TicketsCINCINNATI – Some of the nation's top men's golf teams and elite individual players will battle at the 2018 Bearcat Invitational hosted by the University of Cincinnati, Sept. 24-25, at Coldstream Country Club. UC's home event highlights the Bearcats' 2018-19 schedule announced Thursday.
The 12-team field at the Bearcat Invitational features several nationally ranked squads from the 2017-18 campaign, including No. 18 Arkansas, No. 27 Kentucky, No. 39 Penn State, No. 55 Michigan State, No. 62 Middle Tennessee and No. 67 Ohio State, along with Akron, Miami (Ohio), Western Kentucky and Xavier. Five of the 12 teams in the field participated in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
"Our home event has been a huge success each of the last two years at Coldstream Country Club," UC head coach Doug Martin said. "We're always excited to bring high level collegiate golf to the Cincinnati area and this year's field will include a number of great teams once again."
// FALL SEASON SCHEDULE
UC starts the fall season competing on the road in back-to-back tournaments prior to hosting the Bearcat Invitational. The Bearcats tee off their schedule at the Rod Myers Invitational hosted by Duke, Sept. 8-9, in Durham, N.C., before competing at the Louisville Cardinal Challenge, Sept. 14-16, in Simpsonville, Ky.
Two October tournaments wrap up the fall slate as UC takes part in the Franklin American Mortgage Intercollegiate hosted by Middle Tennessee, Oct. 7-9, in College Grove, Tenn., and competes at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate hosted by Louisiana Tech, Oct. 14-16, in Choudrant, La.
"The fall schedule is the most demanding we have played during my coaching tenure," said Martin, who enters his 13th season as head coach of the Bearcats. "With everyone coming off a good summer of competitive golf, I felt we could handle the challenges."
// SPRING SEASON SCHEDULE
The spring schedule starts in the Sunshine State as the Bearcats contend in the Seminole Intercollegiate, Feb. 23-24 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Three March tournaments include the Colleton River Collegiate hosted by Michigan State, Mar. 4-5, in Bluffton, S.C.; the Mission Inn Spring Spectacular hosted by George Mason, Mar. 16-17, in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.; and the Furman Intercollegiate, Mar. 22-24, in Greenville, S.C.
The Bearcats take part in the Boilermaker Invitational hosted by Purdue on Apr. 13-14, in West Lafayette, Ind., prior to postseason play.
The American Athletic Conference Championship is scheduled for Apr. 21-23, in Tampa, Fla.
"We've added five new events this year at Duke, Louisville, Louisiana Tech, George Mason and Furman that will pose a great challenge to our team," Martin said. "It's been my goal every year to provide our team opportunities to face some of the best teams in college golf and this schedule will certainly provide those challenges early. I am excited to see the new courses and how they can help this team grow and get better throughout the season."