Men's golf coach Andrew Sapp had one mission in his first year as head coach: Toughen up the Wolverines paltry schedule.

Mission accomplished.

Sapp and the Wolverines open up their 2002 regular season this weekend at the14-team Ridges Intercollegiate Invitational in Johnson City, Tenn. The Ridges will feature seven of the top 25 teams in the nation, including defending tournament champion Texas Christian and perennial powerhouse Southern Cal.

"We're sort of like Western Michigan playing Michigan in football last weekend," Sapp said. "It'll be a growing experience for us."

Needless to say it won't surprise Sapp one bit if the Wolverines don't make a huge impact in the tournaments outcome.

Just two of the five Wolverines playing this weekend have any collegiate golf experience, and one, Bruce Svechota-Kingsbury, is a true freshman.

Besides sophomore Rob Tighe and junior Dave Nichols, Michigan will use redshirt freshmen Mark McIntosh and Jimmy Wisinski.

"We've got three guys playing in their first tournaments, and if we finish in the middle of this pack I'll be pleased," Sapp said.

While Nichols' scoring average of 74.78 makes him Michigan's top returning golfer, it was McIntosh who impressed Sapp the most in the pre-tournament qualifying rounds.

"We played six qualifying rounds and Mark led everyone with a scoring average of even-par 72," Sapp said. "He played very well."

This is the first time the Wolverines will see the demanding Ridges Golf Club, which Sapp called a "great golf course in the mountains of Tennessee."

Michigan, the only Big Ten team in a tournament filled mostly by teams from the south, will play 36 holes of stroke play Saturday, followed by 18 holes on Sunday.

"I'm real excited to get this season underway," Sapp said. "It's really an incredible feeling."