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SAN ANTONIO-The No. 8-ranked Texas A&M men's golf team will get a later than expected but much-anticipated start to its season when the Aggies participate in the third annual Lone Star Invitational Sunday through Tuesday at Briggs Ranch.
A&M was scheduled to open the year late last month at the Husky Invitational outside Seattle, but rain forced the Aggies to head home early. This weekend will mark the latest start to a Texas A&M season in records dating back to the late '70s.
"We are itching to get started," head coach J.T. Higgins said. "The team is really excited to finally hit the road. They want to play in a tournament so bad they can taste it, so we're thrilled to go. The field that's coming includes some of the best teams in Texas and the region. A lot of the teams that are coming from Texas have high expectations as well."
Joining the eighth-ranked Aggies in the 15-team field are Arizona, Baylor, Houston, New Mexico, North Texas, Rice, Sam Houston State, Southern Miss, SFA, Texas State, defending champion UT Arlington, UTEP, host UTSA and Weber State.
Sunday's first round will tee off at 11 a.m., while Monday's second round will start at 8:30 a.m. and Tuesday's final 18 holes set to begin at 8 a.m. The par-72, 7,258-yard course is located at 2818 Rustler's Trail, which is just west of the intersection of Loop 1604 and Highway 90 on the west side of the Alamo City.
The Aggies' two returning starters, two-time All-Americans Jordan Russell (Sr., College Station) and Cameron Peck (Jr., Olympia, Wash.), are in this week's lineup. Joining them are redshirt sophomore Jade Scott (Daingerfield), who will see his first action for A&M since transferring from Rice following the 2010 season; true freshman Ty Dunlap (Westlake), who won the state championship last year at Liberty Christian School; and sophomore transfer Johannes Veerman (Sugar Land), who played last season at Tulsa and was one of the Golden Hurricanes' top players-placing fifth at the Conference USA Championships. Junior Case Cochran (Paducah, Ky.) will compete as an individual.
"I'm thrilled with work this team has put in," Higgins said prior to the team's trip to Seattle last month. "I have no idea how we will play yet, but they are the hardest working group I've ever had to start a season, ever. I've been really impressed with how they go about their business and how they have played in qualifying so far."
This will mark A&M's second trip to the Lone Star Invitational, as the Aggies won the inaugural event in 2009 with a 16-under 848 (286-280-282).
Live scoring of the Lone Star Invitational can be found at golfstat.com, and fans can also follow along with updates via Twitter at @AggieMensGolf.
"Briggs Ranch is fantastic, one of the best courses in Texas," Higgins said. "Our guys are really excited to play on such a great course against some great competition. It should be a fun week."
LONE STAR INVITATIONAL BREAKDOWN
October 16, 17 and 18
Briggs Ranch Golf Club (par 72, 7,258 yards)
San Antonio, Texas (2818 Rustler's Trail, 78245)
Host: UTSA
The Field (15 teams): (#8) Texas A&M, Arizona, Baylor, Houston, New Mexico, North Texas, Rice, Sam Houston State, Southern Miss, SFA, Texas State, UT Arlington, UTEP, UTSA, Weber State
Format: team stroke play, 54 holes
Defending Champions: UT Arlington (855, -9); Carlos Ortiz, North Texas (211, -5)
Round 1: Sunday, 11 a.m. (CT) - starts from holes 1 & 10
Round 2: Monday, 8:30 a.m. (CT) - starts from holes 1 & 10
Round 3: Tuesday, 8 a.m. (CT) - starts from holes 1 & 10
A&M lineup: Jordan Russell (Sr., 71.60 average in 2010-11); Cameron Peck (Jr., 72.46); Johannes Veerman (So., 74.3 at Tulsa last year); Jade Scott (RSo., Daingerfield, Texas); and Ty Dunlap (Fr., Westlake, Texas). Case Cochran (Jr.) will compete as an individual.
Live Scoring: http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/index.cfm?tournament_id=2933
Updates: via twitter at @AggieMensGolf
Up Next: Oct. 23-25 at U.S. Collegiate Championship, Alpharetta, Ga.