Schedule features 10 events spread evenly over fall and spring

 

Cullowhee, N.C. ? Western Carolina first-year head coach Carter Cheves today announced his squad’s 10-event schedule that is equally divided over the fall and spring seasons and includes hosting the Hummingbird Intercollegiate at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley to close the fall slate.

The schedule will conclude with the annual Southern Conference Men’s Golf Championship April 17-19 at the Country Club of South Carolina in Florence, S.C.

 

"I am excited about this year’s tournament schedule,” said Cheves, who took over the reins of the WCU men’s golf program in early July. “The first three events present a challenging start for us. The guys will be coming off of a long summer of amateur competition which should have them in excellent form as we begin the fall season."

 

The 2010 fall portion of the schedule opens Sept. 12-14 as the Catamounts travel to Kiawah Island for the Invitational at the Ocean Course. Two weeks later, WCU will be in Nashville, Tenn., for the Mason Rudolph Championship, hosted by Vanderbilt. In the rain-shortened event a season ago, the Catamounts finished 13th overall for a second-straight season.

 

As the calendar flips to October, Western Carolina is slated to play in the Wolfpack Intercollegiate, hosted by North Carolina State at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh, N.C. It is the first-time WCU has played in the event. After an off week, the Catamounts will return to the Davidson Intercollegiate for the first-time since 1999. WCU played in Davidson’s tournament five-straight seasons from 1995 through ’99, twice playing at this year’s host site, the River Run Country Club. In 1995, WCU finished tied for third in the final team standings and was tied for seventh the following year in ’96 before the next two year’s events were held at a different course.

 

The fall season closes with WCU hosting the 36-hole Hummingbird Intercollegiate at the par-71, 6,767-yard Country Club of Sapphire Valley Oct. 31 through Nov. 2. With two golfers inside the top 15 a year ago including returner Kyle Wilson, the Catamounts finished sixth out of the largest field in tourney history, 18 teams. It is the fourth-straight year - and fifth overall - that WCU has hosted an event at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley.

 

WCU last won its lone home event back in 2006, battling blustery weather conditions to best Vanderbilt by 17 total strokes.

 

Three of the five tournaments in the spring will be held in the state of South Carolina beginning with the opener, the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate in Hilton Head, S.C. The Catamounts will look to build upon the 10th-place showing at last year’s tournament in the Lowcountry.

 

Two weeks later, WCU will make its return to the Samford Intercollegiate for the first time since 2007. The event is hosted at the Limestone Springs Golf Club in Oneonta, Ala., March 6-8. Back in ’07, WCU finished tied for sixth with the host Bulldogs. On March 18-20, the Catamounts will play in the 42nd annual Furman Intercollegiate in Greenville, S.C., for a three-day, 54-hole event. Western Carolina placed fourth a season ago on the Paladins’ home course.

 

The Catamounts will play in the UK Bluegrass Invitational on April 8-10 before wrapping up regular season tournament play with the SoCon Championship one week later, April 17-19. The Catamounts finished fifth at last year’s conference championship.

 

Western Carolina returns four members from last year's squad including upperclassmen in senior Ronnie Garcia and junior Kyle Wilson. Two sophomores, Jonathon Davies and Trey White will be joined by the four-member incoming freshman class including Greg Bunner (Gastonia, N.C.), Michael Fitzgerald (Flossmoor, Ill.), Jack Walsh (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Collin Witiak (Columbia, S.C.).

 

Despite the youth, expectations are high for the Catamounts in 2010-11.

 

“We return a couple of starters in Kyle Wilson and Trey White who played in every event last spring. Jonathon Davies is back and has some tournament experience as well. Combining their experience with an eager group of talented freshmen gives us high expectations for a successful 2010-2011 campaign,” said Cheves.

 

 

2010 Fall Tournament Schedule

Invitational at the Ocean Course                                   September 12-14

(Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, SC)

 

Mason Rudolph Championship                                    September 23-26

(Vanderbilt Legends Club, Tennessee, TN)

 

Wolfpack Intercollegiate                                               October 3-5

(Lonnie Poole Golf Course, Raleigh, NC)

 

Davidson Intercollegiate                                               October 17-19

(River Run Country Club, Davidson, NC)

 

Hummingbird Intercollegiate                                        October 31-Nov 2

(Country Club of Sapphire Valley, Sapphire, NC)

 

2011 Spring Tournament Schedule

Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate                                February 20-22

(Wexford Plantation, Hilton Head Island, SC)

 

Samford Intercollegiate                                                March 6-8

(Limestone Springs Golf Club, Oneonta, AL)

 

Furman Intercollegiate                                                 March 18-20

(Furman University Golf Course, Greenville, SC)

 

UK Bluegrass Invitational                                             April 8-10

(University Club, Lexington, KY)

 

Southern Conference Championship                            April 17-19

(Country Club of South Carolina, Florence, SC)