JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida golf team is set to host the 19th Annual John Hayt Collegiate Invitational Sunday-Tuesday, Feb. 28-March 2, at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
The first round will begin Sunday at 8:30 a.m. at the par-72, 6,895 Oceanside course. Round two is Monday and will also start at 8:30 a.m., with the final round beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Admission to the tournament is free.
In addition to North Florida, the 15-team field includes defending team champion LSU, who is ranked 34th nationally in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings index, and defending individual champion John Peterson of LSU.
Also in the field are No. 3 ranked Florida, Alabama (No. 12), Coastal Carolina, Duke (33), Furman, Georgia Southern, Mercer, NC State (27), TCU (13), Tennessee (24), Tulsa, UAB and UCF.
The Ospreys are ranked 29th in the country and UNF's top golfer, sophomore Sean Dale, is ranked No. 23.
The tournament also features the country's No. 1 golfer, Alabama sophomore Bud Cauley, a Jacksonville native. Other individuals include last year's runner-ups in Hunter Hamrick of Alabama and LSU's Andrew Loupe. Hamrick is ranked 3rd nationally.
Other North Florida golfers participating are senior JC Horne, sophomores Kevin Aylwin and Joe Byun, and freshman Kevin Phelan. Senior Jordan Gibb and junior Chris Kennedy will participate as individuals.
“This event is the one the guys circle on the calendar each year,” said UNF head coach Scott Schroeder. “To be able to play at home and have a lot of people come out and support you makes it a lot of fun. After not playing up to our expectations at the Gator it has been very important for each guy to work hard on getting his game ready for this week. This field is, and golf course is, one that will let you see how good you are. It is always fun to go out and compete with the some of the top SEC and ACC schools like Florida, Alabama, LSU and NC State.”
“The tournament includes great teams and tough competition,” said John Hayt, the tournament's namesake and longtime UNF golf enthusiast and local Jacksonville businessman. “Weather is always a concern but we must not forget the tradition at Sawgrass Country Club this time of year. You do not want perfect conditions. We have great teams and a number of extremely talented collegiate golfers, including the No. 1-ranked player and Jacksonville product, Bud Cauley. Matt Hill of North Carolina State was the 2009 NCAA Medalist and our own Osprey, Sean Dale, was medalist at his first fall tournament. And we cannot forget the No. 3 ranked Florida Gators. It is a great field. I expect tight competition with scores dependent upon weather conditions, typical of Sawgrass's history.”
Live scoring each day can be followed at www.GolfStat.com.