Bears Gear Up for Augusta

Saturday, April 2

Augusta, Ga.

All Day (36 Holes)

Mercer University

Augusta Haskins Award Invitational

Photo by: Jake List

4/1/2022 11:38:00 AM | Men's Golf

Mercer will compete in the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational

By: Jake List

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer men's golf team will begin its April matchups in the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational played in Augusta, Ga. from this Saturday to Sunday (2^nd-3^rd). The Bears will be paired with UCF and Notre Dame on Saturday, teeing off between 8:30-9 from No. 9A/B, No. 10A/B, and No. 11. Live scoring will be available throughout the tournament at www.golfstat.com.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Dates: Saturday, April 2^nd – Sunday, April 3^rd
Location: Augusta, Ga. | Forest Hills Golf Club
Course Info: Par 72 | 7,086 yards
Format: 36-18 (Saturday-Sunday)
Live Scoring: GolfStat

MERCER LINEUP:
1. Tobias Jonsson
2. Martin Plukka
3. Jonathan Parker
4. Jay Spivey
5. Ethan Werblo

THE FIELD:
Augusta, Oklahoma State, Texas, Georgia State, Illinois, South Carolina, Notre Dame, UCF, Alabama, Furman, North Florida, Northwestern, Chattanooga, Navy.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY:
Founded in 1979, The Augusta Haskins Award Invitational presented by Valspar carries on the rich tradition of golf in Augusta, Georgia. Through the generosity of countless sponsors, the tournament continues to grow as a showcase for top tier talent, especially since adding a women's event in 2005.Some of the best golf teams in the country have competed in the event's 38 years of history, featuring several touring pros such as Davis Love III, Phil Mickelson (1989), Brad Faxon, Justin Leonard (1992), Vaughn Taylor (1998), Oliver Wilson (2001, 2003), Chris Kirk (2005), Scott Brown (2006), Dustin Johnson (2007), Henrik Norlander (2010), Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Beau Hossler (2016), to name a few.

THE COURSE:
Established in 1926, Augusta University's Forest Hills is a much loved staple within the Augusta, Georgia golf community. This 18-hole course holds remarkable history from Bobby Jones beginning his 1930 Grand Slam of Golf at Forest Hills in the Southeastern Open to College events where future greats like Phil Mickelson (1989), Davis Love III, (1981, 1982) and others competed. Forest Hills is home to the Men's and Women's Jaguar Golf Teams and became a part of history again when the Men's Team successfully defended their 2010 NCAA Division I National Title to earn their second consecutive National Championship in 2011. The 18-hole course was originally designed by world renowned course architect Donald Ross, but it was renovated by the Arnold Palmer Company in 2004. Forest Hills is repeatedly named "Best Public Course" by Augusta Magazine and offers traditional Southern topography with level, rolling fairways surrounded by magnificent trees.

LAST TIME OUT:
Tobias Jonsson, led the Bears placing T30 overall in the Linger Longer Invitational in Eatonton Georgia finishing 218 (+2).

Jonsson shot an impressive third round 71 (-1) and featured five birdies which would eventually assist him in finishing with the lowest score of the weekend for the Bears. By the end of the co-hosted tournament, alongside Kennesaw State University, Jonathan Parker would go on to finish right behind him shooting a final of (+7). Jonsson is now currently ranked 78^th in the top 100 in the nation.

Round 1: 304
Round 2: 303
Round 3: 304
Combined: 911

Final: +47

TEE TIMES:
Mercer's five golfers will tee off on the tenth hole alongside Notre Dame and UCF.

Martin Plukka | 8:30 a.m. | Group 11 | Tee 9A
Tobias Jonsson | 8:30 a.m. | Group 22 | Tee 9B
Jay Spivey | 8:30 a.m. | Group 13 | Tee 10A
Jonathan Parker | 8:30 a.m. | Group 14 | Tee 10B
Ethan Werblo | 8:30 a.m. | Group 15 | Tee 11

COACH PAYNE'S TAKE:
"It's a great time of year to be competing in Augusta as the golf world turns its attention to their beautiful courses. We will be tested with another strong and deep field this week, and it'll give us a great opportunity to gain some momentum heading into April and gear up for the SOCON Championship."

FOLLOW THE BEARS:
For complete coverage of Mercer Women's Golf, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerWGolf (Twitter), /MercerWGolf (Facebook) and @MercerWGolf (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.