-record 44-under 820. ASU three-time All-America Oliver Wilson claimed medalist honors and set a new tournament standard as well with a three-round total of 17-under 199.
Its the best golf in Augusta anybody can see for free, Cleveland Golf/ASU Invitational Tournament Director Grady Smith said. The next time you see a lot of these guys, youll have to pay to watch them -- thats how good a lot of them are. We are extremely excited to once again have one of the top fields in the history of this tournament. Hopefully, well have some great weather and great crowds. Our attendance has picked up each year and I dont think this year will be any different.
Forest Hills Golf Club plays to a par 72 and features a newly-renovated 7,231-yard layout originally designed by famed golf course architect Donald Ross. Built in 1926, Forest Hills served as the home for the Southeastern Open, which was won by Bobby Jones in 1930, the year he went on to complete the Grand Slam.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Alabama (No. 60)
Augusta State (No. 17)
Clemson (No. 2)
Duke (No. 25)
East Tennessee State (No. 79)
Georgia (No. 3)
Georgia Southern (No. 35)
Minnesota (No. 13)
North Carolina (No. 23)
North Carolina State (No. 51)
North Florida (No. 70)
Notre Dame (No. 84)
South Carolina (No. 11)
Texas (No. 7)
Toledo (No. 36)
UCLA (No. 4)
Virginia Tech (No. 72)
Wake Forest (No. 21)
