Five who could

The 1996 NCAA championship at The Honors Course drew about 5,000 spectators to Ooltewah for the final round.

Most were there to see a young Tiger Woods, who played the first three rounds in the 60s.

There is nobody with his amateur resume playing in the season-sending tournament this year. But the best golfers in college will take their shots at Pete Dye's paradise for at least three rounds beginning Tuesday.

Some of them have stellar careers and promising futures as professionals on the PGA Tour.

Perhaps the next U.S. Amateur winner is here. Perhaps a U.S. Open contestant will finish in the middle of the pack, then shine at Pebble Beach.

Maybe a future Masters champion will put a smooth swing on an iron on the par-3 16th over water.

Here is a look at five golfers who could compete for individual honors at the Honors this week:

Russell Henley, Georgia junior

Henley sat down for lunch with his teammates after the NCAA South Central Regional, and his shoulders sank.

The Bulldogs lost to Baylor on a playoff hole and did not advance to the national championship event. The only consolation for Henley -- and it's a small one, he said -- is that he's in the tournament as an individual.

Henley won the regional by shooting 9 under par.

"When you're playing for a team and you're coming down the stretch and your team needs birdies, you may change your game plan," Henley said. "This time I'll play like I do every day."

Henley was named the SEC player of the year and has won four tournaments this golf season. He was one of three finalists for the Ben Hogan Award.

"I understand how hard it's going to be, and I'm mentally prepared for that," said Henley, whose teammate Harris English has played the Honors repeatedly. "I don't really need his yardage book. I'm making my own notes today."

Ben Martin, Clemson senior

Martin already has played in what some consider the biggest tournament on the golf schedule every year -- the Masters.

Martin earned a spot in Augusta by finishing runner-up in the U.S. Amateur last year. At Augusta, he shot 75 then 80.

"He was fine right up to that, and he was my fourth guy that's played in it, and it's wrecked a couple of their seasons," Clemson coach Larry Penley said. "That's not the case with Ben."

Martin came back to earth from his first major and tied for medalist at the Furman Intercollegiate. He finished third last week at the NCAA Southeast Regional in Alpharetta, Ga.

"He's just been really steady all year," Penley said. "He was ready to play at the Masters, and he did a great job of being a captain and team leader.

"It's a perfect week for him to play well, and I know he would like to go out with a rush."

Patrick Reed, Augusta State sophomore

Reed found a shady spot beside the practice range and began planning his way around The Honors Course.

His plan different than it would have a been a year ago.

"I would have just pulled driver on every hole, and that's definitely not the way to play out here," said Reed, who transferred from Georgia after one semester. "Today was a long practice round and we had to stay patient."

That patience has been crucial in Reed's success this season. He has four top-five finishes -- including two runners-up and a fifth place last week in the NCAA Southwest Regional.

"It seems that this year I've stuck with my notes and game plan and it's worked," Reed said. "This week I have to stay very patient, and if you get off to a good start or a slow start, just stay with it and remain calm.

"This year I've decided to hit the correct shots instead of the hero shots."

Nick Taylor, Washington senior

A consistent season usually is a good season for most golfers, but not for Taylor.

"I'd say it was pretty consistent, but it hasn't been great because I haven't won," Taylor said. "I couldn't quite put three really good rounds together, but I found good finishes even though all my game wasn't there."

Part of Taylor's disappointment stems from the fact he won four tournaments as a junior.

"Expectations get a little higher and you want to win even more," he said. "There's one left, so I might as well do it now."

Taylor won the Hogan Award last week. It annually goes to the best collegiate player based on college and other amateur tournaments.

"He's not really playing very well right now -- and he'd tell you that -- by his standards," Huskies coach Matt Thurmond said. "But from what we see in practice, he is playing well."

Peter Uihlein, Oklahoma State sophomore

Uihlein is one of a handful of the competitors who has played The Honors Course before. He did so as part of the AJGA's Canon Cup in 2007.

The course is a little different now.

"It's a lot longer, they added some tees and it's tougher than when I played, especially when you add the rough, too," said Uihlein, whose East team lost to the West in 2007. "I played good in the last two tournaments, and I'm playing well."

Uihlein has won three tournaments this season -- after playing on the U.S. Walker Cup team -- including the Southeast Regional last week.

"We say it's one of the easiest tournaments of the year," Uihlein said, "because everybody psyches themselves out."