Western Carolina Men’s Golf Opens Season at Jaguar Invitational
- Western Carolina men's golf opens its 2026-27 season Monday and Tuesday at the Jaguar Invitational in Augusta, Georgia.
- The season-opening event features 10 college programs competing on the par-72, 7,086-yard course.
- Western Carolina brings 10 golfers to Augusta, splitting them between a five-player scoring lineup and five individuals competing unattached.
Western Carolina men’s golf opens its 2026-27 season Monday and Tuesday at the Jaguar Invitational in Augusta, Georgia. Hosted by Augusta University at Forest Hills Golf Club, the 54-hole tournament kicks off with 36 continuous holes following a shotgun start on Monday before concluding with a final 18-hole round on Tuesday.
Tournament Field and Course Details
The season-opening event features 10 college programs competing on the par-72, 7,086-yard course. Alongside Western Carolina and host Augusta, the field includes Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Belmont, Francis Marion, Georgia State, High Point, Paine College, and West Georgia. The Catamounts are paired with Augusta, Georgia State, and West Georgia for the opening two rounds, starting their play on holes No. 1 through 4. Live scoring for the tournament is available via the Scoreboard app powered by Clippd and online through CatamountSports.com.
Catamounts Lineup and Roster Depth
Western Carolina brings 10 golfers to Augusta, splitting them between a five-player scoring lineup and five individuals competing unattached. Senior Jace Butcher leads the squad after claiming medalist honors in qualifying. The Kennesaw, Georgia native posted the team’s second-best scoring average last season at 72.06 across 32 rounds. Sophomore Charlie Coe secured the second spot in the lineup following five tournament appearances as a freshman. He plays alongside reigning Southern Conference Men’s Golfer of the Year Tyler Jones. Jones enters his senior campaign after leading the conference with a 70.40 scoring average during the 2025-26 season and earning an at-large berth to the NCAA Men’s Golf Regional in Winston-Salem. Rounding out the scoring five are senior Andrew Korytoski, who averaged 73.88 per round last year, and sophomore Connor Williams, who played in eight events as a freshman.
Unattached Competitors and Fall Schedule
Five additional Catamounts will compete unattached at the Jaguar Invitational, led by returning seniors Michael Bevins and Dalton Payne. Bevins recorded a 74.56 scoring average over 18 rounds last season, while Payne averaged 75.73 across 15 rounds. The unattached group also includes Guilford College transfer Andrew Perry making his Western Carolina debut, alongside freshmen Brewer Lael and Connor Warren. The tournament opens a busy five-event fall schedule that runs through mid-October, featuring home matches at the J.T. Poston Invitational and trips to the Highlands Invitational and Badger Invitational.
