BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech will play three new events this season and return to NC State's tournament in the spring, as the Hokies announce one of their most challenging golf schedules ever.

"We have always tried to play against the strongest competition possible and this year is no exception," head coach Jay Hardwick said. "We are very excited about three new events on our schedule. The Brickyard at Riverside features one of the top fields in the country and 14 of the 15 teams in the tournament were ranked in the top 35 last year."

"We are also looking forward to the Pinehurst Intercollegiate at the Pinehurst Resort, site of this year's U.S. Amateur Championship," Hardwick said. "The VCU Shootout at Hermitage is an excellent opportunity for Hokie fans to watch the team and we are pleased to return to Richmond this year."

The Hokies open play on Sept. 20-21 at the Wolverine Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich., hosted by the University of Michigan. This is the first of three new tournaments this season for the Hokies. On Sept. 29-30, the Hokies return the VCU Shootout on the Manakin Course of the Hermitage Country Club. Tech will then travel to Macon, Ga., to compete in the new Brickyard Collegiate Golf Championship at the Brickyard at Riverside Golf Course, hosted by Mercer. Tech will wrap-up the fall, as usual, at the Landfall Tradition, hosted by UNC Wilmington. The Hokies are the defending champion at Landfall. Tech also won at The Ridges last fall, but will not return to that event in 2008.

Tech will once again open the spring portion of the schedule at the Puerto Rico Classic in San Juan on Feb. 27 through March 1. The third new event on Tech's schedule will be the Pinehurst Intercollegiate at the Pinehurst Resort, site of the 2008 U.S. Amateur.

Tech will next play the Furman Invitational and the Administaff/Augusta State Invitational in late March and early April, before returning to the River Landing Intercollegiate at the River Landing - River Course in Wallace, N.C., after a one-year absence. The event was formally known as the Courtyard by Marriott Intercollegiate. Tech will compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference Golf Championship at the Old North State Golf Club in Baden Lake, N.C., on April 17-19.

The Hokies return three starters from last year's team that advanced to the NCAA East Regional at the Council Fire Golf Club in Chattanooga, Tenn., in May. The Hokies will welcome one new scholarship player this fall.