Andrew Orischak awaits return trip to elite Sage Valley tournament

As the Masters reaches its Sunday crescendo, Hilton Head Island’s Andrew Orischak has his own Augusta plans in the works after landing a return engagement later this month to the prestigious Junior Invitational at Sage Valley.

The tournament, which brings 54 of the world’s top juniors to Sage Valley Golf Club outside Aiken, is about a 30-minute drive from Augusta National and is considered is many circles to be the Masters of junior golf.

“It’s just a very special invitation,” Orischak said. “We get treated better than any tournament I’ve ever played, and honestly probably better than if I get to play in a major championship. It’s amazing what they do.”

Competitors are housed in seven cabins around the Sage Valley property, with a three-hole course accessible for practice at any time. The program also features visiting speakers from the golf world —Champions Tour pro Jay Haas and NBC’s Peter Jacobsen came last year — and the occasional surprise.

“Last year they brought in Rory McIlroy to hit balls with us,” Orischak said. “And he was playing his video game (”Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR”) with us in one of the cabins. He was super cool.”

There’s heated competition on the fairways, too, with an elite invitation list that includes the U.S. Junior Amateur semifinalists — Orischak’s ticket was punched here — along with winners of the Junior PGA Championship, European Boys Championship, Junior Orange Bowl International and others.

This year, the field includes entrants from 13 nations. One spent this week playing the actual Masters — Paul Chaplet, winner of the Latin American Amateur.

Orischak got his first taste of Sage Valley last year, finishing in a share of 29th. Then again, that was before he finished runner-up last summer when the U.S. Junior came to Colleton River Plantation.

“I didn’t play very well,” the Hilton Head Island senior recalled. “But I’m a better golfer this year. We’ll see what I can do.”

Orischak is coming off a tie for 35th at last week’s Azalea Invitational in Charleston, where he struggled on the weekend with rounds of 73-77. As his body starts to fill out, he said, his swing has been going through a transitional period.

“Growing sideways, I guess you’d call it,” he said. “It’s definitely taken a toll, but it’s a good thing in the long run. I’m getting stronger. It’s just part of what it is.”

In addition, there is plenty of college planning to be done. Though Orischak committed to the University of Virginia last fall, it was only last week that he received his formal acceptance letter.

This story was originally published April 9, 2016 at 9:34 PM with the headline "Andrew Orischak awaits return trip to elite Sage Valley tournament."