RICHMOND, Ky. - Coach Pat Stephens' Eastern Kentucky University men's golf team opens its spring season this weekend in the 2000 Wolverine South Invitational at the Hunter Golf Club in Savannah, GA, in a 54-hole tournament.

The tourney, which includes teams from Air Force, Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, James Madison, Marshall, Miami (Ohio), Michigan (Blue), Michigan (Maize), Methodist, Northern Illinois, Ohio University, UT-Chattanooga, Texas Tech, Wisconsin, Wright State, Xavier and EKU, will have 36 holes of play Saturday and 18 holes on Sunday.

"We have had three good weeks of weather and I believe we're ready to go," said Stephens. "We need to go out from the very start down there and be tournament tough.

"We will have to make adjustments when we get to the greens because we have been playing on a different type of surface than what we will see down there.

Making up the Colonel team for this tournament are seniors Eric Willenbrink, Brandon Tucker and Chad Creech, junior Jim Milam and sophomore Brad Morris.

The University of Michigan is serving as host for the 18-team tourney.