Unlimited spectators will be allowed to attend this weekend’s 49th Annual Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic at the University of Georgia Golf Course with certain restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was made based on attendance at previous editions of the tournament, the low-risk outdoor environment and declining cases in our local community.

The Liz Murphey Collegiate will be contested this Friday-Sunday at the UGA Golf Course, with the field featuring all 14 SEC schools as well as Southern Cal, Louisville and the College of Charleston. Tee times each day will begin at 8:30 a.m., with play likely to conclude at approximately 2:30.

The following safeguards will be in place to combat the spread of COVID-19.

• Spectators will be required to keep a safe distance of more than 6 feet from competitors and coaches at all times.

• Spectators will be required to wear masks within all golf course buildings and also around the course when social distancing can not be observed.

• Spectators will be required to wear masks at all times around the tee boxes at holes No. 1 and No. 10 and the greens on holes No. 9 and No. 18. 

• The area around the aforementioned tees and greens will be roped off and all spectators will be required to remain on the paved cart paths or beyond in those areas.

• The number of patrons allowed into the clubhouse’s snack bar and restroom facilities will be monitored.

The field for the tournament will feature many of the nation’s top teams and individual golfers. 

All told, nine of the top-25 teams in the latest Golfstat rankings will be competing in Athens – No. 3 South Carolina, No. 4 LSU, No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 11 Southern Cal, No. 12 Auburn, No. 13 Georgia, No. 15 Arkansas, No. 19 Alabama, No. 22 Florida and No. 24 Louisville.

Individually, more than 25 of the golfers in the Liz Murphey field this weekend also are slated to compete in the 2nd Annual Augusta National Women’s Amateur on March 31-April 3. Georgia’s Caterina Don, Isabella Holpfer and Candice Mahé are among the golfers who will play in both events.