Tuesday, October 11, 2005

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (Oct. 12, 2005) - In its previous seven years, the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at The Ridges has hosted some of the best teams and individual players in college golf. Once again in 2005, the field will be strong.

The event will be played this weekend, Oct. 15 & 16 at The Ridges Golf and Country Club, with a practice round scheduled for Oct. 14. ETSU men's golf coach Fred Warren said he is pleased with the 15 teams that will compete in this year's tournament, a field that includes five teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference, five teams from the Southeastern Conference, and perennially strong programs such as Oklahoma and TCU.

"The field for this event has consistently been one of the toughest in collegiate golf," Warren said. "This year, we have another great group of teams and players. It will be a challenge."

The current Golfweek rankings back up Warren's claim. Of the 15-team field, 11 teams are currently ranked in the nation's Top 50, with six teams ranked in the Top 30. Individually, eight players are ranked in the Top 50, including Top 10-ranked players such as Wake Forest's Webb Simpson and ETSU's Rhys Davies (Bridgend, Wales). Oklahoma's Anthony Kim, Golfweek's preseason No. 1 player, will also be competing.

Live scoring for the event will be available at Golfstat.com or by visiting ETSUBucs.com and clicking on the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate Logo. The direct link to the Golfstat Live Scoring will be: http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/index.cfm?tournament_id=624.

Please find attached historical information on the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at The Ridges, including a short biography of the event's first seven years and leaderboards, as well as team and individual records. We have also included coaches' comments, as well as contact numbers for some of the programs that will attend the event.

For more information on the tournament itself, please contact Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Michael White at 423.439.4220 or whitem@etsu.edu.

What the head coaches are saying about the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at the Ridges:

John Inman, North Carolina: "We are very excited to be playing there again this year. We love the golf course and the people. It's a very well run golf tournament, and obviously the field is second to none. We will find out quickly where we stand in the order of things throughout the country. I know it will be a good experience for everyone."

Bill Montigel, TCU: "It's one of the favorite tournaments we go to all year. The guys on my golf team absolutely look forward to it, the course is always in great shape, the greens are in perfect condition, the people and the hospitality in Johnson City are second to none, Fred Warren runs the tournament in a first-class fashion, and I really don't know what else I can say - it's just an awesome, awesome tournament."

Jay Hardwick, Virginia Tech: "We are extremely pleased to once again be included in the field for the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at The Ridges. Last year's event was one of the best organized in which we have ever played and the treatment the teams received was second to none. The golf course is always in outstanding condition and it is very special when a membership gives up their facility in support of college golf."

Jim Ragan, Oklahoma: "Our team is looking forward to returning to the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate. From the quality of The Ridges golf course, the outstanding tournament management, and the unsurpassed hospitality we encounter while in Johnson City this is an especially enjoyable experience for our team. The University of Oklahoma is proud to be part of such a first class event."