LOXLEY, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men's golf team will close out the fall portion of its schedule this weekend when it plays host to the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational at the Steelwood Country Club.

The fifth edition of the tournament will include a field of 14 teams on Saturday and Sunday, with play getting underway with an 8:30 a.m. (CDT) shotgun start to 36 holes on the opening day.  The final round will feature split tees beginning at 7:40 a.m.

The Jaguars' lineup for the event is set to include Jacob LeCroy, Jack Hearn, Kevin Dahlberg, Jordan Plunkett and Dawson Atkinson, with both Mathias Lorentzen and Eli Mitchell slated to compete individually as well.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (host): Steelwood Collegiate Invitational (South Alabama)
Dates: 10/30-31 (Saturday-Sunday)
Format: 36 holes Saturday, 18 holes Sunday
Start times: 8:30 a.m. (CDT) shotgun start Saturday; 7:40 a.m. start from split tees Sunday
Course: Steelwood Country Club (par 72, 7,096 yds)
Live scoring: http://results.golfstat.com//public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=participants&tid=23432

THE FIELD (14)
UAB, Cincinnati, Kansas State, Kennesaw State, Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Memphis, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Alabama, Rice, Rutgers, South Alabama, Wisconsin

THE JAGUAR LINEUP
-Jacob LeCroy (Jr., Anniston, Ala.; 9 rds, 73.44 avg, 2 T20s, 69 low 18, 213 low 54, 4 rds =/- par)
-Jack Hearn (Sr., Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary, Ireland; 9 rds, 71.78 avg, 2 T20s, 68 low 18, 210 low 54, 4 rds =/- par)
-Kevin Dahlberg (Fr., Skanör, Sweden; 6 rds, 74.67 avg, 1 T20, 71 low 18, 215, low 54, 3 rds =/- par)
-Jordan Plunkett (Sr., Sterrett, Ala; 9 rds, 72.89 avg, 1 T20, 66 low 18, 217 low 54, 3 rds =/- par)
-Dawson Atkinson (Sr., Trussville, Ala.; 6 rds, 74.50 avg, 71 low 18, 220 low 54, 2 rds =/- par)
-*Mathias Lorentzen (Sr., Hvidovre, Denmark; 3 rds, 77.67 avg, 73 low 18, 233, low 54)
-*Eli Mitchell (So., Meridian, Miss.; 6 rds, 75.17 avg, 71 low 18, 225 low 54, 2 rds =/- par)
*denotes competing as an individual

TEE SHOTS
-The event made its debut in October 2016, but was cancelled last fall due to the coronavirus pandemic.
-The Jaguars have finished in the top half of the field each of the first four times the tournament has been held, highlighted by a third-place result in 2017.
-South has shot par or better as a team on three occasions thus far this fall.
-Atkinson, competing as an individual, was the Jaguars' top finisher the last time the tournament was conducted in 2019, tying for fourth place with a 4-under-par 212 total.
-LeCroy is coming off back-to-back top-20 performances after tying for seventh place individually — the best finish of his career — last time out at Sam Houston State's Bentwater Intercollegiate.
-Hearn has placed in the top 20 at two of three events his first season with the program after coming in a tie for 19th at SHSU following a final-day 70, his fourth round at or below par this fall.
-This will mark the first time that Dahlberg will be in the Jaguars' lineup after competing as an individual at each of the last two events.
-Plunkett has recorded a round of par or better at all three tournaments South has played in this year after closing out the Bentwater Intercollegiate with a 71.
-Mitchell's even-par 72 in his last round at the Graeme McDowell Invitational hosted by UAB Sept. 27-28, was one stroke over his season-low score recorded on the opening day of the year at Louisiana Tech.
-Lorentzen — making his first appearance since the season-opening Jim Rivers Intercollegiate — also finished among the top 25 at the 2019 Steelwood Collegiate Invitational after posting a 3-under-par 69 in the second round.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Ben Hannan
On hosting the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational after last year's event was cancelled: "It is great to be playing the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational again this year.  Because of Steelwood Country Club and its membership, the tournament is very popular and pulls a nationally recognized field every year; this year is no different with schools representing the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, American and others.  But, most important is the positive impact on many charities in the region that the College AM presented by Buick/GMC supports.  With the support of many this collegiate event gives back, which is awesome and makes a great tournament."
On his expectations for the team playing a tournament at home for the first time this season: "The guys love Steelwood, it's a fun layout and always in incredible condition.  The tournament is first class in every way, there is such a positive vibe around the place.  Our goal is to continue building on what we've been doing all fall — controlling what we can and staying in the process.  If we do that all week, the results normally take care of themselves."
On the importance of a strong showing to end the fall campaign: "You always want to end on a good finish, but our job has to be focusing on what we can control.  This group has the ability to compete in any event they play, so nothing is really a surprise to me.  We need to stay patient and do our thing, that's the best we can do and our goal."

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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