Established as one of the premier men’s collegiate golf events in the nation, the Linger Longer Invitational at Reynolds Lake Oconee celebrates its 10th Anniversary in 2015, a milestone in what already is an illustrious legacy of championship competition.
Attracting many of the nation’s best teams year after year, the Linger Longer Invitational combines award-winning golf, a resort destination setting and a welcoming, supportive community that together make the Reynolds Lake Oconee event one of the most respected in college golf.
Among the special experiences of the tournament is the housing, provided by families throughout Reynolds Lake Oconee. Each year teams and their host families create a connection that lasts a lifetime, truly setting this event apart from others.
The defending team champion Georgia Bulldogs return to head a collection of 15 prestigious college programs that will gather again at the award-winning Great Waters course, March 21-22, 2015. The 54-hole stroke-play tournament, which crowns both team and individual winners, is co-hosted by Mercer University and Kennesaw State University.
Joining those three teams at Reynolds Lake Oconee in 2015 are Alabama, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Clemson, Georgia State, Liberty, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Purdue, Texas, UNC Greensboro and Yale.
Throughout the years, the Linger Longer Invitational has been held at three of the Reynolds Lake Oconee courses – twice at the Oconee (2006, 2007), followed by three years at The Landing (2008-2010) and now Great Waters (since 2011). Collegiate golf competition at Reynolds Lake Oconee got its formal start in the fall of 2005, when the Reynolds Lake Oconee Classic was played at Port Armor Golf Club (before it was renamed The Landing).
Numerous future PGA Tour winners who have played in the Linger Longer Invitational include Rickie Fowler (Oklahoma State), Chris Kirk, Harris English and Russell Henley (Georgia), Jonas Blixt (Florida State) and Kyle Stanley (Clemson), as well as European Tour winner Peter Uihlein (Oklahoma State). But only one member of that talented group was able to win at Reynolds Lake Oconee – Kirk in 2007 on the Oconee course.
And former Alabama star Cory Whitsett left little room for anyone to break his record of three consecutive victories, capturing the individual title as a freshman in 2011, sophomore in 2012 and junior in 2013. He tied for 10th as a senior in 2014 and this year is a rookie on the PGA Tour.
Georgia has won the team title four times (2006, 2007, 2009, 2014), while Alabama won three straight (2011-2013). Alabama went on to win the NCAA Championship in 2013.
