TOLEDO, OH - The University of Toledo men's golf program will compete in 12 regular-season events as part of its 2016-17 slate, head coach Jamie Broce announced on Thursday. The Rockets will play in seven different states spanning three time zones during the upcoming year.

Highlighting UT's schedule will be hosting the 12th-annual Inverness Intercollegiate on Sept. 19-20 at the historic Inverness Club.

"The Inverness Club has so much character and rich history," Broce said. "It's a first-class event, and we're very fortunate to host a tournament at such a fantastic venue. The members treat us like we are one of them. When you go through the clubhouse and look at the plaques and memorabilia, it is incredible to see all of the great players who have played there. This event is a tremendous opportunity for our players to have a home-course advantage against some of the best players in the country."

UT will begin its fall campaign at the Turning Stone — Tiger Intercollegiate (Sept. 4-5 in Verona, NY). Toledo will then participate in the Wolf Run Intercollegiate  (Sept. 12-13 in Zionsville, IN) before hosting the Inverness Intercollegiate. Other schools expected to take part in the Inverness event include Auburn, Austin Peay, Ball State, Bowling Green, Duke, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, St. Mary's (CA), Vanderbilt and Virginia. 

The Rockets will also compete in The Macdonald Cup (Oct. 1-2 in New Haven, CT), the second-annual Mountaineer Intercollegiate (Oct. 10-11 in Bridgeport, WV) and the Poppy Hills Invite (Oct. 24-26 in Pebble Beach, CA) to close out the fall slate. 

"Our fall schedule will be a good mix, as far as fields and strength of schedule," Broce said. "The golf courses we will play in the fall will be quite tough and the competition will be quite good. We will have the opportunity to compete against some very good teams, especially our home tournament. This event will give us the chance to shoot some low numbers and try to beat a lot of very skilled teams."

Added Broce, "Another of the many highlights with our schedule is the opportunity to play Poppy Hills," Broce said. "It's one of the many golf courses on the Monterey Peninsula that is just fantastic. I've only heard wonderful things about the course. Our players are going to be in for a real treat to be able to play there."

Toledo returns to action in the spring with the sixth-annual Earl Yestingsmeier Match Play Event (Feb. 13-14 in Lake Jovita, FL). 

"The Earl Yestingsmeier Match Play Event is one of my favorite events of the year," Broce said. "It's a fantastic resort. The golf course really suits our players well, as there is a lot of risk, reward there. With it being a match-play event, players can let it all hang out and see where their game stacks up at that point. It's early in the year and players are coming off winter conditioning, so there is a little rust on their games." 

The Rockets will then take part in the Louisiana Classics  (Feb. 27-28 in Lafayette, LA), Mission Inn Spring Spectacular (March 18-19 in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL), Hoosier Invitational (April 1-2 in Bloomington, IN) and Boilermaker Invitational (April 15-16 in West Lafayette, IN). 

"I like having a little continuity at that time of the year, especially heading into the MAC Championships," Broce said. "I think we will get that from our last three regular-season events," Broce said. "We are familiar with those three tourneys, so our hope is that we play well and gain some confidence heading into the conference championships."

The MAC Championships will be held at The Virtues Golf Club in Nashport, OH on April 28-30.

Toledo is slated to return six letterwinners in 2016-17, spearheaded by juniors Stephen Watts and Colin Joseph. Watts ranked second on the team and 23rd in the MAC with a 75.1 stroke average in 12 events, while Joseph ranked third on the squad with a 76.7 stroke average in 12 tournaments.  

The Rockets also welcome back sophomores Spencer Shoemaker, Jamie Knipe and Cameron Mills  with 77.1, 78.4 and 81.9 stroke averages, respectively.