April 16, 2010
Some of the nation's top collegiate teams and players will converge on the Brazos Valley this weekend as the Texas A&M men's golf team hosts the Aggie Invitational Saturday and Sunday at the Traditions Club Golf Course. Action begins at 8 a.m. on both days with a shotgun start on Saturday (36 holes) and a split-tee start on Sunday (18 holes).
           In addition to the Aggies, who are ranked No. 4 by Golfweek/Sagarin and No. 6 by Golfstat, the field includes defending tournament champion and No. 1-ranked Oklahoma State, No. 5 Texas, No. 18 TCU, No. 19 Texas Tech, Baylor, Colorado, Kent State, New Mexico, San Diego State, SMU, and Texas-San Antonio. The Cowboys rallied past the Aggies in the final round for the 2009 Aggie Invitational team crown.
           "This is probably the strongest field we have ever hosted," Aggie golf coach J.T. Higgins said. "Obviously, Oklahoma State always provides a challenge and it's pretty apparent that they like the course. Texas is outstanding, and Texas Tech and TCU have great squads as well. I wouldn't be too surprised to see any of the teams in the field contend for the title because this is a strong field from top to bottom. It should be a great weekend, and we are very hopeful that we have a great home crowd come out to watch us play some great golf."
           The 2010 Aggie Invitational is lone regular season home tournament for the defending NCAA Champion Texas A&M men's golf team. Next month, the Traditions Club will host one of six NCAA regionals (May 20-22) that will determine the field for the 2010 NCAA Men's Golf Championships, which will be contested June 1-6 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
           "Since we only have one home tournament a year, it is always exciting to tee it up in front of a home crowd on Traditions, a course we know so well," Higgins said. "I can tell the guys are pretty amped up and eager to play. The course is in terrific shape - the greens are speeding up and rolling true and the rest of course is just in outstanding condition. We are so fortunate to have such a great home course, but when it is prepped like this, it is a real treat.
           Higgins will use a lineup of senior Andrea Pavan, freshman Cameron Peck, sophomore Jordan Russell, junior Conrad Shindler, junior Nacho Elvira and sophomore Geoff Shaw. Competing as individuals from the Aggie squad are junior John Hurley, redshirt freshman Case Cochran, junior Bryant Lach, and redshirt freshman Drew Evans.