Collegiate golf tournament to draw 15 teams to Spartanburg.

The Carolina Cup will tee off in Spartanburg Oct. 9-11, bringing 15 universities to the Carolina Country.

The first of what planners say will be an annual tournament is attracting teams including the University of Connecticut, Howard University and the University of Central Florida to the region. Tournament hosts USC Upstate and Wofford College are among the teams representing South Carolina.

"Hosting the Carolina Cup is a big deal for Spartanburg County. It's not every day you welcome athletes from 15 of the top athletics programs in the country to your city," Billy Dunlap, chief tourist development officer for OneSpartanburg Inc. said in a news release. "We're excited to roll out the red carpet for the coaches, athletes and their families, and to show them all Spartanburg has to offer during their stay."

Net proceeds from the tournament are set for donation to Spartanburg-area philanthropic organizations, including Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas and First TeeUpstate South Carolina as nominated charities supported by the Carolina Cup.

The Carolina Cup also features play on Saturday, Oct. 8, with 30 collegiate players joining representatives from corporate sponsors in an 18-hole challenge.

"This is a distinctly unique college tournament where not only will golfers play in the NCAA Division I scheduled event, but they will also have the opportunity to...