By: Chris Webb

The Valdosta State University golf team is set to tee off their 2013-2014 season Monday, Sept. 23 at the Jay Jennison Memorial.

The event is set to take place at The Palencia Club in St. Augustine, Fla., the par 72 layout features 7073 yards of golf.

This will be the Blazers first appearance at the tournament since the 2011 season where they finished tied for fourth shooting a tournament total 891, just 27 strokes over par.

VSU is returning only three players from last year’s team, juniors John Fordham, Wheaton Hall, and lone senior Austin Graham.

The Blazers will be trying to replace Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-American Scholar Nate Anderson who lead the team with 74.8 strokes per round average.

To do so head coach Jared Purvis is bringing in six new players this year, “To give [the team] more depth, and make things a little more competitive.”

“With the guys we’ve added plus our returning guys” feels “there is definitely someone that can step in and fill his shoes.”

Highlighting the new class of players is Division I transfer Alex Jones from Eastern Michigan.

The team has also added two international players, freshman Derek Roach from Canada and freshman Flo Schmiedel from Germany.

VSU will be looking to improve on last years total of seven top 10 finishes, and will start the season ranked 31st. (according to the Golf World/Nike Golf Preseason Division II College Coaches’ Poll)

The Blazers are scheduled to play in 10 tournaments this year including the First Federal Southeastern Collegiate, which is played every March at Valdosta’s Kinderlou Forrest Golf Club.”

“It’s a team with a very good chance this year,” Purvis said.

“This is probably the hardest working group I’ve seen here. Outside of what I have them do these guys are spending a lot of time on their own because they know that’s what it takes to compete for a National Championship. Their qualifying right now is very, very competitive and there are a lot of solid scores being shot…we have a chance to be very good, but only time will tell.”