Athens, GA - The Georgia men's golf team will open the fall portion of its 2011-12 schedule this weekend in the 23rd Annual Carpet Capital Collegiate.

The Bulldogs, who are ranked No. 15 in Golf World’s preseason poll, will compete Friday though Sunday at The Farm Golf Club in Rocky Face near Dalton.

The Bulldogs will use a lineup anchored by juniors Bryden Macpherson and T.J. Mitchell, both of whom were members of the fivesome that placed second at the NCAA Championship last season. Georgia also will have sophomore Michael Cromie and freshmen Nicholas Reach and Sepp Straka competing.

This will be Georgia’s first tournament without 2011 All-Americans Harris English, Russell Henley and Hudson Swafford — all of whom already have professional victories under their belts. However, Georgia coach Chris Haack does not want to hear that his team is “rebuilding.”

“Whenever someone says a team is rebuilding, it almost has a negative connotation,” Haack said. “Rebuilding makes it sound like the cupboard is bare. People may say we’re rebuilding this year, but I don’t think that’s the case at all. I think this is a transition year for us. We’re not rebuilding; we’re reloading. We may not have the quote-unquote superstars, but we have extremely talented players who have a chance to make their mark.

“I really like this team and I think we’ve got a chance to do some special things. One of the great joys of coaching is seeing young men reach their potential. These guys are developing their games each and every day, and they’ll be ready when their chances come.”

Joining the Bulldogs and fourth-ranked host Georgia Tech in the tournament will be No. 3 Alabama, No. 9 Auburn, Chattanooga, No. 16 Clemson, Kennesaw State, No. 17 LSU, Middle Tennessee State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wake Forest.

Live scoring and tee times will be available at golfstat.com. Additional tournament information can be found at thefarmgolfclub.org.

Georgia has won the Carpet Capital Collegiate twice — in 1999 and 2004. Chris Kirk is the only Bulldog to capture medalist honors, doing so in 2006.

The Farm is set up as a par-72 covering 7,012 yards.