It took a bit longer than anybody would have thought, but the Emory men's golf team finally returns to competitive action when it takes part in this weekend's (Mar. 13-14) Tiger Invitational.  The 36-hole tourney will be played on the 6,925-yard, par-71 Forest Creek Golf Club North Course.  Serving as the host is Hampden-Sydney College.

The Eagles' last round took place on Mar. 10, 2020, at the Savannah Invitational, and with the team, along with Emory's other traditional spring programs now cleared to compete, head coach John Sjoberg and his No.2-ranked squad, who have been practicing since early February, are eager to get back on the course to go up against some top-flight opposition.

"It seems like forever since we've played and we are really excited to compete again," stated Sjoberg.  "So far we have had a great three weeks of practice and we are eaer to see a new course that we have not been to before.  I have heard nothing but great things about Forest Creek and it will be fun to start at a course that no one in the tournament has played."

This year's Tiger Invitational 13-team field is loaded with talent with 10 schools ranked in the Bushnell Golfweek Coaches top 25 Poll, six of which are slotted among the top eight including Huntingdon College (tied for 2^nd), No. 5 Methodist, No. 6 Hampden-Sydney, No. 7 Piedmont and No. 8 Guilford.

Sjoberg will look to juniors Logan Ryan (Fort Wayne, IN) and Max Schwarz (Paradise Valley, AZ) to anchor the squad with the duo earning PING Second Team All-America honors last year.  Schwarz returns as the team's top scorer, averaging 71.9 strokes over 14 rounds of play while Ryan checked in a 72.4 strokes per outing.  Rounding out the rest of the playing group at the Tiger Invitational will be senior Davis Hingtgen (Orlando, FL) , sophomore Grant Drogosch (Windermere, FL) and freshman Logan Lowery (O'Fallon, IL).

"With their experience, Max and Logan will have to lead us this spring, said Sjoberg.  "I am also watching to see what the other players bring. They are all talented enough to help us and it will be a matter to see which ones step up when presented with opportunities this spring.  As for this tournament, Davis, Grant and Logam have impressed me.  Now. it will be about creating some consistency.  Our good is very good, but the question is can we shoot a score when not at our best.   That is what we have been really good at the last few years, but with less experience this year that will need to be our quickest learning curve.