This is a major championship for 95 players and a combined 19 men’s and women’s teams.

The 2004 Ohio Valley Conference Championship will be the culmination of an entire golf season for 11 men’s teams and eight women’s squad. The Austin Peay men and Murray State women will attempt to defend their respective OVC titles this week at the meet scheduled for April 26-28 in Paducah, Ken.

Austin Peay has won six OVC men’s team titles, including three straight. Senior Matt Gallant, the 2003 OVC men’s Player of the Year, leads the Govs with a 73.9 stroke average and will be in the hunt for another title after capturing medalist honors at last year’s event. Also returning for another shot at the individual crown is Tennessee State junior and 2002 OVC Player of the Year Robert Dinwiddie, who won the OVC Tournament two years ago. Dinwiddie has earned two tournament titles this spring and tops the league with a 70.9 stroke average.

The Govs expect stiff competition from several teams, most notably Eastern Kentucky and OVC newcomer Jacksonville State. The Colonels have won four tournaments this spring, while the first-year Gamecocks have finished no lower than third in each of their five outings over the spring season. Senior Brandon Brown leads EKU with a 72.6 stroke average, while senior Nick Mackay heads up Jax State’s roster with a 71.9 stroke average.

Eastern will be led by senior Kyle Maxwell with a stroke average of 76.2, who will be looking to end his collegiate career with his first career win.

Eastern head coach Mike Moncel is taking his Panther squad on the road in attempt to become a spoiler for the favorites and earn Eastern’s first ever OVC team title.

“If all five play at their best for three days, we can certainly be a sleeper team in this whole thing,” Moncel said. “That’s easier said than done though.”

Murray State has captured the last two OVC women’s team crowns, and boasts a league-record five overall. Senior Cuyler Hedley, the 2002 OVC women’s Player of the Year, is looking for a second individual title. Hedley has recorded four Top-5 finishes this spring, including two straight individual crowns, and leads the OVC with a 76.1 stroke average.

Looking to provide a challenge for the Lady Racers will be league newcomer Jacksonville State, who has won three tournaments this spring.

The par-72 Country Club of Paducah is an original Robert Trent Jones design course measuring 6,915 yards from the championship tees.

The course is both long and grueling with tight landing areas and well-guarded greens.

There are approximately 60 bunkers in play and water hazards on seven holes.

The tees are Zoysia with Bermuda fairways and three-inch rough. Greens are Bent grass and roll very quickly when needed.