Greensboro, Ga. (March 9, 2016) – Entering its second decade as one of the premier men’s collegiate golf events in the nation, the 11th annual Linger Longer Invitational at Reynolds Lake Oconee resumes its illustrious legacy of championship competition March 20-22, 2016 at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Great Waters course.
The four-time team champion Georgia and three-time winner Alabama return as the leading contenders in the lineup of 13 prestigious college programs that includes Purdue, Virginia, Augusta University, Baylor and Louisville – all Top-50 ranked NCAA Division I teams. Alabama is ranked No. 4 in the nation, while Georgia is No. 7.
The 54-hole stroke-play tournament, which crowns both team and individual winners, is co-hosted by Mercer University and Kennesaw State University. Georgia finished second last year to first-time Linger Longer Invitational champion Texas, with Kennesaw State tied for third, Mercer sixth, and Alabama seventh.
Attracting many of the nation’s best teams year after year, the Linger Longer Invitational combines award-winning golf, a resort destination setting and a welcoming, supportive community that together make the Reynolds Lake Oconee event one of the most respected in college golf.
Among the special experiences of the tournament is the housing, provided by families throughout Reynolds Lake Oconee, which is one of the “25 Best Golf Communities in North America,” as ranked by GOLF Magazine. Each year teams and their host families create a connection that lasts a lifetime, truly setting this event apart from others.
Also joining the field for the 2016 Linger Longer Invitational are Charlotte, Missouri, North Carolina-Greensboro, South Alabama.
Individually, defending champion Lee McCoy of Georgia and Alabama’s Robbie Shelton, No. 3 in the recent Golfweek college player rankings, head the list of talented players. McCoy, No. 9 on the Golfweek list, won last year with a score of 202, 14-under-par.
This year’s field features a host of players recently ranked among the Top 50 players in the nation. McCoy and Greyson Sigg (32) lead the Bulldogs, while Shelton and Davis Riley (42) are the top two players for the Crimson Tide. Also leading their teams are Robin Petersson (16) of Augusta State, Austin Eoff (15) of Purdue and Derek Bard (44) of Virginia.
Numerous future PGA Tour winners who have played in the Linger Longer Invitational include Rickie Fowler (Oklahoma State), Chris Kirk, Harris English, Russell Henley, Brian Harman and Kevin Kisner (Georgia), Brooks Koepka and Jonas Blixt (Florida State), and Kyle Stanley (Clemson), as well as European Tour winner Peter Uihlein (Oklahoma State). But only one member of that talented group was able to win at Reynolds Lake Oconee – Kirk in 2007 on the Oconee course.
Former Alabama star Cory Whitsett left little room for anyone to break his record of three consecutive victories, capturing the individual title as a freshman in 2011, sophomore in 2012, and junior in 2013, and then finishing tied for 10th as a senior in 2014.
Throughout the years, the Linger Longer Invitational has been held at three of the Reynolds Lake Oconee courses – Oconee, Landing and Great Waters.
For updated scoring at the Linger Longer Invitational, visit www.golfstat.com
About Reynolds Lake Oconee
Reynolds Lake Oconee, located between Atlanta and Augusta, Ga., is situated along more than 350 miles of Lake Oconee shoreline and features six championship golf courses, dining, swimming pools, pedestrian trails, marinas, a tennis center and a wellness campus. Reynolds is also home to The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, a 251-room lakefront resort and spa, which was named a 2015 AAA Five Diamond Lodging and 2014 Forbes Four-Star resort. The community is located about an hour and a half drive from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. For more information, visit www.reynoldslakeoconee.com.
Real estate and other amenities are owned by Oconee Land Development Company LLC and/or other subsidiaries and affiliates of MetLife, Inc. (collectively, “OLDC” or “Sponsor”) and by unrelated third parties. Reynolds Plantation Properties, LLC (“RPP”) is the exclusive listing agent for OLDC-owned properties in Reynolds Lake Oconee. RPP also represents buyers and sellers of properties in Reynolds Lake Oconee which OLDC does not own (“Resale Properties”). OLDC is not involved in the marketing or sale of Resale Properties. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy OLDC-owned real estate in Reynolds Lake Oconee by residents of HI, ID, OR, or any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law. As to such states, any offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy applies only to Resale Properties. Access and rights to recreational amenities may be subject to fees, membership dues, or other limitations. Information provided is believed accurate as of the date printed but may be subject to change from time to time. The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee is a private commercial enterprise and use of the facilities is subject to the applicable fees and policies of the operator. For OLDC properties, obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Void where prohibited by law. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR DISQUALIFIED THIS OFFERING. An offering statement has been filed with the Iowa Real Estate Commission and a copy of such statement is available from OLDC upon request. OLDC properties have been registered with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen at 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, Massachusetts 02118-6100 and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection at 1700 G Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20552. Certain OLDC properties are registered with the Department of Law of the State of New York. THE COMPLETE OFFERING TERMS ARE IN AN OFFERING PLAN AVAILABLE FROM SPONSOR. FILE NO. H14-0001.
Contact:
Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations
908/963-6013
kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com
