每日大赛

The No. 1 ranked men鈥檚 team is coming off of two consecutive NAIA national championships but lost four All-Americans to graduation. With only one senior, five juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen, men鈥檚 coach Mike Cook said the tournament will be a good chance to see what this year鈥檚 team can do.

鈥淭his is the strongest field we have had,鈥� Cook said. 鈥淭here are a lot of ranked teams.鈥�

Among them are No. 4 Johnson and Wales (Miami), No. 5 University of South Carolina Beaufort, No. 12 Keiser University (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), No. 15 Thomas University (Thomasville) and No. 16 University of Mobile (Ala.).

鈥淭his should be a good test,鈥� Cook said. 鈥淲e are kind of seeing who we are.鈥�

Senior Trevor Smith and junior Harrison Stafford give Cook two returning players he knows he can rely on, but several transfers could have an early impact.

The Mariners also boast three local products. Glynn Academy graduate Carter Lawson will be playing as a freshman while Paxton Shuman, a Brunswick High graduate, and Tucker Anderson will be playing as juniors.

All 17 men鈥檚 teams will tee off at 8:45 a.m. with a shotgun start at Sea Island鈥檚 Retreat course on St. Simons Island. They are scheduled to play 36 holes today and 18 on Tuesday.

The women鈥檚 tournament will begin on Jekyll Island鈥檚 Pine Lakes course with a staggered start. The Mariners鈥� tee times are likely to be scheduled around 9:45 a.m., coach Nicole Johns said.

She will be seeing what her 29th ranked women鈥檚 team is made of as well. Johns said her team could climb the rankings this year more quickly than in years past.

鈥淭his is a good way for everyone to back into the swing of things,鈥� Johns said.

Senior Sarah Gilliard will be counted on for some low scores throughout the season and will be going up against the defending national champions in Dalton State this week, meaning the tournament will feature both the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 NAIA national champions.

The women鈥檚 tournament is only 36 holes, with 18 played today and 18 played Tuesday.