Hartsville, SC- Starting Monday, September 25, Coker College and the Coker College Golf Team will host the Coker College Invitational at Orange County National in Orlando, FL. Coach John Handrigan and Orange County National College Director Keith Kohmetscher have worked for over a year to prepare for this event. This two day event will bring together 17 of the top 40 Division II golf teams in the nation to compete against each other on the same course.

“This is the best field of Division II golf that will be played all year,” said Handrigan, “I am very excited for Coker and for Orange County National to get to host such an event.”

Along with the main tournament, there will also be a skills competition, and a team putting tournament held at night. According to Handrigan, “This is going to be a first class tournament were we can really see the best players in the country compete against each other, and also see them have a little fun all at the same time.”

Orange County National is top rate course, as it is the site for the 2005 PGA Qualifying School Finals, an event the course also hosted in 2003. They have also hosted the 2000-2005 Buick Scramble Finals and have been given four and a half stars by Golf Digest as one of the “Best Places to Play” 2000-2005.

The final round of the tournament and the awards presentation are also going to be aired on national television. The Golf Channel is going to be on hand to film the tournament, and all the surrounding events, which will be broadcast on their show College Central on Thursday, September 29, at 10:30 p.m. EST. The first 12 minutes of the show will be devoted to the Coker College Invitational. The final round will be televised as well, but that date and time have not yet been released by the Golf Channel.

All in all, Coker College and the Coker Golf Team are very excited about this tournament and the publicity it will bring, not only to Coker, but to Division II Golf and the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference.

Teams Competing in Coker Invitational

Armstrong Atlantic State University                              Lynn University                 
Barry University                                                        Nova Southeastern U.        

Barton College                                                          Rollins College
Belmont Abbey College                                               St. Edward's University
Coker College                                                           University of West Florida

Columbus State University                                          Valdosta State University
Delta State University                                               
Eckerd College

Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Southern College
Florida Tech

-30-