AUGUSTA, Ga. --
The Administaff Augusta State Invitational
intercollegiate golf tournament will have a new venue in 2006, Augusta State
Director of Athletics Clint Bryant announced Wednesday, Sept. 21, during a 2:00
p.m. press conference at Champions Retreat Golf Club.In addition, Administaff has extended its relationship with Augusta State University and the Augusta Golf Association, and will become the official title sponsor for the next three years after serving as presenting sponsor in 2005.
"Augusta State University and its partnership with the Augusta Golf Association has never been stronger," Bryant said. "With Administaff's continued affiliation with the Invitational, and our new association with Champions Retreat Golf Club, we feel confident this is another step in the right direction in making our tournament the premiere event in collegiate golf."
The 2006 Administaff Augusta State Invitational will be played at Champions Retreat Golf Club, a 27-hole facility in Evans, Ga. With three distinct nines designed by golf icons and major champions Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, Champions Retreat offers three unique golf settings. Player's nine features the low country marshes of Euchee Creek while the surrounding bluffs are enhanced with Nicklaus's nine. The experience of Palmer's nine includes a 280-acre island with miles of shoreline along the Savannah River.
"We're pleased to have the opportunity to work with Augusta State and the Augusta Golf Association to host this tournament," said E.G. Meybohm, chairman of the board at Champions Retreat. "Our goal is to make this event the premiere college golf tournament in the country."
The 28th Administaff Augusta State Invitational, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 1-2, is a 54-hole, two-day event. The Invitational annually draws one of the strongest fields of the collegiate golf season. In 2005, for the third consecutive year, the field included at least 10 teams ranked in the top 25 while all 18 teams were ranked among the top 103 in the nation. Individually, five of top nine, eight of the top 15, 11 of the top 25 and 31 of the top 100 players in the country competed as well.
"The Augusta State Invitational is widely recognized as one of the finest collegiate golf tournaments in the nation," said Paul J. Sarvadi, Administaff chairman and chief executive officer. "Many of the top players and teams in the country compete in this prestigious event, and we count it a privilege to serve as the title sponsor for the next three years."
Past champions of the Administaff Augusta State Invitational include Matt Hendrix, Oliver Wilson, Vaughn Taylor, Heath Slocum, Tim Herron, Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson, Nolan Henke and John Inman. Former and current PGA Tour professionals who have competed in the Invitational include Jonathan Byrd, Paul Casey, Brad Faxon, Harrison Frazar, Lucas Glover, Bill Haas, Jerry Haas, Charles Howell III, Davis Love III, Steve Lowery, Troy Matteson, Hunter Mahan, Graeme McDowell, Jodie Mudd, John Rollins, Gene Sauers, Camilo Villegas and Nick Watney.
"I'm extremely excited about the relocation of the Invitational to Champions Retreat," ASU head coach and director of golf Josh Gregory said. "This venue will take our event to an even greater level, with our goal of being one of the elite events in college golf. Champions Retreat will attract the top teams from all across the country. I'm looking forward to the move and I know my players as well as the teams and coaches coming this year will feel the same way."
Administaff, Inc., is the nation's leading Professional Employer Organization (PEO), serving as a full-service human resources department for small and medium-sized businesses throughout the United States.
Administaff delivers its personnel management services by entering into a co-employment relationship with a client company and the client company's existing employees, including the business owner. Under this arrangement, Administaff assumes or shares many of the responsibilities of being an employer. In addition, Administaff provides the client company and the worksite employees with a wide array of value-added benefits and services not typically available at small businesses.