FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University men’s golf team will embark upon its first season as a full-fledged NCAA Division I member on Monday (Sept. 10) when the Patriots compete in the 54-hole Scenic City Invitational hosted by the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.

The tournament will be played at the Council Fire Country Club in Chattanooga and will consist of 36 holes on Monday and 18 holes on Tuesday.

Fifth-year Francis Marion head coach Mark Gaynor welcomes back all six lettermen from last year’s squad that compiled a team stroke average of 299.73.

Junior Peter McGibney, a transfer from Northwestern Oklahoma State University, will join the squad this year after attending FMU last year, but not playing.

“The guys are looking forward to starting the season,” Gaynor said. “They have all played a lot of golf this summer, and I can tell they have been preparing on their own. We should be a more mature group this year.  Everyone knows the drill which makes the preparation and participation in tournament play easier. Hopefully that will allow us to shave some strokes off our averages.

“I am looking for steady improvement and consistency in our play. I hope we will create opportunities and then take advantage of them. Last year, we gave away spots with poor rounds. We hope to remedy that in 2007-08.”

The returning players include: senior Jacob Tveit (76.31 stroke average in 2006-07); juniors Keith Crowley (80.36), Ronan O’Connor (76.13), and Andrew Pitcher (74.39); and sophomores Christopher Couch (74.19) and Jonathan Lavin (79.52).

Couch earned his team’s MVP award last year as a freshman. He finished in the top half of the field in all but one event, including five Top-25 finishes and two Top-15 showings; carded five sub-par rounds; and set the school record for a freshman with his final-round 66 at William & Mary’s tournament.

While at Northwestern Oklahoma State, McGibney compiled a 76.7 stroke average and tied for 28th place at the 2006 NAIA regional tournament. He was the Rangers’ top finishers in eight of nine tournaments, and posted five Top-10 showings. He finished 20th at the 2006 Irish Youths’ Amateur Open Championship, and is a past All-Ireland National High School Match-Play champion.

The following Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 17-18), Francis Marion will play host to the 23rd-annual Raines Development Group Intercollegiate at the Country Club of South Carolina.