Men’s golf schedule set

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 2012-13 University of Arkansas men’s golf schedule is set and includes Arkansas’ first major home men’s collegiate event in 30 years when the University hosts the NCAA Fayetteville Regional, May 16-18, 2013.  Beginning in early September and potentially running through the beginning of June, the 13-tournament lineup has Arkansas facing the nation’s top teams as it looks to build on the success of 2011-12.

The NCAA Regional, to be contested at Blessings Golf Course May 16-18, will showcase 14 or 15 of the nation’s top teams who will be vying for a spot at the NCAA Championship.  The Regional is one of six across the nation and is the second major collegiate tournament to be contested at the course in the last two years (SEC Women’s Championship, 2012).

“This is going to be a tough schedule,” Arkansas Head Coach Brad McMakin said.  “We will be facing the best teams in the nation week after week, but by the end of the season I believe that we will be a better team and prepared for the SEC and NCAA tournaments.  Having a regional right here at Blessings will be a tremendous benefit to us and I appreciate the efforts of our administration and those at the Blessings for allowing us such a great opportunity.”

The season begins at the Gopher Invitational in Wayzata, Minn., Sept. 9-10.  Hosted by Spring Hill Golf Club, this is Arkansas’ fourth time at the event and the Razorbacks are the defending champions, winning the 2011 title by three strokes.

The fall portion of the schedule continues two weeks later when the Razorbacks get a peek at the NCAA Championships course by playing at the Golfweek/PING Preview Tournament.  Facing the nation’s top teams, Arkansas will make its way to the Capital City Club in Atlanta, Ga., to play Sept. 23-25.

Not a week after returning from the preview tournament, the Razorbacks will play at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Ill.  Set for Sept. 30-Oct. 2, the tournament at Olympia Fields annually draws some of the nation’s best teams and should be a tough test for the Razorbacks.

The 2012 fall slate concludes with a pair of October tournaments in the Jack Nicklaus Invitational and Isleworth Collegiate Invitational.  Arkansas makes its way to Dublin, Ohio, Oct. 8-9 for the Nicklaus event hosted by The Ohio State University.  The Razorbacks are playing in the Jack Nicklaus for the third time and hope to improve on their sixth-place finish a year ago.  The Isleworth is hosted by Texas Tech at the Isleworth Golf and Country Club and is scheduled for Oct. 21-23.

Following a three-month layoff, the men’s golf schedule picks up again, Feb. 9-10, when Arkansas makes its way to the Gator Invitational.  Attending the Gainesville, Fla., event for the second straight year, the Razorbacks finished second in 2012.

A pair of familiar tournaments follows as the Razorbacks return to the John Hayt Invitational in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and General Hackler Championship in Pawleys Island, S.C.  Arkansas is the two-time defending champion of the John Hayt, hosted by North Florida, Feb. 24-26 at Sawgrass Country Club.  Last season the Razorbacks won by four strokes against a good field.  The General Hackler Championship is slated for March 11-12, at the DeBordieu Club.  The Razorbacks placed third at the competition a year ago.

Arkansas’ regular season concludes with a pair of new events in mid-March and early April.  The National Invitational Tournament in Tucson, Ariz., is scheduled for March 16-17, at Omni Tucson National.  The Razorbacks have played in the event before, but it has been six years since Arkansas’ last appearance.  The Aggie Invitational, April 6-7 at Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas, closes out the regular season.

A return to Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Ga., begins the post season for the Razorbacks.  Scheduled for April 19-21, the SEC Championships will have a different feel in 2013 as Missouri and Texas A&M make their debuts on the tough Seaside Course.

After nearly a month off, Arkansas will host the NCAA Fayetteville Regional.  The event is the largest men’s collegiate competition ever held by the University and is the gateway for teams to compete for a national championship.

The 2013 NCAA Championship concludes the schedule and is scheduled for May 28-June 2 at the Capital City Club in Atlanta, Ga.