Southeast Missouri State University's golf team will kick off its fall schedule with some home cooking.

The Harris Fall Classic, a 54-hole event featuring 16 schools and 17 teams, will be Monday and Tuesday at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson.

After today's practice round, there will be 36 holes Monday and 18 holes Tuesday. Action both days begins at 7:30 a.m.

"This tournament should be a good way to get our fall schedule under way," Southeast coach Carroll Williams said.

The Harris Fall Classic is sponsored by Steve Harris, who played golf at Southeast under Williams in the early 1970s.

Harris also sponsors the Morton B. Harris Intercollegiate, a tournament held annually during the spring season and named in memory of Steve's father, who played on Southeast's 1943 NAIA national championship basketball team.

"Steve has done so much for our program, allowing us to hold first-class tournaments we might not be able to have on our own," Williams said.

Southeast will field two teams in the tournament. Other schools entered are Bradley, Chicago State, Eastern Illinois, Evansville, Lewis, Missouri-Kansas City, Morehead State, Murray State, Samford, St. Louis, Southern Illinois, Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, and Western Illinois.

The event will mark the first of five fall tournaments for the Indians. The primary spring season, when the Ohio Valley Conference Championships are held, begins Feb. 21.

"Playing in the fall is a good way to prepare for the spring," Williams said. "It gives our guys a chance to get a little better, to get experience."

Southeast returns experience from last year's squad that won a tournament and placed second three times before finishing eighth at the OVC Tournament.

Junior Matt Hillis of Poplar Bluff, Mo., had Southeast's highest OVC finish last year when he tied for 13th place. Also returning are senior Kent Phillips from Central High School and junior Brian Sheehan.

Among the newcomers who will battle for playing time is freshman Matt Litzelfelner, a Jackson High School product.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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