The Alabama men’s golf begins the 2013-14 season Friday at the Olympia Fields/Illini Invitational on the prestigious par-70, 7,142-yard Olympia Fields Country Club just outside of Chicago.

The event is slated for 54 holes over three days (Sept. 13-15) with an impressive field that includes Arkansas, Augusta State, Baylor, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Indiana, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Southern Methodist, Stanford, Texas and Texas Tech.

Along with No. 2 Alabama, nine of the 15 teams are ranked in this week’s Golfweek/Sagarin Index with the Longhorns at No. 3, Cardinal ninth, FSU 10th, Razorbacks 11th, Cowboys 12th, Gators 14th, Fighting Illini 20th and Mustangs 22nd.

The Crimson Tide will send three Walker Cup players to the OFCC/Illini Invitational. Seniors Cory Whitsett and Bobby Wyatt lead the way while Great Britain and Ireland standout and Alabama true freshman Gavin Moynihan starts his first event. Wyatt led all scorers at the Walker Cup with 3.5 points while Whitsett added 2.5 and Moynihan contributed two points for GB&I.

Senior Trey Mullinax won the Tide’s qualifying in impressive fashion and will play No. 3 for the Tide this weekend. The Birmingham, Ala., native average 72.77 strokes per round a year ago and was a key piece in the Crimson Tide’s national championship.

Rolex Junior All-American and Wilmer, Ala., native Robby Shelton also makes his first start in the Alabama lineup as a true freshman. Shelton’s résumé boasts both the 2012 Junior PGA Championship and the Junior Player title.

Follow live scoring at www.golfstat.com and get all the latest information on the Crimson Tide by following @AlabamaMGolf, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.

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