LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The University of South Alabama men's golf program will play in its final tournament of the fall season when it participates in the Little Rock Invitational on Monday and Tuesday.
The event will be held at the Chenal Country Club, with 36 holes scheduled on the opening day of play. Action will begin with an 8 a.m. (CDT) shotgun start both mornings.
Yannick Schütz, Dawson Atkinson, Jordan Plunkett, Kyle Robinson, Eli Mitchell and Will Skipp will make up the Jaguars' lineup, with the team counting the best four of its six scores in each round.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (host): Little Rock Invitational (Little Rock)
Dates: 10/19-20 (Monday-Tuesday)
Format: 36 holes Monday, 18 holes Tuesday
Start times: 8 a.m. (CDT) shotgun start on both days
Course: Chenal Country Club (par 72, 7,115 yds)
Live scoring: http://results.golfstat.com//public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=participants&tid=21058
THE FIELD (14)
Abilene Christian, Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, Lamar, Little Rock, Louisiana, ULM, Louisiana Tech, Missouri State, South Alabama, Southern Illinois, Southern Mississippi, UTA, Texas State
THE JAGUAR LINEUP
-Yannick Schütz (R-Sr., Friolzheim, Germany; 6 rds, 71.17 avg, 2 T20s, 68 low 18, 213 low 54, 4 rds =/- par)
-Dawson Atkinson (Jr., Trussville, Ala.; 6 rds, 74.17 avg, 69 low 18, 218 low 54, 1 rd =/- par)
-Jordan Plunkett (Jr., Sterrett, Ala; 6 rds, 73.67 avg, 1 T20, 69 low 18, 215 low 54, 2 rds =/- par)
-Kyle Robinson (Sr., Fayetteville, Ark., 6 rds, 75.17 avg, 1 T20, 71 low 18, 214 low 54, 3 rds =/- par)
-Eli Mitchell (Fr., Meridian, Miss.; 6 rds, 75.00 avg, 70 low 18, 223 low 54, 1 rd =/- par)
-Will Skipp (Fr., Stockton-on-Tees, England; making collegiate debut)
TEE SHOTS
-South is competing in an event in Arkansas for the first time since April 2003.
-The Jaguars last participated in this tournament the previous month, finishing second in a field of 18 teams with Ryan Gildersleeve earning medalist honors after posting a then event-record 205 three-round total.
-Schütz has been the Jags' top finisher at each of their first two outings this fall as he has recorded a 54-hole total below par on both occasions.
-Atkinson posted his two best 18-hole scores of the season in the final two rounds last time out at UAB's Graeme McDowell Invitational.
-Plunkett is the only Jaguar other than Schütz to have his score count in the team total in every round this fall.
-Robinson's 214 54-hole score at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate — the opening tournament of the season — was the lowest of his career.
-Mitchell is the only newcomer on the roster who will play in all three fall events.
-He'll be joined in the lineup for the first time by fellow freshman Skipp, who was among the top 20 individuals in England's Boys Under-18 rankings prior to coming to South.
THEY SAID IT
Head coach Ben Hannan
On goals for the final event of the fall: "As we head to Chenal it's very similar to LA Tech, we want to have all six guys in the lineup contributing to the success of the team. In this new format during the COVID-19 pandemic, the six-count-four format while being grouped with teammates, you really need everybody in the game to keep positive momentum and to have success throughout the week."
On preparing for a course the program has not seen: "We played different golf courses in the area over the last week-and-a-half in preparation for Chenal. Obviously, we can't recreate green complexes and other things specific to Chenal, but by playing different courses you do get different speeds, looks and chipping situations which shows the guys the importance of being able to adapt. That's what we tried to push this week, and hopefully adapting will carry over to a hard golf course that we haven't seen before."
On the Jaguar lineup for the tournament: "As mentioned earlier, we have a different format; we will be playing within our own bubble for safety precautions. The makeup of the lineup is trying to mesh personalities and games together as well as trying to get the six guys who give us the best opportunity to have a successful outcome. This is a championship venue, you have to drive the ball well and have decent control of your irons in order to put the ball in specific areas because the green complexes are severe. From talking to others and researching Chenal, ball striking will be at a premium this week, hopefully that will favor the lineup that we have."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. 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.
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