OPELIKA, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men's golf team returns to action Sunday when play begins at the Tiger Invitational presented by Jason Dufner.

The tournament — hosted by nationally-ranked Auburn — includes three rounds over three days at the Grand National Lake Course, with the event beginning at 7:50 a.m. (CDT) the first day.

Playing for the Jaguars this week will be Mathias Lorentzen, Yannick Schütz, Rasmus Karlsson, Jordan Plunkett and Dawson Atkinson.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (host): Tiger Invitational presented by Jason Dufner (Auburn)
Dates: 3/8-10 (Sunday-Tuesday)
Format: 18 holes Sunday, 18 holes Monday, 18 holes Tuesday
Start times: 7:50 a.m. (CDT) start from split tees all three days
Course: Grand National Lake Course (par 72, 7,289 yds)
Live scoring: http://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=participants&tid=18613

THE FIELD (20)
Arkansas State, #15 Auburn, Auburn 'B', Austin Peay, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, James Madison, Kennesaw State, Kentucky, ULM, Louisiana Tech, Mercer, Morehead State, North Alabama, South Alabama, Southern Mississippi, Toledo, Western Kentucky

THE JAGUAR LINEUP
-Matthias Lorentzen (Jr., Hvidovre, Denmark; 14 rds, 74.00 avg, 1 T20, 68 low 18, 216 low 54, 5 rds =/- par)
-Yannick Schütz (Sr., Friolzheim, Germany; 17 rds, 73.53 avg, 3 T20s, 67 low 18, 215 low 54, 6 rds =/- par)
-Rasmus Karlsson (Sr., Fiskars, Finland; 17 rds, 73.94 avg, 2 T10s, 69 low 18, 216 low 54, 5 rds =/- par)
-Jordan Plunkett (So., Sterrett, Ala; 15 rds, 75.07 avg, 1 T20, 70 low 18, 215, low 54, 4 rds =/- par)
-Dawson Atkinson (So., Trussville, Ala.; 15 rds, 73.80 avg, 3 T20s, 68 low 18, 210 low 54, 7 rds =/- par)

TEE SHOTS
-It's the eighth straight spring that South will participate in the event, with last year's third-place result the Jags' best during that stretch.
-The Jaguars also came in fourth place at the 2013 and '15 editions of the tournament.
-The host Tigers are the only team among the 20 programs in the field ranked in Golfstat.com's top 25 entering play, although the trio of James Madison (41), Charlotte (43) and Arkansas State (45) are among the top 50.
-Karlsson led USA at the event last year after tying a group that included teammate Kyle Robinson — who is injured and unable to play in the tournament this spring — for 18th place individually with a 2-over-par 218 54-hole total.
-Lorentzen was the Jags' top finisher last time out at Florida State's Seminole Intercollegiate after posting a three-round score of 220, the second time this season he has led the team at an event.
-Atkinson paces South in rounds at or below par, with the sophomore posting the team's best score at both events prior to FSU's tournament.
-Schütz has matched Atkinson with three top-20 finishes this season, and he carries the lowest stroke average on the squad into play this weekend.
-Plunkett has carded scores at or below par in three of six rounds in the spring after accomplishing the feat once during the fall campaign.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Ben Hannan
On Auburn's event: "This is a fun and good event for us, it's just up the road at a golf course where we have had success.  Several guys in this week's lineup have had really good rounds here over the years and we have played well as a team.  It's always nice to go back to a place where you've enjoyed some success and had some positive outcomes."
On the team going into the tournament: "For us, it is definitely about trending the right way.  We've been playing a lot of solid golf, we just haven't been getting a lot out of our game from a scoring standpoint.  We're close, we just need a couple of putts to fall or a break to go our way and the next thing you know you're rolling and golf gets easy.  The guys have been working hard with the week-and-a-half in between tournaments.  Now, it's about trusting the work, having some fun and just playing golf."

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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