Colquitt County golf coach Donald Dale is perhaps looking forward to Saturday’s annual Packer Invitational boys golf tournament a little more than usual.

Not only does the tournament feature an excellent field, he also thinks his team has a chance to keep the championship trophy here in Moultrie.

Sunset Country Club will play host to the Packer Invitational for the 19th time on Saturday and this year the field includes the defending tournament champion and three state champions.

Brookstone, which shot a 290 to win the Packer last year, returns its top three players, including low medalist Mercer Clark.

Parker Derby, who is headed to Georgia, and James Clark, who has signed with Georgia Tech, also are back for the Cougars, who won the Class A state championship last year.

Also in the field are defending state champions North Oconee and Glynn Academy.

“It’s as strong a field as we’ve ever had,” Dale said.

Four teams — Christian Heritage School in Dalton, Brookwood, Cambridge High and Peachtree Ridge — are playing in the Packer for the first time.

Also teeing off in what is expected to be excellent weather on Saturday are Alpharetta, Blessed Trinity, Camden County, Coffee, Columbus, Dalton, Hardaway, Houston County, Lee County, Lowndes, North Atlanta, Northwest Whitfield, Pierce County, Roswell, Thomas County Central, Tift County, Valdosta, Veterans and Vidalia.

Colquitt County is coming off perhaps its best performance of the season, a win in last Saturday’s Demon Invitational at the International City Club in Warner Robins.

The Packers shot a 310, which tied its season best. They also shot 310 at Osprey Cove in the Camden Classic.

The Packers also had the low medalist in Warner Robins last week with senior Bowen Aguero shooting a season-low 74.

Aguero will play No. 1 for the Packers on Saturday and at No. 2 will be Tyler Key, perhaps the Packers most consistent performer this season.

After shooting an 84 in the windy Johnny Paulk Invitational at Jekyll Island in the season-opener, Key has turned in rounds of 78, 75, 76 and 78.

“He’s worked at it,” Dale said. “He’s one of those kids who decided a couple years ago that this is what he wanted to do and he has worked hard.”

Freshman Braden Traylor will play No. 3 and he, too, has been a model of consistency with rounds of 79, 77, 78 and 78.

“If he can start rolling some putts in, he’ll be posting some good scores,” Dale said.

Eli Stripling will play No. 4 and while he shot an 80 at the Demon last weekend, he played well down the stretch.

“We hope that has got him started in the right direction,” Dale said.

Tyler DeMott will play No. 5.

McKenzie Blanchett and Griffin Dunn will tee off early and play as individuals in the tournament.

“We’re playing better,” Dale said. “But we still haven’t had all four playing well at the same time. That’s what it’s all about.

“And although we’d like to win, really, the Packer is not that important. What’s important is to be playing well at the region tournament.”

Colquitt shot a 307 to finish second in the Packer Invitational last year.