GREENSBORO, Ga. (Feb. 25, 2026) – The 20th anniversary staging of the Linger Longer Invitational (LLI)—co-hosted by the University of Georgia, Mercer University, and Kennesaw State University—is scheduled for March 19-22 at Great Waters, Reynolds Lake Oconee. The best and brightest players in men’s college golf will compete over three rounds. The event is open to spectators looking for a preview of the future of the professional game.
Over two decades, many Linger Longer Invitational alumni have ascended to the PGA TOUR ranks, including 2026 Genesis Invitational winner Jacob Bridgeman (Clemson), Justin Thomas (Alabama), Rickie Fowler (Oklahoma State), Scottie Scheffler (Texas), Brooks Koepka (Florida State), Harris English (Georgia), and Nick Dunlap (Alabama). The University of Alabama’s Cory Whitsett was a three-time Linger Longer individual champion (2011-2013).
The 2026 tournament features individual and team competitions in 54-hole stroke play. Participating colleges include:
- Elon University
- Jacksonville University
- Kennesaw State University
- Louisiana Tech University
- Mercer University
- The Ohio State University
- Rutgers University
- University of Alabama
- University of Georgia
- University of Kentucky
- University of North Carolina, Charlotte
- University of North Carolina, Greensboro
- University of South Alabama
- University of South Florida
- University of West Georgia
- Wofford College
- Vanderbilt University
- Virginia Tech
Great Waters, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Design Course, is a dramatic layout that offers some of the most breathtaking golf scenery in the Southeast. With nine holes lining the shores of Lake Oconee, Great Waters offers both exciting challenges and beautiful views. Most of the front nine is played through Georgia Pines, while the back nine has eight holes surrounded by Lake Oconee. This is the 13th time the LLI has been contested on Great Waters.
For additional information on the Linger Longer Invitational or to check scores during the events, visit www.reynoldslakeoconee.com/the-linger-longer-invitational.
For a 20th anniversary retrospective, see video: https://www.reynoldslakeoconee.com/videos/linger-longer-invitational-20th-anniversary
PAST CHAMPIONS
Year Course Team Champion Score Individual Champion Score
2006 Oconee Georgia 855 Trevor Murphy, Charlotte * 211
2007 Oconee Georgia 835 Chris Kirk, Georgia 206
2008 The Landing Mississippi 856 Rob Greenwell, Memphis 208
2009 The Landing Georgia 867 Trent Whitekiller, Oklahoma St. 208
2010 The Landing Oklahoma State 865 Bud Cauley, Alabama 204
2011 Great Waters Alabama 846 Cory Whitsett, Alabama 203
2012 Great Waters Alabama 838 Cory Whitsett, Alabama * 208
2013 Great Waters Alabama 560 Cory Whitsett, Alabama 137
2014 Great Waters Georgia 837 Michael Cromie, Georgia * 207
2015 Great Waters Texas 840 Lee McCoy, Georgia 202
2016 Great Waters Alabama 852 Lee McCoy, Georgia 207
2017 Great Waters Baylor 831 Greyson Sigg, Georgia 200
2018 Great Waters Alabama 840 Lee Hodges, Alabama 202
2019 The Landing Georgia 845 Spencer Ralston, Georgia 205
2020 The Landing COVID
2021 Great Waters Charlotte 839 John Gough, Charlotte 203
2022 Great Waters Georgia 836 Jacob Bridgeman, Clemson 200
2023 Great Waters Alabama 850 Nick Dunlap, Alabama 206
2024 Great Waters Alabama 824 Jonathan Griz, Alabama 203
2025 The Landing Georgia 834 Shubham Jaglan, South Florida 204
Each course par 72
* -- Won playoff
Team and Individual scoring records in bold
2013 tournament shortened to 36 holes due to the weather
About Reynolds Lake Oconee
Located between Atlanta and Augusta and surrounded by more than 350 miles of majestic shoreline on Georgia’s Lake Oconee, the golf resort community of Reynolds Lake Oconee is home to more than 4,000 families, with homes and homesites available for purchase. Among the community’s numerous amenities are seven championship golf courses designed by the game’s most notable architects and The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee, a world-class instructional and TaylorMade club fitting facility. The world-class Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds, award-winning tennis and pickleball centers, swimming pools, pedestrian trails, wellness campuses, full-service marinas to facilitate watersports, and a multitude of culinary, social and cultural events are available to members and their guests. Visitors may choose private accommodations that include luxury resort condominiums and cottages, or The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, a 257-room lakefront resort and spa named one of the Best Resorts in Georgia by U.S. News & World Report in 2025. Dining is available at eleven distinctive culinary venues. Reynolds Lake Oconee, established in 1988, is located roughly 90 miles from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. For more information, visit www.reynoldslakeoconee.com.
Real estate and other amenities are owned by Oconee Land Development Company LLC and/or other subsidiaries and affiliates of MetLife, Inc. (collectively, "OLDC") and by unrelated third parties. OLDC is not involved in the marketing or sale of properties owned by third parties. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy OLDC-owned real estate in Reynolds Lake Oconee by residents of HI, ID, NY, OR, or any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law. Access and rights to recreational amenities may be subject to fees, membership dues, or other limitations. For OLDC properties, obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Void where prohibited by law. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR DISQUALIFIED THIS OFFERING. An offering statement has been filed with the Iowa Real Estate Commission and a copy of such statement is available from OLDC upon request. OLDC properties have been registered with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen in Boston, MA.
Media Contact
Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations
908/963-6013
kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com