RON HICKERSON | STAFF
Freshman Meechai Padung tracks an iron shot while practicing at the Augusta
State golf complex in advance of next week’s Insperity Augusta State Invitational.3
By Ron Hickerson, Chief Reporter
As spring approaches, the Augusta State men’s golf team is gearing up for the biggest golf tournament in the world.
With Masters week just around the corner, the men’s golf team is getting ready for its annual Insperity Augusta State Invitational, said Kevin McPherson, the head coach of the men’s golf team.
He said the tournament is always synonymous with the Masters Tournament, being held the weekend before the Masters. The tournament begins that Friday with a practice round. Thirty-six holes are played on Saturday and 18 holes on Sunday.
After the tournament, all the teams invited are given Monday practice round tickets as a gift.
“We’ve been fortunate enough from the members of the (Augusta) National to receive Monday practice round tickets to the Masters for probably 20 years or so,” McPherson said. “Obviously, it brings an elite field of other universities throughout the country to play in our event, and not just because of the Masters but the atmosphere of being in Augusta (Ga.) during the same week that Masters goes on – the greatest tournament in
the world.”
Each year, 60 to 70 teams try to get into the tournament, he said. Of those, 14 teams are selected to compete, creating a total of 15 teams with Augusta State.
“It’s an elite field, and we pick and choose which ones we look to host in the event,” McPherson said.
Along with the tournament, the popularity and prestige of the Masters has largely impacted both the golf team’s recruitment and its overall drive, he said.
“A lot of the past champions of our event are now aspiring PGA Tour players.” McPherson said. “I would say there are probably 50-plus players that have played in our college event over the years that have been successful in the PGA Tour. It’s kind of the ‘who’s who’ of the guys that play through college golf that you end up seeing on TV that are probably playing in the Masters.”
He said these golfers who once played in the college tournament and are playing in the Masters will often show up to cheer on their schools’ teams.
“A lot of times you’ll run into a few players that are playing the Masters that are out here hanging out during our college event,” he said. “It makes it a kind of a neat environment.”
McPherson said members on the golf team are obviously excited about the opportunity to go to the Augusta National Golf Club, where they even play once a year, to be able to watch the greatest golfers at the practice rounds.
“I’m really excited,” said Swedish freshman Viktor Edin, who will be going to see the Masters in person for the first time. “There are not really many people who get to see it live from the tournament. It’s going to be a great experience.”
Swedish sophomore Robin Petersson agreed. “You’re like a kid in a candy shop if you’re a golfer,” he said of being at the tournament.
Last year was his first year going to the tournament and seeing the course for himself, saying the experience was so much richer than just watching it on television.
“It’s something that never gets old,” he said. “You always look forward to it.”
Growing up in the Augusta area, sophomore Cody Shafer said the number of times he’s been to the Masters reaches into double digits. But being able to go as a golfer makes everything different.
“It means more,” he said. “You can relate with what’s going on.”
The Masters’ international recognition has greatly influenced the team’s recruitment, McPherson said.
Because of Augusta being an internationally known city for its housing of the Masters, the team is able to recruit members from all over the world as members now hail from the United States, Australia, Sweden and England.
“Wherever I can find the best players, it doesn’t matter whether they’re from South Carolina or South America; we get the best talent,” McPherson said. “We try to recruit players from all over the world.”
The prestige of being able to go to the Masters and also play at the Augusta National is something McPherson said he hopes will continue to encourage the players to get better.
“It gives them a little more of that extra drive that they’re looking for – that motivation to hopefully one
day be one of those aspiring tour pros that makes it back to Augusta to play in the Masters,” he said.