FLORENCE, S.C. ? The 72^nd Southern Conference Men’s Golf Championship begins Sunday, April 20 at the Country Club of South Carolina in Florence, S.C., and runs through Tuesday, April 22.

Chattanooga is looking to secure its second-consecutive SoCon crown after winning its first league title in 20 years last season. The Mocs, currently rated fifth nationally by Golfstat, have won a school-record four tournaments this season and boast five of the top eight rated golfers in the conference. Junior Jonathan Hodge, runner up in the event in 2007, has claimed three individual tournament titles this season, including a wire-to-wire victory last month at the 24-team Furman Intercollegiate in Greenville, S.C.

Georgia Southern finished nine strokes off the pace in second place last year, and the Eagles will aim look to rebound by winning their third SoCon tournament in six seasons. Freshman Logan Blondell leads the Eagles with a pair of top-five finishes on the campaign.

Also entering the tournament with a top 100 rating nationally is Western Carolina, ranked No. 80. The Catamounts and standout Matt Cook have one tournament title to their credit this season and boast the league’s third best stroke average behind College of Charleston.

Also participating in the 10-team event are Appalachian State, Davidson, Elon, Furman, UNC Greensboro and Wofford, the tournament’s host.

The Southern Conference Men’s Golf Championship has been played every season since 1933, aside from a four-year hiatus during World War II, and the event boasts past champions such as Arnold Palmer (1948-49) and Brad Faxon (1983).

The winner of the SoCon Championship will earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Regional.