VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men's golf team will once again face a tough field when it resumes fall tournament action Monday at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate hosted by Alabama.

Seven of the 12 teams slated to play in the two-day, 54-hole event competed in an NCAA Regional in the spring.  The Jaguars will return four members of last year's lineup — Sylas Elliott, Rasmus Karlsson, Jason Mendel and Yannick Schütz — when they placed ninth in the final team standings.

The tournament will include two rounds on the opening day of play with the last 18 holes scheduled for Tuesday.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (host): Old Overton Country Club (Alabama)
Dates: 10/9-10 (Monday-Tuesday)
Format: 36 holes Monday, 18 holes Tuesday
Start times: 7:30 a.m. (CDT) split tees Monday and Tuesday
Course: Old Overton Country Club (par 70, 7,209 yds)
Live scoring: http://results.golfstat.com//public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=participants&tid=13919

THE FIELD (12)
Alabama, Alabama-Birmingham, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Brigham Young, Charlotte, Michigan, Mississippi State, Samford, South Alabama, UNLV

THE JAGUAR LINEUP
-Sylas Elliott (Sr., Cullman, Ala.; 6 rds, 72.33 avg, 1 T20; 66 low 18, 215 low 54; 2 rds =/- par)
-Rasmus Karlsson (So., Fiskars, Finland; 6 rds, 73.67 avg, 68 low 18, 220 low 54; 2 rds =/- par)
-Jason Mendel (Sr., Norcross, Ga.; 6 rds, 74.83 avg, 72 low 18, 221 low 54)
-Brooks Rabren (Jr., Andalusia, Ala.; 3 rds, 77.67 avg, 75 low 18, 233 low 54)
-Yannick Schütz (So., Friolzheim, Germany; 14 rds, 76.00 avg, 72 low 18, 224 low 54; 1 rd =/- par in 2016-17)

TEE SHOTS
-Seven of the 12 schools competing this week — Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Brigham Young, Michigan and UNLV — participated in an NCAA Regional last season.
-This marks the second year in a row the Jaguars will participate in the event, while it will be the program's fourth all-time appearance.
-The Jags' previous best finish in the tournament came in their debut in 2010 when they placed fourth in a field of 12 teams.
-South was ninth in the team standings last fall after posting a group score of 289 in each of the tournament's three rounds.
-Four of the five individuals — all but Brooks Rabren — in the Jaguars' lineup this week competed in the event a year ago, although last season's top finisher Peter Staalbo will not play.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Ben Hannan
On the team's mindset going into the tournament: "We've had another couple of weeks of good, productive practices, and the guy played competitively in the qualifier for this event.  We're excited to get going again."
On if there is an advantage with four of the five members of the lineup playing the course last year: "I think any time you've seen a golf course it certainly helps.  The conditions will dictate how the golf course plays and that's an unknown, but we'll get a feel for what we have when we get up there and prepare accordingly."
On expectations for the tournament: "Our continued goal — as it is at every event — is to play Jaguar golf and to compete.  We would like to get everybody into the game and be productive the entire tournament as a group."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Birdie Club — the men's golf specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Birdie Club go directly to support the South Alabama men's golf program. For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/birdieclub.

—USA—