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Tournament #8: Linger Longer Invitational
Dates: March 20-22
Location: Great Waters Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee | Eatonton, Ga.
Hosts: Kennesaw State and Mercer
Format: 18 Holes of stroke play on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Opening Tee
For the 20th time, the Kennesaw State men’s golf team will co-host the Linger Longer Invitational alongside Mercer. This year’s tournament is at Great Waters at Reynolds Lake Oconee.
The tournament is scheduled for March 20-22 with teams playing 18 holes each day.
The tournament features a competitive field of 18 teams, including No. 11 Vanderbilt, No. 16 Alabama and No. 35 Georgia.
KSU has played in this event every year since its inception. KSU’s best finish is second in 2013. The tournament has featured several PGA Tour players including, Scottie Scheffler, Nick Dunlap, Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas.
Tournament Field (18)
Kennesaw State, Mercer, West Georgia, Rutgers, UGA, Virginia Tech, Alabama, Vanderbilt, USF, Jacksonville, La Tech, Elon, Kentucky, Ohio State, Charlotte, South Alabama, UNCG, Wofford
Lineup
Shaun Cook
Kyle Bachkosky
Hunter Gillard
Walker Gantt
Individuals: Ryan Nicholson and Reed Sweigart
2025-26 Outlook
Kennesaw State returns seven players from last season’s squad, which finished ranked No. 67 in the final NCAA Scoreboard poll and placed third at the Conference USA Championship.
The Owls welcome back Conference USA Freshman of the Year Luca Gallingani, along with Shaun Cook, a second-team All-Conference selection. Four players who competed in 30 or more rounds last season return for KSU.
Kennesaw State recorded 76 rounds at par or better in 2024–25, with 55 of those rounds posted by players still on the roster. The Owls added two freshmen, Walker Gantt and Ryan Nicholson. Gantt and Cook both competed at the U.S. Amateur during the summer.
2024-25 Review
In its inaugural season in Conference USA, Kennesaw State produced a standout 2024-25 campaign. The Owls earned multiple tournament victories, including team and individual titles at the Cullan Brown Collegiate and the Pinetree Intercollegiate.
Claes Borregaard was named Golfer of the Week six times and later earned C-USA Player of the Year honors, while teammate Luca Gallingani was selected Freshman of the Year. Shaun Cook received second-team All-Conference recognition. Borregaard finished T2 at the NCAA Auburn Regional and T47 at the NCAA Championships.
Next Up
KSU will close out the regular season at the Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C. on April 11-12.
