The Kentucky men?s golf team will travel to the 28th Annual Schenkel E-Z-GO Invitational, regarded as one of college golf?s premier intercollegiate tournaments, this weekend. Georgia Southern will host 18 of the nation?s strongest schools this weekend, March 17-18, at the par-72, 6,962-yard Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro, Ga.

The Schenkel Invitational welcomes 17 schools, including three of the nation?s top five teams, seven ranked in the top 25, and 11 in the top 50, according to the latest GolfWeek polls.

The field includes: No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Florida, No. 4 Alabama, defending champion and No. 14 North Carolina, No. 15 Tennessee, No. 16 Texas A&M, No. 21 Minnesota, Arizona, Auburn, Michigan State, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina State, Louisiana State, Augusta State, Ohio State, New Mexico and host Georgia Southern.

The activities will begin Friday morning with a practice round that begins at 8:30. Thirty-six holes will be played Saturday with a first round shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. The second round will begin approximately at 1 p.m. later that day. Sunday?s final 18 holes will begin with an 8 a.m. tee time. The weekend?s activities will conclude with an awards ceremony beginning at approximately 3 p.m. The tournament is open to the public at no charge.

The tournament will display some of the nation?s top golfers, including No. 2 Billy Horschel (Florida), No. 4 Brian Prouty (Arizona), No. 5 Charlie Beljan (New Mexico), No. 6 Brian Harman (Georgia), No. 9 Chris Kirk (Georgia), No. 19 Brendon Todd (Georgia) and No. 22 Philip Pettitt (Tennessee), according to Golfweek.

In 2006, North Carolina edged Florida by two strokes to claim its first Schenkel E-Z-GO Tournament title, carding a 291-278-288=857 (-7). Michigan State?s Matt Harmon garnered the individual medal by two strokes, shooting a 68-69-70=207 (-9).

Alex Volpenhein, Brad Doster, Andy Winings, Cale Barr and Derek Oldham will compete for the Wildcats this weekend in Statesboro.

?We need to rebound with a strong performance at the Schenkel,? said head coach Brian Craig. ?I believe in these players and know that they have guts. I look for us to come together as a team this weekend and play like we are capable.”

Fans can follow the action on-line with the latest statistics and results at www.UKAthletics.com or www.golfstat.com.