MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men's golf program will open the second half of the 2019-20 season when it plays host to the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate Monday and Tuesday.

The tournament field includes both No. 15 Louisville and two-time defending champion Florida State, with play beginning Monday at 8 a.m. (CST) at the Magnolia Grove Crossing Golf Course.

The Jaguar lineup in their first event of the spring will feature Yannick Schütz, Rasmus Karlsson, Dawson Atkinson, Mathias Lorentzen and Spencer Arnold, with Jordan Plunkett and Jacob LeCroy competing as individuals.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (host): Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate (South Alabama)
Dates: 2/10-11 (Monday-Tuesday)
Format: 36 holes Monday, 18 holes Tuesday
Start times: 8 a.m. (CST) shotgun start Monday; 8 a.m. start from split tees Tuesday
Course: Magnolia Grove Crossings Golf Course (par 72, 7,212 yds)
Live scoring: http://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=participants&tid=18989

THE FIELD (14)
UAB, Chattanooga, Denver, Florida State, Illinois, Illinois State, Louisiana, #15 Louisville, Richmond, South Alabama, Southern Mississippi, Texas State, Western Kentucky, Wofford

THE JAGUAR LINEUP
-Yannick Schütz (Sr., Friolzheim, Germany; 11 rds, 73.55 avg, 3 T20s, 67 low 18, 215 low 54, 4 rds =/- par)
-Rasmus Karlsson (Sr., Fiskars, Finland; 11 rds, 73.82 avg, 2 T10s, 69 low 18, 216 low 54, 3 rds =/- par)
-Dawson Atkinson (So., Trussville, Ala.; 9 rds, 74.56 avg, 2 T20s, 70 low 18, 212 low 54, 4 rds =/- par)
-Matthias Lorentzen (Jr., Hvidovre, Denmark; 8 rds, 75.00 avg, 1 T20, 69 low 18, 220 low 54, 2 rds =/- par)
-Spencer Arnold (Jr., Mobile, Ala.; 3 rds, 80.33 avg, 78 low 18, 241 low 54)
-*Jordan Plunkett (So., Sterrett, Ala; 9 rds, 76.22 avg, 1 T20, 71 low 18, 220, low 54, 1 rd =/- par)
-*Jacob LeCroy (Fr., Anniston, Ala.; 11 rds, 74.09 avg, 2 T20s, 71 low 18, 219 low 54, 4 rds =/- par)
*denotes competing as an individual

TEE SHOTS
-This is the seventh consecutive season that the Jaguars will begin the spring campaign playing host to the tournament, and the 13th edition of the event overall.
-The highest-rated program in the field is Louisville, which ended the fall No. 15 in the Golfstat.com rankings.
-Florida State has won the team title each of the last two years, with the Seminole lineup this week including defending medalist John Pak.
-The Jaguars have finished among the top three in the team standings each of the last three seasons after placing third at last spring's tournament.
-Schütz has finished in the top 10 individually at the event each of the last two seasons, including leading South a year ago when he tied for sixth with a 5-under-par 139 36-hole total.
-The previous spring it was Karlsson who led the Jags after he recorded an 8-under-par 208 three-round score to come in fourth in the individual standings.
-Atkinson was the team's top performer at its final tournament of the fall semester after he tied for fourth place with a two-day 4-under-par 212 total at the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational.
-This marks the first time in his career that Arnold will be in the Jaguar lineup.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Ben Hannan
On what team has been working on this semester to prepare for the spring: "This fall showed us that we have solid team depth and a lot of guys who can contribute at any time.  We also saw that this is a talented team with the ability to make a lot of birdies when the guys get it going.  What we talked about at the end of the fall was taking advantage of those days when you're playing well and closing those rounds out; for all the good golf that was played in the fall, we didn't shoot enough rounds in the 60s.  Coming out of the break, we have been trying to work, get back into play mode and get into the mindset of scoring.  We had eight rounds of qualifying over the last two-and-a-half weeks where we had some low scores and good golf."
On goals for the first event of the spring season: "We have goals, but they encompass more of the entire season rather than just one event.  This team has a lot of talent, they have already won this year and can do so again at any time.  We have a new lineup this event that includes guys who have earned this opportunity by playing well during qualifying.  We're looking forward to getting going and excited to host here in Mobile."
On this year's edition of the tournament: "The quality of the field for the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate has been strong for many years, this year's field is no different.  There are multiple teams playing this year who have postseason experience.  On paper Louisville is the highest ranked team coming in, but there are several programs who have had solid falls and will compete this week.  Individually, there are some really good players who are ranked extremely high nationally.  The field has always pulled a lot of different teams from different regions.  We are thankful for all the support locally over the years and are looking forward to another great event."

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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