Coastal Carolina University's men's golf program will host the nationally-renowned General Jim Hackler Championship, Sun.-Mon., March 14-15 at the TPC of Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet, S.C. This is the eighth straight year that TPC of Myrtle Beach has hosted the event.
This year's field is one of the best in the program's history, as 10 of the 12 teams played in last year's NCAA Regionals, with two advancing to the NCAA Championship (Duke and Wake Forest). It also features the last six team champions of the tournament, including Pepperdine (2004), Coastal Carolina (2005), East Tennessee State (2006), Lamar (2007) and Wake Forest (2008 and 2009).
Seven of the 12 teams are currently ranked in the top 50 and all 12 in the top 100, according to GolfStat and Golfweek, with the top being Augusta State, which is ranked ninth in GolfStat and sixth by Golfweek. Among the individuals are 19 players ranked in Golfweek's Top 150 college golfers currently, including Wake Forest's Brendan Gielow at No. 10 and defending medalist and 2009 NCAA individual champion Matt Hill of NC State at No. 55.
The General Hackler Championship is named in honor of the late United States Air Force General James F. Hackler, Jr., a long-time supporter of Chanticleer golf. Coastal Carolina also has previously honored Hackler with the naming of the Coastal men's and women's golf program's Hackler Trophy.
The trophy is awarded annually to the individual chosen on an established record of academic achievement, dedicated to the ideals of citizenship, devotion to preserving the integrity in the playing of the game of golf, and abilities as a golfer with special emphasis on the scholar-athlete’s sportsmanship and attitude toward fulfilling his or her potential in the game.
2010 General Jim Hackler Championship Field
(GolfStat /Golfweek Rankings as of Feb. 24)
65/73 Coastal Carolina**
9/6 Augusta State**
34/33 Duke*
33/38 East Tennessee State**
91/95 Kennesaw State
45/36 Kent State**
56/70 Lamar**
61/68 Minnesota**
28/27 NC State**
50/46 Pepperdine**
55/67 UNC Wilmington
36/35 Wake Forest*
* 2009 NCAA Tournament Team
** 2009 NCAA Regional Team
Individuals Ranked in GolfWeek's Top 150
10. Brendan Gielow Wake Forest
14. Ben Pisani Minnesota
29. Henrik Norlander Augusta State
31. Rhys Enoch East Tennessee State
55. Matt Hill NC State
57. Patrick Reed Augusta State
60. MacKenzie Hughes Kent State
63. John Hahn Kent State
81. Brett Cairns Kent State
82. Brad Revell NC State
86. PierreAlexis Rolland Lamar
97. Mitchell Krywulycz Augusta State
100. Andrew Putnam Pepperdine
102. Julian Suri Duke
121. Brinson Paolini Duke
124. Jeff Karlsson Kennesaw State
125. Mitchell Sutton NC State
127. Taylor Floyd Augusta State
144. Wes Roach Duke
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