2008 John Hayt Collegiate Invitational Home Page
Live Scoring I About the Tournament I Sawgrass Country Club I
Tournament Program I UNF Media Relations I Tournament Photos
2008 Field: Alabama, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Florida, Georgia State, Indiana, Notre Dame, Pepperdine, South Carolina, Tennessee, UAB, UCF, UCLA, UNF, Vanderbilt
Sunday, Feb. 17
Tee Times I Team Results I Individual Results I Recap
Monday, Feb. 18
Tee Times I Team Results I Individual Results I Recap I Photo Gallery
Tuesday, Feb. 19
Tee Times I Team Results I Individual Results I Recap I Photo Gallery
About the Tournament: Throughout the last 17 years, the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational has grown into one of the premier events in college golf, and this year is no exception. Dubbed the first collegiate major of the year, the 2008 field features eight teams ranked in the top 25 in the nation. To add to the prestige and class of the tournament, the event has received a new name in 2007, as longtime UNF golf enthusiast and Jacksonville businessman John Hayt’s name now adorns the event.
“John Hayt’s contributions to the University in general and to the athletics program in particular have helped to define the University of North Florida as one of the finest young universities in the country,” UNF Director of Athletics Dr. Richard Gropper said. “I'm proud to have John Hayt's name associated with our golf program and our golf tournament."
Along with UNF, the teams that round out the 2008 John Hayt Collegiate Invitational are Alabama, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Florida, Georgia State, Indiana, Notre Dame, Pepperdine, South Carolina, Tennessee, UAB, UCLA, UCF and Vanderbilt.
"Year in and year out, there is an unbelievable field assembled for this event," UNF head golf coach Scott Schroeder said.
With the top teams also come the top golfers, giving fans an opportunity to get a look at the players they will see someday soon playing just across the street from the Sawgrass Country Club at The Players Championship. This year's field, which features five All-America selections from last season, is keeping with that tradition.
"Our own John Hayt Collegiate Invitational has become perhaps the premier tournament in the nation," Schroeder said, "featuring 15 of the very best college golf teams in the country, on a championship golf course, with an emphasis on impeccable hospitality, and in one of the greatest golfing communities the game has to offer."
Not only does the UNF golf team get a chance to test its skills against the best in the country in its own back yard, but because of the prestige of the tournament, UNF also gets its fair share of invites to its competition’s events.
UNF captured the 1994 title and has finished third in the event twice in the last seven years after finishing second in 2000. Last year Alabama became the third SEC school in the last four years to capture the team title, while UCLA’s Kevin Chappell won the individual title. Chappell and UCLA became the first west coast team to capture the tournament title in 2006, battling down the stretch with Texas Tech, and eventually winning the tournament by five strokes.
Florida made its way back into the winner's circle in 2005 after its streak of four-straight titles was halted by Augusta State in 2003. South Carolina won the 2004 event, shattering the record for largest margin of victory by finishing 27 strokes ahead of both Florida and Oklahoma State.
The Ospreys finished in eighth place in 2007, one stroke behind a pack of three teams that tied for fourth. Michael Giammaresi recorded a toe for eighth place in the individual standings to lead the Ospreys. Jeff Dennis followed him up, tying for 11th in the individual race.
Notables: Fans coming out to the event on Sunday after 8 a.m. should be advised to use an alternate route to J. Turner Butler Boulevard to access to access Ponte Vedra Beach … the eastbound lane of JTB will be blocked off from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at Hodges Blvd. to accommodate runners participating in the Donna Deegan Marathon … The UNF trio of Dennis, O’Neal and Chris Kennedy has started every event for the Ospreys this year … after battling temperatures near freezing in the opening round of the 2007 event, conditions appear more favorable for the participating teams with highs expected in the 70s and lows in the 50s on Sunday … SEC teams have claimed the team title at the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational three of the last four years … Tulsa’s Clint Jensen (1996 and ’97) and UNF’s David Bennett (2000 and ’01) are the only individuals to repeat as champion in the 16 years of the event … UCLA senior Kevin Chappell won last year’s event and will be in the field this week … South Carolina was the last team to finish under par at the event when the Gamecocks finished 3-under-par in 2004 … UNF’s lone victory at the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational came in 1994 when the Ospreys edged out Florida by four strokes ... teams will arrive for the event Friday before the top two players on each team take part in the college-am on Saturday with members at Sawgrass Country Club.
Sawgrass Country Club (Par 72, 6,895 yards): After eight years at Queens Harbour Country Club, the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational moved to Sawgrass Country Club — located in Ponte Vedra Beach — in 2000.
The Sawgrass Oceanside Course (East-West) gained its reputation as the home of the PGA Tour's Tournament Players Championship from 1977-81, when the course, along with the treacherous winds of Sawgrass, tested the greatest players of the game.
This par-72, 6,895- yard layout requires distance off the tee while putting a premium on accuracy. With water on 14 of the 18 holes, along with approaches into extremely well-bunkered greens, placement is of prime importance. In addition, the greens are shallow but wide, creating difficult hole locations.
To complement its array of links, Sawgrass Country Club also features a spacious driving range facility, complete with an area to practice long bunker shots. The two separate putting greens, practice bunker and chipping green provide ideal opportunities for a player to work on his game.
East Course
Hole Par Yardage
1 4 370
2 4 410
3 3 160
4 5 515
5 4 415
6 3 185
7 4 420
8 5 515
9 4 435
West Course
Hole Par Yardage
10 4 405
11 5 565
12 3 185
13 4 450
14 4 380
15 3 205
16 4 380
17 4 405
18 5 510
UNF Media Relations
Shawn LaFata
(904) 620-4027 – Office
(904) 718-3208 – Cell