Aug. 12, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -
The Samford men's and women's golf teams announce the 1st Annual Samford Men's Intercollegiate and the 2nd Annual Samford Women's Intercollegiate, both to be played in early 2004. Both tournaments will feature up to 18 of the top teams from the Southeast and will be played on two of the nicest courses in Alabama.
The women's tournament will take place March 22-23 at the Timberline golf course in Calera, Ala., just 20 minutes south of Birmingham, Ala. Last years champion Alabama will make a return trip to try and defend its title. Along with Alabama and Samford: Murray State, Jacksonville State, Middle Tennessee State, South Alabama, Nicholls State, Lipscomb, Gardner-Webb, Troy State, Birmingham-Southern, Western Kentucky and UAB have all committed to play in the tournament.
"We fully expect for the field to reach a full 18 teams very soon," Samford women's coach Ian Thompson said. "Before last year Samford had never hosted a women's golf tournament and we have had great support from the Samford Athletics Department and this tournament has been a great success."
The Bulldogs finished seventh in last year's event. This years tournament will be 36-holes with teams playing 18-holes per day.
The Samford Men's Intercollegiate will take place at the brand new FarmLinks at Pursell Farms in Sylacauga, Ala. The tournament will feature 18 teams and will take place February 23-24. The tournament will be a standard 54-hole tournament with teams playing 36-holes on Monday and finishing with 18-holes on Tuesday.
"It will be great to get our name out," First-year men's head coach Woodie Eubanks said. "We have not done this before and we are taking pride in the fact that we are hosting our own tournament. It will be good for Samford University."
The 7,444-yard FarmLinks opened its doors in June and owners David and Jimmy Pursell have shown great interest in Samford University and in the values that Samford expresses. The tournament in the mastermind of former Samford Men's Golf Coach Mark Ware who retired prior to 2003-2004 season.
"Hosting two golf tournaments of this caliber will be a great boost to our efforts to upgrade Samford's golf programs," Athletics Director Bob Roller said. "Ian (Thompson) and Woodie (Eubanks) have years of experience running tournaments and we expect an excellent field."
