Golf Opens 2016-17 Slate At Sam Hall Intercollegiate

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns golf team is set to open the 2016-17 slate as the squad tees off at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate starting Monday at the par-71, 6,902-yard Hattiesburg Country Club.

"We are anxious to get on the road and compete in our first tournament of the fall season," head coach Theo Sliman said. "We have always enjoyed opening up the season in Hattiesburg. It's a solid field and a similar and familiar golf course as it resembles Oakbourne Country Club to the eye."

The Ragin' Cajuns have had a lot of success under Sliman at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate finishing top 3 in four of the last five years including a tournament championship in 2013. Louisiana has seen six players place in the top 10 during that stretch including two top 5 finishes by senior Fernando Cruz Valle at the tournament.

The first round gets underway at 8:30 a.m. on Monday with a shotgun start, while the second round is slated to start immediately following the completion of the morning round. Play at the 54-hole event will close out on Tuesday with an 8 a.m. tee time. Live scoring for the tournament is available on Golfstat.com.

The 15-team field includes host Southern Miss, Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, Georgetown, Little Rock, Louisiana, Mississippi State, Rice, Samford, Sam Houston, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas State, ULM, UTSA and Western Kentucky.

Cruz Valle carded a career-best 54-hole score of 10-under par (203) at the Sam Hall a year ago finishing in third place. The senior is joined by Ragnar Gardarsson, Aron Juliusson, Triston Elston and Ryan Desormeaux in the starting lineup.

Juliusson is making his first appearance for the Cajuns as a true freshman. Freshman Jack Tolson will also make his Louisiana debut as an individual.

"Very keen on seeing two of our new additions in the lineup with Aron and Jack in their first collegiate event," Sliman said. "Both players have lofty personal goals as newcomers and this will be a great opportunity to see where they stack up at the Division I level. I have confidence that our seasoned returners are ready to lead this team and look forward to seeing how well this team handles the adversity of competition."

Following the Sam Hall Intercollegiate, the Cajuns continue their four-event fall schedule next weekend at The Franklin American Mortgage Intercollegiate at The Grove in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

For updates and info on Ragin' Cajuns golf, follow the team on twitter @CajunGolf or check RaginCajuns.com.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Golf Opens 2016-17 Slate At Sam Hall Intercollegiate

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Players Mentioned

Fernando Cruz Valle

Ryan Desormeaux

Triston Elston

Ragnar Gardarsson

Aron Juliusson

Jack Tolson

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