The Stetson men's golf team will return to action on Monday after taking more than two weeks off since playing in their season-opening event.
 
The Hatters will be looking to bounce back after tying for 14^th place at the Golfweek Program Challenge the weekend after Hurricane Dorian cancelled classes for almost a week, limiting the teams' ability to practice.
 
With the time off, the team has been able to put the new Edinger Practice Facility to good use in preparation for the newly renamed J.T. Poston Invitational, hosted by Western Carolina University at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley.
 
Formerly called the Hummingbird Intercollegiate, the tournament was renamed in honor of PGA Tour member, and former Catamount player, J.T. Poston, who recorded his first tour victory in August and, in doing so, became the first player since Lee Trevino in 1974 to win an event without recording a single bogey.
 
This will be Stetson's second visit to Sapphire Valley after finishing 14^th in the event last year. Senior Chris Williard had one of the best events of his Stetson career last year, posting a four-under par 209 that included a career-best final round 66 to tie for 14^th.
 
Williard opened his final season with a nine-over par 219 at the Golfweek event
 
Sophomore Carson Tewell also played in the tournament at Sapphire Valley last year, finishing with a 12-over par score of 225 for the event. He opened the year with a 12-over 222 at the Golfweek Challenge.
 
The rest of the Stetson squad this weekend includes sophomore Benjamin Resnick and freshmen Mason Quagliata and Jonathan Lumley.
 
The Hatters will face a stacked field for the tournament. The team from the University of South Carolina (17) is one of four teams in the field that is ranked among the top 90 in the nation according to Golfstat. That doesn't include individual players from 11^th ranked Clemson and No. 32 Tennessee.
 
The rest of the field includes Georgia Southern (52), Kennesaw State (84), Western Kentucky (87), VCU (135), Charleston Southern (147), FGCU (154), High Point (161), Austin Peay (162), Belmont (177), Morehead State (199), Central Arkansas (230) and the host team from Western Carolina (259). The young Hatters come into the event ranked at 248, but can springboard up the rankings with a strong performance.
 
The event this year will play to a par of 71 over 6,767 yards. Following practice rounds on Sunday, the team will play 36 holes on Monday with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Tuesday's final round will have tee times off both the first and 10^th tees starting at 8:30 a.m.
 
Live scoring will be available through the event at Golfstat.com.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.