The Linger Longer Invitational, now established as one of the premier collegiate golf tournaments in the nation, returns for its sixth year at Reynolds Plantation March 27-29 at the award-winning Great Waters Course.

Attracting many of the nation’s best teams year after year, the Linger Longer Invitational combines award-winning golf courses, a resort destination setting and a welcoming, supportive community that together make the Reynolds Plantation event one of the most respected in college golf.

Co-hosted by Mercer University and Kennesaw State University, the 2011 field includes three teams that entered the NCAA spring season in the Top 20 rankings — No. 4 Alabama, No. 11 Stanford and No. 16 Georgia, a three-time winner of the LLI (2006, 2007, 2009).  Traditional power Florida State is also in the talented team lineup, rounded out by Costal Carolina, Memphis, Jacksonville, Appalachian State, Furman, Tennessee Chattanooga and North Carolina Charlotte.

Among the special experiences of the tournament is the housing, provided by families throughout Reynolds Plantation. Each year teams and their host families create a connection that lasts a lifetime, truly setting this event apart from others.

“Whether you’re an alumnus supporting your university or purely supporting collegiate golf, hosting a team is a wonderful experience,” said Bob Mauragas, vice president of Golf Operations at Reynolds Plantation.

In its first five years, the Linger Longer Invitational has compiled an impressive list of alumni, who now are members of the PGA Tour, European Tour, or Nationwide Tour.  They include Rickie Fowler, a member of the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup team, who played for Oklahoma State in the 2009 LLI; and reigning U.S. Amateur Champion Kevin Uihlein, who played in last year’s LLI for Oklahoma State.

This year’s field looks to live up to lofty expectations, featuring All-Americans like Russell Henley and Harris English of Georgia, and defending Linger Longer Invitational champion Bud Cauley of Alabama, as well as top-ranked players such as Andrew Yun of Stanford, Bobby Wyatt and Corey Whitsett of Alabama, and Brooks Koepka of Florida State.  (Updated team and individual college golf rankings are available at Golfweek.)

Great Waters (par 72, 7,073 yards) is a Jack Nicklaus design that challenges players with some of the most dramatic golf scenery in the Southeast, as Lake Oconee comes in to play on nine holes.

Great Waters is no stranger to championship competition.  The prestigious Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf — the predecessor to the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship — was played at Great Waters from 1995 to 1997.  And Great Waters also played host to the 41st PGA Professional National Championship, the showcase event for PGA Professionals, in 2008.

Last year the Linger Longer Invitational was played at The Landing at Reynolds Plantation, where Oklahoma State captured the team title, while Cauley took the individual title with a 54-hole total of 204, 12 under par.

Those who wish to volunteer for the tournament, or to register to become a host family for one of the college teams, contact Michael Raymond, assistant golf professional at The Landing at Reynolds Plantation, at mraymond@reynoldsplantation.com and (706) 467-1570.