Kennesaw State University Co-Hosts 20th Linger Longer Invitational, Putting Regional Programs in the Spotlight
On the rolling edges of Reynolds Lake Oconee, the Great Waters Course hums with clipped conversation, the scrape of clubs and the distant splash of lake water. Here, kennesaw state university joins Mercer as a co-host for the 20th Linger Longer Invitational, a three-day collegiate tournament that stages one 18-hole round of stroke play each day and gathers programs from across the region to the Eatonton, Georgia course.
What is the Linger Longer Invitational?
The Linger Longer Invitational is a multi-team collegiate golf event held at the Great Waters Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Eatonton, Georgia. This year marks the 20th running of the tournament. The format calls for teams to play one 18-hole round of stroke play per day. Overall, 18 teams are scheduled to compete at the Great Waters Course in this edition of the Invitational.
How Kennesaw State University Is Co-Hosting the 20th Linger Longer Invitational
Kennesaw State University and Mercer share hosting duties for the event at the Great Waters Course. The field includes nationally ranked teams alongside regional programs: No. 11/10 Vanderbilt, No. 16/15 Alabama, No. 18/22 Charlotte, Elon, Georgia, Kentucky, Jacksonville, Louisiana Tech, Ohio State, Rutgers, South Alabama, South Florida, Virginia Tech, UNC Greensboro, West Georgia and Wofford College. The assembled line-up reflects a mix of established national contenders and smaller programs competing side by side on a par-72 layout that challenges length and shot-making.
Organizers are providing live scoring through Scoreboard powered by CLIPPD so results are available throughout the tournament. Sponsorship and community support are visible in the event materials, where names such as Thomas F. Roush, M. D., and Family appear alongside tournament references, underscoring local backing for collegiate golf in the region.
Voices from the Field
Vanderbilt Men’s Golf Head Coach Scott Limbaugh expressed the competitive and developmental value of the Linger Longer Invitational: “We are excited to be back at the Linger Longer. It’s been a really fun event through the years for our teams. We’ve had a nice couple of weeks since our last event to get rested. We focused on doing the simple things better, so we can finish the regular season the right way. This is another great opportunity for us to see guys step up and keep building our team identity. I’m excited about this group this week, and my biggest request of them is to see them playing with passion and having pride representing our program. ”
That perspective highlights what the tournament aims to deliver beyond scorelines: a chance for roster players to develop, for programs to measure depth, and for co-hosts such as Kennesaw State University to bring attention to regional collegiate golf pathways.
Back on the first tee at Great Waters, the scene that opened the week—the hush before a group’s opening drive, the caddies checking yardage books, the soft Georgia light on fairways—takes on added meaning. Co-hosting the 20th Linger Longer Invitational places local institutions in the role of conveners: staging competition, sustaining live scoring services, and offering a competitive platform where ranked teams and regional programs meet. As the last putt drops each day, the scoreboards will show winners, but the real measure may be how campuses and communities build momentum from one shared spring event into the rest of their seasons.
