HOLLY SPRINGS, NC—With a greens renovation project at Cary’s MacGregor Downs Country Club set to start in early February, the 2007 Courtyard by Marriott Intercollegiate golf tournament is moving to Devils Ridge Golf Club in Holly Springs, April 12-14.
"This is the second time in three years Devils Ridge will host the event," said tournament coordinator Jim Pomeranz. "In 2005, MacGregor was completing a bunker renovation and drainage project, and Devils Ridge, then as now, was gracious to make its course and facilities available. It’s a challenging layout which the field in 2005 enjoyed playing. We anticipate another good tournament at Devils Ridge."
And, another strong field. Coming out of the fall schedule, all but one of the 15 teams are ranked in the top 100 of GolfWeek magazines ranking of college golf teams; seven are in the top 50, and four in the top 25 as the spring schedule commences.
North Carolina (13th), Tulsa (16th), Duke (22nd) and Charlotte (24th) headline the event with the other top 50 teams: host NC State (35th), UAB (Alabama-Birmingham) (41st), and, Virginia Tech (46th).
The rest of the field includes Augusta State (62), Georgia Southern (68), Houston (60), Kent State (57), Maryland (104), Toledo (83), Vanderbilt (56), and Virginia (89).
"With the quality of teams, this event is one of the top collegiate tournaments in the country," said Pomeranz. "We have another great field, and because this tournament is late in the spring season, we expect many of these teams to move up in the ranking and the event will gain more national attention."
Defending champion Kentucky is not returning due to a scheduling conflict. Duke won the tournament at Devils Ridge in 2005.
The 15 teams play 54 holes over the Devils Ridge 6,854-yard, par-72, layout—36 holes Friday, April 13, and 18-holes Saturday, April 14.
On Thursday, April 12, the college teams play a morning practice round followed in the afternoon by the College-Am, an opportunity for amateurs to play 18 holes with a top college golfer. Four amateurs team with one college golfer in the College-Am.
"The College-Am is a fun event for area golfers and is a chance to get to know some of the future stars of golf. We’ve had Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Carl Pettersson, Tim Clark, and Bill Haas among many other golf notables in the Intercollegiate," said Pomeranz. "Many area golfers who played in previous College-Am tournaments continue to stay in touch with these professionals."
For more about the 2007 Courtyard by Marriott Intercollegiate, which is open to the public at no charge for viewing, and about playing in the College-Am, contact the Devils Ridge Golf Club golf shop at 557-6101.
Contact:
Jim Pomeranz
919-656-2920
