Playing against the best can only raise the level of your game.

At least that's what the men's golf team hopes will happen this weekend.

The Lions will play at the Wofford Invitational starting today in Spartansburg, SC. The 54-hole tournament will have one of the strongest fields the golfers will compete against all year. Several nationally-ranked teams will be competing, including Clemson, North Carolina State and Wake Forest.

"It's quite early in the season to be playing in a field this strong," Coach Mary Kennedy-Zierke said. "I think with this tournament and three Big Ten tournaments in April, it will prepare them well for the regionals. These are the kind of teams we'll see at the regionals."

The team is coming off two strong finishes over spring break. It came in third in the Kingsmill Tournament in Williamsburg, Va., and second in the Rattler Intercollegiate in Tallahassee, Fla.

Senior Dan Vona won the Kingsmill Tournament with scores of 73-72-145. It was his first collegiate victory. The win was even more impressive considering the circumstances. Because of poor weather conditions, the team has been practicing mainly indoors.

"Coming out of winter practice, that win was exceptional," Kennedy-Zierke said. "To be able to go from Holuba Hall to Kingsmill and shoot 73-72 is really outstanding."

Team captain William Smith also had a fine break with a third place finish at Kingsmill and a runner-up finish at the Rattler.

The Lions will now have a chance to see how they match up against some of the best teams in the nation.

"I feel the experience of playing in a field such as this influences our players to play better," Kennedy-Zierke said. "My players are just as good as these teams. The difference is the attitude and the confidence."

The southern teams also have the advantage of playing year round. The Penn State golf courses don't open until April 3, and the weather prevents the Lions from getting in much outdoor practice.

"We can't play on the courses and we can't really practice," Smith said. "We have to just go over what we did in the tournaments and analyze them. In the tournament, we have to be open minded and stay relaxed."

Smith, Vona, Jason Tykska, Graham Dendler and Matt Shiley will be competing at the Wofford.