Aug. 30, 2017

Video Courtesy of Golf Channel

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s golf, in partnership with Love Cove Club and country music star Darius Rucker, released the seventh annual Darius Rucker Intercollegiate field Wednesday morning. The event will take place March 2-4 and feature an 18-team field at Long Cove Club’s nationally acclaimed golf course on Hilton Head Island.

Next spring’s 54-hole tournament will again play host to the top teams in collegiate women’s golf. Nine schools that finished inside the top-15 of Golfstat’s final poll last season will be in action, including 2017 NCAA Champion Arizona State. Other notable teams include 2017 NCAA Championship participants Alabama, Baylor, Duke, Furman, North Carolina and Northwestern.

As has become tradition, the event will kick off with a Darius Rucker concert at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. The show will be a private event for players, coaches, sponsors and Long Cove residents.

“The Darius Rucker Intercollegiate continues to draw an elite field from all over the country,” South Carolina women’s golf coach Kalen Anderson said. “It has become the premier showcase of women’s collegiate golf.”

Over 1,900 spectators and approximately 100 Long Cove volunteers were on hand to watch the Crimson Tide win the three-day tournament this past spring.

“We are once again extremely excited to host what has quickly become one of the nation’s premier women’s intercollegiate golf tournaments,” Long Cove Director of Golf Bob Patton said.

The idea to pair the unique combination of golf and music came from South Carolina women’s golf associate head coach Puggy Blackmon. Blackmon approached Rucker six years ago about the idea, and the musician and South Carolina alumnus immediately showed interest in creating the annual golf tournament.

“The incredible efforts by the members and staff at Long Cove coupled with the concert and support of recording artist Darius Rucker has established the DRI as THE tournament in women’s collegiate golf.” Blackmon said.

The Gamecocks open their 2017-18 campaign later next month at the Mason Rudolph Championship. The 54-hole event is set for Sept. 15-17 in Nashville, Tenn.

Seventh Annual Darius Rucker Intercollegiate Field
South Carolina
Alabama
Arkansas
Arizona State
Auburn
Baylor
Duke
Furman
Georgia
LSU
Mississippi State
North Carolina
Northwestern
Oklahoma State
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Virginia
Wake Forest