English, Kuchar Team Up To Win Franklin Templeton Shootout

Matt Kuchar and Harris English hold the Franklin Templeton Shootout trophy on Sunday.

Who says Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets can't work together?

On Sunday in Naples, Fla., former Georgia standout Harris English teamed with ex-Georgia Tech star Matt Kuchar to run away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout.

English and Kuchar shot a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record.

English and Kuchar finished at 34-under 182, playing their last 28 holes at Tiburon in 25 under. They opened with a 64 on Friday in modified alternate-shot play and had a 60 on Saturday in better ball.

The duo beat Retief Goosen and Fredrik Jacobsen by seven strokes, matching the tournament record for margin of victory set by Curtis Strange and Mark O'Meara in 1989 in the inaugural event.

"It was a fun week," Kuchar said. "This is one of my favorite events of the year. I wish we could more team events. I realize during the year, that's difficult but to mix up the formats and have a partner here is just a lot of fun. It's nice to perform well."

Kuchar and English, who replaced the injured Brandt Snedeker in the field, each earned $385,000.

"It's such a relaxing event," English said. "It's really cool being part of this event."

Goosen and Jacobsen closed with a 61, but had little chance to catch the winners.

"It was unbelievable, quite an exhibition," Jacobson said. "Both guys were putting well and they're solid ball-strikers, so we knew we had to pick up the pace. But they played so well, there's not much you can do about it."

Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter had a 59 to finish third at 26, and Chris DiMarco and Billy Horschel were fourth at 24 under after a 60.

Beringer, Healy, Larkin Sign With Bulldogs

Matthew Beringer, Zach Healy and Jack Larkin have signed national letters of intent with the Bulldogs, according to an announcement by Coach Chris Haack.

Beringer lives in Macon and attends Stratford Academy (the same school that produced Bulldog All-American Russell Henley). Beringer was the state medalist as a  freshman, has been named All-Region three times, and is a two-time All-State selection. He has recorded several wins on the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour, including the Tournament of Champions in 2009. Beringer was chosen as the All-Middle Georgia Golfer of the Year by the Macon Telegraph in 2011. He represented the state in the 2010 Georgia-South Carolina Challenge Match.

Healy is a native of Peachtree Corners and attends Norcross High School. Healy was the medalist and led Norcross to the 2013 state championship, and he earned Player of the Year honors. Healy won the 2013 Atlanta Amateur Match Play Championship. He had a top-20 finish in the 2013 Georgia Amateur and made the cut in the event as a 13-year-old. Healy has numerous top-5 efforts in American Junior Golf Association events, including a runner-up finish in the 2013 Davis Love III Junior Open and the 2012 Evitt Foundation RTC Junior All-Star. In 2012, Healy won the East Coast Golfweek Invitational.

Larkin attends Marist and lives in Atlanta. He helped Marist win back-to-back state championships with a runner-up individual effort in 2013 and a third-place finish in 2012. Larkin twice was named to the Class AAAA All-State Team.  Larkin finished second in the Georgia State Golf Association's State Junior Championships and won the SJGT's Junior Peach Blossom and Glen Arven Junior Classic. He is the son of Jack Larkin, who played for the Bulldogs from 1980-83 and captained the squad his senior year.

"We are excited about having Matthew, Zach and Jack join our program," Haack said. "We've watched them hone their games the last few years, and I'm confident that they all can make a significant on our program on the course and in the classroom. If they continue to work hard and improve, they are capable of being in the running to play for us right away next season."

Macpherson Qualifies For Open Again

Bryden Macpherson will play in the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

Bryden Macpherson came in fourth in the Emirates Australian Open on Sunday to qualify for the 2014 Open Championship.

Macpherson, who played for the Bulldogs from 2010-2012, fired rounds of 71-70-69-69 to wind up at 9-under 279. The top two spots went to Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott, while John Senden was third and Macpherson tied with Rhein Gibson for fourth.

The Open has gone to a new qualifying system for 2014 called the Open Qualifying Series in which 14 events around the world will serve as qualifying possibilities for players not already exempt into the Open.

Senden, Gibson and Macpherson were the top three players in the top-10 at the Australian Open not already in the field for the Open Championship, to be be played July 17-20 at Royal Liverpool in England.

There will be other qualifying tournaments, including two in Asia and one in South Africa as well as three tournaments in Europe and three in the United States. The AT&T National, the Greenbrier Classic and John Deere Classic will serve as PGA Tour events in which players can qualify.

Macpherson played in the Open in 2011 after becoming the second Australian to win the Amateur Championship. 

“Today’s a great day," Macpherson said Sunday. "I played well today and all week really. The Open was amazing the first time I played in at Royal St George’s. I played quite well and I think links golf sets up for me very well. For me The Open is golf, it’s where it all began in Scotland. It is golf at its purest and you can’t beat that.”

• Georgia is No. 1 in the Rivals Cup standings, which ranks NCAA programs that are having the greatest impact in professional sports. The Bulldogs boast two winners already this season in Harris English and Chris Kirk, each of whom has more than $1 million in earnings. The Bulldogs also have points from Brian Harman, Brendon Todd, Bubba Watson, Kevin Kisner, Erik Compton, Hudson Swafford and Russell Henley.

Kisner Takes Win At Pebble Beach

Kevin Kisner holds the trophy after winning the Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational Sunday.

Click here for an article by the Athens Banner-Herald on Georgia's recent success in the pro ranks.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Former Georgia All-American Kevin Kisner made a 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole for a 2-over 74 and a one-stroke victory over former Georgia Tech player Chesson Hadley at the Pebble Beach Invitational on Sunday.

Kisner began the day with a two-stroke lead and finished at 13-under 275 after a tumultuous final round in the tournament featuring 80 professionals from the PGA, LPGA, Champions and Web.com tours.

"I wish I would had about a six-stroke lead, so it wasn't so stressful," said Kisner, who rejoined the PGA Tour this season. "The back nine was playing brutally hard. I just got unlucky."

Kisner, who had a tournament-low 64 Saturday at Spyglass Hill, moved to 17 under and a six-stroke margin after 11 holes. But he bogeyed the 12th, double-bogeyed the 14th and bogeyed the 17th.

"I just hung in there," said Kisner, who in March claimed his second Web.com Tour at the Chile Open in Santiago. "Things like this always happen when you are in the hunt. Only when you are in a position to win does it seem to happen."

Hadley shot a 70 and was four shots in front of Scott Langley (68) and William McGirt (73), who tied for third at 8 under.

Hadley, playing in the final group with Kisner, began the day trailing by five shots. But he remained steady while Kisner stumbled.

"When Kevin double-bogeyed 14, I definitely thought I still had a chance," said Hadley, a 2014 PGA Tour rookie. "The conditions were tough out there, but I thought I had a chance on the 18th, but Kevin made a downhill 15-footer to win. My hat's off to him."

Mina Harigae had a 71 to top LPGA finishers and finished tied for fifth with Sam Saunders (74) and Mark Brooks (70) at 281.

Brooks, who has won the event three times, moved into contention and was six under on the day and 11 under for the tournament halfway through the final round before faltering.

Tommy Armour III (68) and Kirk Triplett (72) were the top Champions Tour finishers and were among five players at 282.

Jason Kokrak started the day in second two shots back, but shot 80 and finished among seven players at 283.

Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, who has played in the event several times since retiring from the LPGA in 2008, finished at even par after a final-round 75.

Kisner earned $60,000 of the $300,000 purse.

English Picks Up Second PGA TOUR Title

Harris English holds his trophy after winning the OHL Classic at Mayacoba.

Harris English won the rain-delayed OHL Classic for his second PGA TOUR title, pulling away for a four-stroke victory in a 29-hole Sunday finish at Mayakoba.

The former Georgia standout closed with a 6-under 65 after completing the third round in the morning with a 68. He moved into contention Saturday morning in the second round, matching the lowest round of his tour career with a 62.

"I guess I found something in my swing — a little swing key that helping me out," English said. "I hit the ball really well all week. It got a little windy the first two days and I struggled a bit with my driver, but I found it down the stretch."

The 24-year-old finished at 21-under 263. He won the FedEx St. Jude Classic in June in Tennessee for his first PGA TOUR victory.

"I was a lot more comfortable out there than I was a Memphis," English said. "First time in Mexico and it will be a memory."

Brian Stuard shot a 67 to finish second.

More than 4½ inches of rain hit the course from Wednesday to Friday. Because of the wet conditions, players were allowed to use preferred lies.

Kirk Wins McGladrey Classic On St. Simons

Chris Kirk holds the trophy after winning the McGladrey Classic on Sunday.

To watch Chris Kirk's post-tournament interview, click here.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) -- Chris Kirk knew he was doing enough right Sunday at Sea Island to win a tournament that means so much to him. The former Georgia Bulldog just didn't realize it would take something that went so wrong for Briny Baird.

Tied for the lead in the McGladrey Classic, Kirk was on the other side of the 18th fairway trying to envision an approach that would cover the flag and set up a birdie chance for the win. Those plans changed when Baird, with the ball below his feet in a fairway bunker, topped a 4-iron and watched his ball roll 90 yards and into a hazard.

Kirk played for par, closed with a 4-under 66 for a 1-shot victory, and became the first player from Sea Island to win the McGladrey Classic -- even if the 28-year-old moved to Atlanta a few months ago after six years in this tiny slice of paradise.

He received the trophy from tournament host Davis Love III, his hero when he first took the game seriously.

"To come here to Sea Island, which is a place that I love and cherish so much, and Davis's tournament, it just an unbelievable thing," Kirk said. "Davis was kind of my guy when I was 12 and 13, really starting to play golf. He was my favorite player, and he's turned from being my idol to sort of a mentor and good friend. So I'm a very lucky person to be in that situation, and to win his tournament really means a lot to me."

The victory sends Kirk to the Masters for the first time and to the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua to start 2014.

Kirk's win highlighted a strong weekend by the former Bulldogs. Brian Harman was 10th at 8-under, Brendon Todd was 16th at 7-under and Kevin Kisner was 20th at 6-under. Harris English, Erik Compton and Russell Henley also were in the money during the weekend, while Hudson Swafford missed the cut.

Baird is now 0-for-365 in his PGA Tour career, and it looked for the longest time that he finally would win. Baird went from a two-shot deficit to a one-shot lead in two holes on the back nine, and he was on the verge of seizing control on the par-5 15th.

Baird hit his approach to 40 feet for a chance at eagle. Kirk was between clubs and pulled his hybrid into the water left of the green, and then he slammed his wedge into the turf when he chipped weakly, leaving him a long putt for par. It looked as if Baird would lead by two shots, maybe three, with three holes to play.

Instead, he ran his eagle putt 4 feet by the cup and three-putted for par, and Kirk holed his 20-foot par putt to stay only one shot behind.

"That kept me in it," Kirk said.

He caught Baird with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, setting up one last surprise on a back nine filled with them.

Tim Clark closed with a 62 and was on the practice range, holding out slim hope for a playoff if Kirk and Baird made bogey on the 18th. Only one of them faltered, and it was shocking. Baird had a tough lie in the sand, and he felt his left foot slip. Even so, he felt he should have been able to pull off the shot. It wasn't even close.

Kirk finished at 14-under 266, and his last tournament of 2013 came with plenty of perks -- the biggest a trip to Augusta National, which he only has played when Georgia alumni used to invited the golf team over once a year.

And his parents get a new photo for their mantle. The one they have is from a decade ago, when Kirk finished his sophomore year in high school and played in the Canon Cup north of Chicago. It was the first time he met Love, and his parents still have a photo of their son with sideburns and braces.

"It's a pretty funny picture now," Kirk said.

Now he can give them a photo of Kirk and Love posing with the trophy on the 18th green of the Seaside course at Sea Island, where Kirk had lived for the last six years until moving back to Atlanta because his wife is due next month with their second child. He still has his home at Sea Island, and it felt like the home with a large gallery waiting for him around the 18th green.

Garber Named National Player Of The Week

Georgia's Joey Garber has been named the National Player of the Week by Golfweek following his performance in The Invitational at The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, S.C.

Garber, a senior from Petoksey, Mich., garnered medalist honors for the first time in his career. He finished at 9-under 207, including a tournament-record and career-best 6-under 66 in the second round. (The tournament mark was eclipsed in the third round by teammate Lee McCoy's 7-under 65.) 

The victory capped what was a strong fall for Garber. He came in second in the Dick's Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup, fourth in the Carpet Capital Collegiate and 19th in the Brickyard Collegiate Championship. Garber finished the fall with a scoring average of 69.75.

• The PGA TOUR will be stopping on St. Simons Island this week as the McGladrey Classic will be held on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club -- the site of the 2014 SEC Championship.

Scheduled to participate Thursday through Sunday are Erik Compton, Harris English, Brian Harman, Russell Henley, Chris Kirk, Kevin Kisner, Hudson Swafford and Brendon Todd. Justin Bolli and Ryuji Imada are listed among the alternates.

Garber Earns Medalist Honors At Kiawah

Joey Garber (right) receives his award for claiming medalist honors at The Invitational at The Ocean Course.

Georgia's Joey Garber earned medalist honors for the first time in his career on Tuesday at The Invitational at The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, S.C.

The senior from Petoskey, Mich., finished at 9-under 207 and with a 3-shot cushion. On Monday, Garber signed for a tournament-record and career-best 6-under 66 on the strength of 10 birdies.

"The birdies came in bunches on Monday and then I just tried to keep the momentum going today," Garber said. "I was patient throughout the tournament, and that really paid off. I'm pretty proud of the way I played this week."

The victory capped what was a strong fall for Garber. He came in second in the Dick's Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup, fourth in the Carpet Capital Collegiate and 19th in the Brickyard Collegiate Championship. Garber finished the fall with a scoring average of 69.75.

Garber joined the Bulldogs in January of 2012 as a transfer from Michigan and had recorded two top-10s and five top-20s entering this season. In two years with the Wolverines, Garber had four top-10s and six top-20s.

"Joey is playing the way you expect a senior captain to play," said Georgia's Chris Haack, who now has coached 37 medalists. "He's been fairly consistent and he's put himself in contention that way. He is a guy who demands so much of himself. It was good to see him put it all together this week and get the win."

Garber's tournament-record 6-under 66 lasted just one day as Georgia sophomore Lee McCoy signed for a 7-under 65 on Tuesday. McCoy's loop, which included eight birdies and one bogey, also established his new career best, eclipsing the 5-under 67 in the Dick's Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup.

Behind McCoy, the No. 8 Bulldogs fired a tournament-record 5-under 283 on Tuesday. (Garber's totals did not count toward the team score as he was designated as an individual before the tournament began.) The previous single-round mark was 4-under 284 by Notre Dame in 2010.

Georgia wound up third at 12-over 876, just five shots behind South Florida (871). 

McCoy wound up fifth at 2-under 214, senior Michael Cromie was 10th at 2-over 218 and junior Nicholas Reach was 15th at 6-over 222. Senior Keith Mitchell missed a top-20 finish by one stroke at 8-over 224, while junior Sam Straka came in at 23-over 239.

The Bulldogs had a first, a second, two thirds and a fourth this fall.

"It was definitely a good way to finish the fall," Haack said. "It would have been easy for our guys to pack it in since we were 12 shots out of first after the second round, but that's not the way we're made. Our guys think they can win every time we tee it up. To say we can't wait for the spring to get started would be an understatement."

The Bulldogs will begin the spring portion of the schedule Feb. 23-25 at the Puerto Rico Classic.

• In the PGA TOUR's CIMB Classic at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, Harris English finished seventh at 10-under. Chris Kirk took 25th at 4-under, followed by Bubba Watson in 31st at 3-under and Russell Henley in 61st at 4-over.

• Watson will play this week in the World Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China.

• The PGA TOUR's next event will be the McGladrey Classic on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club -- the site of the 2014 SEC Championship.

Bulldogs To Cap Fall At Kiawah Island

The No. 5-ranked Georgia men's golf team will conclude the fall portion of its schedule Sunday through Tuesday in The Invitational at The Ocean Course at the Kiawah Island (S.C.) Resort.

The Bulldogs will use a lineup of seniors Michael Cromie and Keith Mitchell, juniors Nicholas Reach and Sam Straka, and sophomore Lee McCoy. Senior Joey Garber will compete as an individual.

Joining the Bulldogs and tournament host College of Charleston will be Charleston Southern, Florida, Francis Marion, Georgia Southern, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Rice, South Alabama, South Florida and Western Carolina.

The Bulldogs have a first-, second-, third- and fourth-place finish in their previous fall events. Georgia's victory came at the Dick's Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup in September.

"We're looking for a strong finish to the fall," Georgia coach Chris Haack said. "We've had some success and we've been building on all the positives. We are expecting a challenging tournament. Not only will we be facing some good teams, but the Ocean Course has the reputation of being a tough track, especially when the wind blows. We'll have to be patient and focused during this one."

Results will be available here.

• ESPNU will air a one-hour highlight show Friday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. from the Dick's Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup. Not only did the Bulldogs claim the team title, but they helped the SEC sweep the ACC in match play events.

• The PGA TOUR's stop this week is the CIMB Classic at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. Chris Kirk, Harris English, Russell Henley and Bubba Watson are in the field.

• In last week's Shriner's Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas, Brendon Todd placed 12th at 14-under, while Hudson Swafford was 30th at 10-under, Kirk was 36th at 9-under, English was 40th at 8-under and Brian Harman was 48th at 6-under. Henley, Erik Compton and Kevin Kisner missed the cut.

Bulldogs Place Third At Crooked Stick

The No. 6-ranked Georgia men's golf team finished third in the Crooked Stick Intercollegiate in Carmel, Ind.

The Bulldogs had a final-round 8-over 296 to wind up at 17-over 881. Arkansas took team honors at 11-over 875.

Junior Nicholas Reach finished fifth individually at 4-over 220, eight shots behind Arkansas' Sebastian Cappelan (212). Senior Michael Cromie and junior Sam Straka placed eighth at 5-over 221, while senior Keith Mitchell was 12th at 6-over 222 and sophomore Lee McCoy came in 17th at 8-over 224.

Playing as an individual, freshman Greyson Sigg wound up at 13-over 229.

"We want to win every time we play, so we are disappointed that we didn't close as strong as we would have liked," Georgia coach Chris Haack said. "Our guys know that you have to come ready to play for all 54 holes, and this will certainly reinforce that. All five guys in the lineup finished in the top 20, so that's definitely a positive. We'll build on the good things and get ready for the next one."

The Bulldogs will close the fall portion of their schedule Oct. 27-29 in the Kiawah Invitational.

• In the season-opening Frys.com Open in California, Brian Harman paced the Bulldogs as he came in seventh at 13-under. Brendon Todd finished at 8-under, while Kevin Kisner was 7-under. Hudson Swafford and Erik Compton missed the cut.

The Shriners Hospital for Children Open will be played Thursday through Sunday in Las Vegas. Scheduled to play are Compton, Harris English, Harman, Russell Henley, Chris Kirk, Kisner, Swafford and Todd. Listed among the alternates are Justin Bolli and Ryuji Imada.

Bulldogs To Resume 2013-14 Schedule Next Week In Crooked Stick Intercollegiate

The Georgia Bulldogs will be back in action Monday and Tuesday in the Crooked Stick Intercollegiate at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind.

The Bulldogs' lineup will be seniors Michael Cromie and Keith Mitchell, juniors Nicholas Reach Sam Straka, and sophomore Lee McCoy. while freshman Greyson Sigg will participate as an individual.

Joining the Bulldogs and host Indiana are Arkansas, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Florida, Florida State, IUPUI, Kansas, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Purdue, TCU and Toledo.

The teams will tee off on Monday at 8:45 a.m. and will play 36 holes. Tuesday's tee times will start at 9 a.m. The Bulldogs will be paired with Indiana and Florida State in the first two rounds.

• Georgia is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Brickyard Collegiate Championship in Macon. The Bulldogs had a three-day total of 11-under 853, 16 in back of host Mercer's 837. 

Mitchell finished sixth individually at 6-under 210, three shots behind the tri-medalists. Reach was ninth at 3-under 211, McCoy was 12th at 4-under 212 and senior Joey Garber was 19th at 2-under 214.

• Garber is featured in the Red and Black student newspaper today. Click here to read the article.

• Two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton won the inaugural PGA TOUR Courage Award on Wednesday.

The PGA Tour Courage Award is for players who have overcome extraordinary adversity to make meaningful contributions to golf.

"It's a very special moment for me," Compton said. "When you guys called to let me know that I was awarded the Courage Award, I actually walked around the block and had a moment to myself. I was very emotional."

It's hard to find a better candidate than Compton. He was diagnosed at age 9 with viral cardiomyopathy and had his first heart transplant three years later in 1992. He had a heart attack in 2008 and required a second transplant. Compton still managed to make it to the PGA TOUR, and this year made it through two FedEx Cup playoff events.

"Through the help of family, doctors and friends, I have gone from being someone lying on his back in recovery to someone walking the fairways of the PGA Tour," Compton said. "Not only has playing on tour been a dream of mine, but it has also served greatly in the healing process. It has given me something to work toward, but also something to hope for. I'm incredibly grateful for this award and blessed to have the opportunity to be playing on the PGA Tour."

The award includes a $25,000 donation to the charity of the winner's choice. Compton said the money would be split between the Cardiovascular Institute of Miami and the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation.

• The PGA TOUR's Frys.com Open, part of the new 2013-14 wraparound season, will be held Thursday through Sunday at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif. Scheduled to participate are Compton, Hudson Swafford, Brendon Todd, Kevin Kisner and Brian Harman.

Top-Ranked Bulldogs Headed To Brickyard

The Bulldogs will be back in action Friday through Sunday at the Brickyard Collegiate Championship. Georgia has ascended to the nation's No. 1 spot in the Golfstat rankings and the No. 3 position in the Golfweek/Sagarin poll after winning the Dick's Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup and placing second in the Carpet Capital Collegiate.

The Brickyard Collegiate Championship will be played Friday through Sunday at the Brickyard at Riverside. The Bulldogs have enjoyed success at the Brickyard, claiming team titles in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012. Georgia also boasts medalists in Harris English (2007), Macon native Russell Henley (2009, 2010) and Sam Straka (2012).

The Bulldogs will be using a lineup of seniors Michael Cromie and Joey Garber, junior Nicholas Reach, sophomore Lee McCoy and freshman Greyson Sigg. Georgia also will have five individuals in the field: senior Keith Mitchell, juniors Mookie DeMoss and Straka, and freshmen Parker Derby and Jaime Lopez Rivarola.

Joining the Bulldogs and co-host Mercer will be Georgia Tech, Florida State, Augusta State, Air Force, Boston College, Chattanooga, Furman, Georgia State, Gonzaga, Louisville, Princeton, South Florida and Virginia Tech.

• Three former Bulldogs — Brendon Todd, Kevin Kisner and Hudson Swafford -- officially received their 2013-2014 PGA TOUR cards following the conclusion of the 2013 Web.com Tour season.

Todd and Kisner earned their cards by finishing among the top 25 in the regular-season money leaders. Todd came in 12th and Kisner placed 15th, with each boasting a regular-season victory. Swafford wound up 21st based on the season-ending, four-event Web.com Tour Finals as 25 additional cards were handed out.

The 50 who earned TOUR cards are eligible to begin their 2013-2104 seasons in two weeks in the Frys.com Open in California.

• During the Georgia-LSU game, Bubba Watson surprised his wife, the former Angie Ball, by endowing a women's basketball scholarship in her name. Angie was a four-year letterwinner for the Lady Bulldogs from 1996 through 1999.

• Before the game, Bubba joined "Duck Dynasty" buddy Willie Robertson as the celebrity pickers on ESPN's College GameDay set. As expected, Watson picked the Bulldogs and Louisiana native Robertson picked LSU.

• The golf recognitions at the game didn't end there. Former Bulldogs Harris English, Brian Harman and Russell Henley were introduced to the sell-out crowd.

• And in a pregame ceremony on the field, David Boyd, an All-America performer for the Georgia golf team and one of the program’s most ardent supporters, was recognized as the 2013 recipient of the Bill Hartman Award.

• On Friday at the Bulldog Lettermen's Tournament, Watson and David Miller (63) were the Scratch Division winners and Murray Calhoun and Walton Clarke (64) were the Net Division winners. The team of Watson-Miller defeated Franklin Langham and Paul Claxton in a playoff.

More than 60 letterwinners were on hand for the event. Photos from the day can be found here (the password is bulldog$).

• Georgia has added two more events to the 2014 portion its schedule. On April 5, the Bulldogs will play in the 36-hole Century/Old Oaks One Day in Purchase, New York, against host Yale and seven other schools. And on April 19, Georgia will play in Atlanta against Georgia Tech and Auburn (and possibly another school) at a site to be determined.

• The Bulldogs got an up-close look at the ESPN College GameDay set on Friday. Georgia's players also got to chat with ESPN personalities Scott Van Pelt, Samantha Ponder and David Pollack.

Haack Earns 50th Win In SEC-ACC Event; Henley Up For Rookie Of The Year Honors

Mooke DeMoss, Joey Garber, Lee McCoy, Nicholas Reach, Coach Jim Douglas, Michael Cromie and Coach Chris Haack receive their trophies for winning the Dick's Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup.

The No. 8 Georgia men's golf team won the inaugural Dick's Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup on Saturday, giving Coach Chris Haack the 50th victory of his career.

Haack, who is in his 18th season, has led the Bulldogs to at least one win in 15 years, including the 1999 and 2005 national championships and seven SEC titles. He extended his own school record for most victories by a Georgia golf coach.

"I am extremely humbled to reach a milestone like this," Haack said. "It means a lot to bring this recognition to Georgia. I can't help but think about all the fantastic players we've had through the years who helped get us to this point. I've also been blessed to have great assistants in Jim Douglas, Ryan Hybl and Jason Payne, who did such a tremendous job with recruiting and coaching. I know my name gets written down with this, but this is truly a team effort. It's something that I share with all of them."

On Saturday, the Bulldogs fired a 10-under 274 to wind up at 20-under 832, five shots clear of Texas A&M.

Senior Joey Garber came in second individually at 9-under 204, seven shots behind Texas A&M's Ben Crancer. Sophomore Lee McCoy placed fifth at 3-under 210, followed by senior Michael Cromie in eighth at 2-under 211, junior Mookie DeMoss in 15th at 2-over 215 and junior Nicholas Reach at 5-over 218.

The Bulldogs then helped the SEC pick up the conference title in an SEC vs. ACC match play tournament. Georgia went 5-0 against Clemson as the SEC picked up a 17-8 decision.

For more on the tournament, click here and here.

• Congratulations are in order for Russell Henley, who has been named as one of the four finalists for the PGA TOUR's Rookie of the Year Award. Henley won the season-opening Sony Open in his first start as a PGA TOUR member and notched three top-10 finishes in 24 events. He placed 33rd on the money list and finished 44th in the FedExCup. The other candidates are Derek Ernst, David Lingmerth and Jordan Spieth.

• The Web.com Tour Championship will be held Thursday through Sunday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Kevin Kisner and Brendon Todd secured their PGA TOUR cards for next season by finishing in the top 25 among the regular-season money leaders. Hudson Swafford is 10th in the standings in the Web.com Tour Finals and also will pick up a 2014 TOUR card.

Kisner, Swafford and Todd will be joined by Justin Bolli and Scott Parel this weekend in the Web.com Tour Championship. Bolli is the tournament's defending champion.

• David Boyd, an All-America performer for the Georgia golf team and one of the program’s most ardent supporters, has been chosen as the 2013 recipient of the Bill Hartman Award.

Boyd will be recognized at Saturday's Georgia-LSU football game and will receive the award during the Circle of Honor Gala on Friday, April 11, 2014.

Named for the late Bill Hartman, Georgia's long-time kicking coach and chairman of the Georgia Student Educational Fund, the Hartman Award is one of the highest honors given to a former UGA student-athlete. The Hartman Award has been presented annually since 1992 and recognizes former Georgia student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence in their profession and/or in service to others by 20 or more years of superior performance after graduation. Only former varsity athletes who have received a baccalaureate degree from Georgia can be considered for the award.

“I am honored to receive this award, especially since it bears the name of a great man in Coach Hartman,” Boyd said. “I got to know him very well when I was at Georgia. He was just so nice to me when I came to Athens. He was a great friend of my father’s and he became a great friend of mine. This means an awful lot to me having his name on it.”

A native of Jacksonville, Boyd claimed SEC medalist honors in 1962 and becoming only the third player in school history at that time to garner First-Team All-America status. Under Hall of Fame coach Howell Hollis, Boyd helped the Bulldogs win league titles in 1961, 1962 and 1963. Boyd also earned Second-Team All-America honors in 1961 and served as team captain in 1962.

After graduation and throughout his insurance career, Boyd remained close to the Georgia program. It was not unusual for Boyd to be in attendance at a tournament in which the Bulldogs were playing. In the summer of 1996, Boyd spearheaded a major fund-raising drive — launching it with a major gift of his own — and Georgia’s golfers reaped the rewards. In the fall of 1998, the Bulldogs and the Lady Bulldogs started honing their games on a state-of-the-art practice facility that features multiple tee boxes overlooking a range with numerous target greens, putting and wedge play areas and three practice bunkers. A few months later, both teams moved into the $600,000 Boyd Golf Center, which includes posh locker rooms, spacious coaches offices, a lounge with a panoramic view of the UGA Golf Course’s ninth and 18th greens, club storage and repair areas, computer work stations and a kitchen. Georgia has since added an indoor practice facility that allows the players to work on their games away from the elements and features video capabilities to help the players and coaches analyze swings.

Since the opening of the Boyd Center and the surrounding amenities, both the Bulldogs (1999, 2005) and the Lady Bulldogs (2001) have won national championships while combining for nine SEC crowns. Boyd was in attendance in 1999 in Minnesota when Coach Chris Haack and his Bulldogs claimed the program’s first NCAA title.

“Nobody loves the University of Georgia more than I do,” Boyd said. “I love that place and I love our golf program. I think the facility we put together has been a helpful aspect. Our golfers and the coaches deserve the best, and I’m happy we were able to do that for them. My teammates and I had always maintained an interest in the program and we all wanted to see the program reach the status that it once had. We could not be happier about the current state of the golf program.”

Bulldogs To Play In SEC Vs. ACC Event

Mookie DeMoss and the Bulldogs will play this weekend in the Dick's Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup.

The Georgia men's golf team will compete in the Dick's Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup this weekend in Kingston Springs, Tenn.

The tournament will pit SEC and ACC teams against each other for a 54-hole stroke play event Friday and Saturday, followed by an 18-hole match-play final on Sunday. The tournament will take place at The Golf Club of Tennessee.

The Bulldogs will use a lineup of seniors Michael Cromie and Joey Garber, juniors Mookie DeMoss and Nicholas Reach, and sophomore Lee McCoy.

Joining the Bulldogs from the SEC will be Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. The ACC representatives will be Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Virginia and Wake Forest.

ESPNU will be on hand for the Dick's Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup and will air a highlights show on Sunday, Oct. 13.

• The four former Bulldogs in the FedExCup Playoffs were eliminated following the BMW Championship. With the top 30 advancing to the TOUR Championship in Atlanta, Harris English finished 31st, Chris Kirk came in 34th, Bubba Watson placed 37th and Russell Henley wound up 44th.

At the BMW Championship, which ended on Monday due to inclement weather, Watson and Kirk came in 24th at 3-under, Henley was 39th at even par, and English placed 50th at 3-over.

• In the Web.com Tour Finals, Hudson Swafford improved his bid for a PGA TOUR card by coming in seventh at 4-under in the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship. The top 25 money leaders after the Web.com Tour Finals will secure TOUR cards for next year and Swafford jumped from 24th to 10th in the standings.

Kevin Kisner and Brendon Todd already have secured their PGA TOUR cards for next season by finishing the regular season in the top 25 of the Web.com Tour's money leaders. Scott Parel was 28th at 1-over in the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship, while Todd and Kisner each missed the cut.

The final event of the year is the Web.com Tour Championship Sept. 26-29 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Bulldogs Place Second At The Farm

The 11th-ranked Georgia men's golf team placed second in the season-opening Carpet Capital Collegiate at The Farm in Rocky Face, Ga.

The Bulldogs fired a final-round 5-under 283 to wind up at 8-under 856 for the tournament. Event host Georgia Tech claimed team honors at 14-under 850.

Senior Joey Garber finished fourth individually at 4-under 212, five shots behind the leaders. Senior Michael Cromie took fifth at 2-under 214, while sophomore Lee McCoy and freshman Greyson Sigg were 20th at 2-over 218 and junior Nicholas Reach wound up at 6-over 222.

Playing as an individual, junior Sam Straka placed 12th at even-par 216.

"Our goal was to win the tournament, so we're disappointed that didn't happen, but we are leaving here with a lot of positives," Georgia coach Chris Haack said. "Our guys put up some really good scores, especially in the second and third rounds. We'll build on the good things and keep pushing forward. I am really proud of the guys."

The Bulldogs will return to action Sept. 20-22 in the Ingram Invitational in Nashville, Tenn.

• Four former Bulldogs will be in action in the FedExCup Playoffs. The top 70  following the Deutsche Bank Championship advanced to this week's BMW Championship in Lake Forest, Ill., and the field will include No. 28 Harris English, No. 37 Chris Kirk, No. 40 Bubba Watson and No. 43 Russell Henley.

The top 30 after BMW Championship will play in Atlanta in the TOUR Championship.

• In the Web.com Tour Finals, Hudson Swafford placed 14th at 7-under in the Chiquita Classic, the second of four events in the Finals, in North Carolina. Brendon Todd came in 19th at 5-under, while Justin Bolli, Scott Parel and Kevin Kisner missed the cut. 

Kisner and Todd already have secured their PGA TOUR cards for next season by finishing the regular season in the top 25 of the Web.com Tour's money leaders. The top 25 money leaders after the Web.com Tour Finals also will secure TOUR cards.

Swafford is 32nd on the money list, but players (like Kisner and Todd) above him who already have secured PGA TOUR cards do not count against the standings, so Swafford is 24th currently in the quest for a top-25 finish.

This week's tournament is the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship in Ohio. Bolli, Kisner, Parel, Swafford and Todd all are scheduled to participate.

• Chip Beck came in 53rd at 7-over in the Champion Tour's Montreal Championship.

• Congratulations to Jack Hall of Sea Island as he won the Georgia Senior Championship by 12 strokes at The Landings-Deer Creek course in Savannah.

• Thanks to everyone who played in and/or supported the 2013 Bulldog Open last Friday. We will try to post some photos from the day here soon.

• A reminder that this is YOUR blog. If you have any news you want to share, please do so by emailing Denise Saliba (dsaliba@sports.uga.edu).

Bulldogs Set To Begin 2013-14 Season

Senior Joey Garber will serve as the Bulldogs' team captain this season.

The 11th-ranked Georgia men's golf team will open its 2013-14 season this weekend in the 25th annual Carpet Capital Collegiate.

The Bulldogs will join 13 other schools (including four from the Southeastern Conference) at The Farm in Rocky Face, Ga., Friday through Sunday. The teams will play 54 holes on the par-72, 7,012-yard layout.

The Bulldogs will use a lineup of seniors Michael Cromie and Joey Garber, junior Nicholas Reach, sophomore Lee McCoy and freshman Greyson Sigg. Garber, the Bulldogs' captain for 2013-14, paced Georgia a year ago with a 71.93 scoring average. Junior Sam Straka will play as an individual, meaning he can compete for medalist honors but his scores cannot count toward the team total. 

"Every time you start a new season, there's excitement and there's anticipation," said Georgia coach Chris Haack, who is entering his 18th year at the helm. "We're anxious to tee it up and watch this team build its own unique identity. I think we have a team that will compete hard and will not be satisfied with just being close. These guys want to win. They worked hard this summer and went through some tough qualifying rounds. We're looking forward to getting started at The Farm."

Joining the Bulldogs and tournament host Georgia Tech will be Auburn, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee, Clemson, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Texas, Middle Tennessee State, Kennesaw State, North Florida and Chattanooga.

For scoring and tee times, click here.

Four Bulldogs Advance In FedExCup Playoffs

Four former Bulldogs advanced in the FedExCup Playoffs on Monday following the Deutsche Bank Championship.

The top 70 advanced to this week's BMW Championship in Lake Forest, Ill., and the field will include No. 28 Harris English, No. 37 Chris Kirk, No. 40 Bubba Watson and No. 43 Russell Henley. No. 94 Brian Harman and No. 99 Erik Compton were eliminated from the playoffs.

The top 30 after BMW Championship will play in Atlanta in the TOUR Championship.

Kirk paced the former Bulldogs at the Deutsche Bank Championship as he came in 16th at 13-under. English was 27th at 10-under, Henley was 62nd at 5-under and Watson was 67th at 3-under. Harman and Compton missed the cut.

• After one round of the Web.com Tour Finals, Kevin Kisner stands third, Brendon Todd is 15th and Scott Parel is 60th. Kisner shot 18-under at the Hotel Fitness Championship to pocket $58,000. Todd won 17,000 at 14-under and Parel earned $2,900 at 5-under. Justin Bolli and Hudson Swafford missed the cut.

Kisner and Todd already have secured their PGA TOUR cards for next season by finishing the regular season in the top 25 of the Web.com Tour's money leaders. The top 25 money leaders after the Web.com Tour Finals also will secure TOUR cards.

The field for this week's Chiquita Classic in Davidson, N.C., includes Bolli, Kisner, Parel, Swafford and Todd.

The Web.com Tour Finals, a competition featuring the top 70 money winners for the 2013 Web.com Tour regular season and Nos. 126-200 on the PGA TOUR's 2013 FedExCup standings, is contested over four events. The 25 players who have already locked up cards won't count against the 25 additional cards that will be awarded during the Finals.

• Chip Beck came in 77th in the Champions Tour's Shaw Charity Classic at 5-over. He is scheduled to play this week in the Montreal Championship.

• The Bulldogs will open the 2013-14 schedule Friday through Sunday in the Carpet Capital Collegiate in Rocky Face, Ga. Check back later in the week for a full preview.

• Just a reminder that the 2013 Bulldog Open is slated for Friday at the UGA Golf Course.

• A reminder that this is YOUR blog. If you have any news you want to share, please do so by emailing Denise Saliba (dsaliba@sports.uga.edu).

Six Bulldogs Advance In FedExCup Playoffs; Kisner, Todd Secure PGA TOUR Cards For 2014

Bubba Watson came in 13th at The Barclays last week.

The six former Bulldogs in the FedExCup Playoffs advanced among the Top 100 following The Barclays, highlighted by Erik Compton's leap to No. 94.

Compton, a two-time heart transplant recipient, was 117th at the beginning of the week. On Sunday, he sank a 5-foot, 9-inch putt on the final hole to cap a 1-under 70 to tie for 43rd and move to 94th in the FedExCup Playoffs.

The five other Bulldogs already were within the Top 100 and were able to maintain that status. Following the Barclays, their standings are now: No. 26 Harris English, No. 27 Bubba Watson, No. 33 Russell Henley, No. 47 Chris Kirk, No. 88 Brian Harman and No. 94 Compton.

Following this week's Deutsche Bank Championship (which will run Friday through Monday) in Norton, Mass., the top 70 will move onto the BMW Championship in Lake Forest, Ill. The top 30 after that event will play in Atlanta in the TOUR Championship.

Watson came in 13th at The Barclays at 7-under, while Compton was 43rd at even-par 284. English, Henley, Kirk and Harman missed the cut.

• Former Bulldogs Kevin Kisner and Brendon Todd secured PGA TOUR cards for next season by finishing the regular season in the Top 25 of the Web.com Tour's money leaders. Kisner came in 13th and Todd, who won the Stadion Classic at UGA earlier this year, placed 20th following play in the Cox Classic.

The Top 25 will move onto the four-tournament Web.com Tour Finals, where they will be joined by the PGA TOUR players who finished 126-200 in the FedExCup standings.  Another 25 cards will go to those players who earn the most cumulative money in the four Finals events.

A Web.com Tour Finals money list reflecting earnings in the four Finals' events will be in effect, with all players starting with $0. For those in the Finals, a player's finish on the Finals' money list will determine his position within the PGA TOUR priority ranking, which is used to form fields for TOUR events, with two exceptions. The Web.com Tour's leading money winner during the regular season and the player who earns the most money during the Web.com Tour Finals will be fully exempt, meaning each is guaranteed a spot in PGA TOUR events the following season (excluding invitationals). Both will earn invitations to THE PLAYERS. The 48 remaining players will be slotted next in priority after the top 125 off the FedExCup points list.

The Finals will begin this week with the Hotel Fitness Championship in Fort Wayne, Ind. Justin Bolli (who was 150th in the FedExCup standings), Kisner, Todd, Scott Parel and Hudson Swafford are in the field.

Parel. who came in 31st on the money list, placed 33rd at the Cox Classic. Kisner, Ryuji Imada, Paul Claxton and Richard Scott missed the cut and Swafford withdrew.

• The Champions Tour continues with the Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary. Chip Beck is slated to participate.

• The Bulldogs will open their 2013-14 season Sept. 6-8 at the Carpet Capital Collegiate in Rocky Face, Ga.

• The 2013 Bulldog Open is slated for Friday, Sept. 6, at the UGA Golf Course. Call (706) 369-6066 for information on fielding a team and/or becoming a sponsor.

• Congratulations to David Boyd, who has been chosen as the recipient of the Bill Hartman Award. Boyd was the SEC medalist in 1962 and has been one of Georgia Golf's greatest supporters. He will be recognized at the Georgia-LSU football game Sept. 28. Named for Georgia's long-time kicking coach and chairman of the Georgia Student Educational Fund, the award has been given annually since 1992 and recognizes former Georgia student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence in their profession and/or in service to others by 20 or more years of superior performance after graduation. Only former varsity athletes who have received a baccalaureate degree from Georgia can be considered for the award. 

• A reminder that this is YOUR blog. If you have any news you want to share, please do so by emailing Denise Saliba (dsaliba@sports.uga.edu).

Six Bulldogs Advance To FedExCup Playoffs

Brian Harman is one of the six Bulldogs in the FedExCup Playoffs.

The seventh edition of the PGA TOUR's FedExCup Playoffs will begin this week after the top 125 players in points — including six former Bulldogs — were determined following Sunday's final round of the Wyndham Championship.

Erik Compton, Harris English, Brian Harman, Russell Henley, Chris Kirk and Bubba Watson will be playing this week at The Barclays at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J. Watson has appeared in all seven FedExCup Playoffs.

Harman will tee off at noon on Thursday, followed by English and Watson at 12:44 p.m., Kirk at 12:55 p.m., Henley at 1:06 p.m. and Compton at 1:39 p.m.

While there is no specific threshold of points that are needed to reach and advance in the FedExCup Playoffs, the following is a best-guess template to follow:
• The top 125 in points make The Barclays.
• The top 100 in points advance to the Deutsche Bank Championship (550 points or more).
• The top 70 in points advance to the BMW Championship (807 points or more).
• The top 30 in points advance to the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola (1,556 points or more) in Atlanta, where the FedExCup champ will be crowned. The top five at the TOUR Championship will control their own destiny and likely will need 3,182 points or more to fall into that category.

The Bulldogs' current points totals are English (19th, 1,134), Henley (24th, 1,048), Kirk (31st, 904), Watson (38th, 830), Harman (80th, 578) and Compton (117th, 422).

With his third-place finish at the Wyndham Championship, Harman skyrocketed from No. 115 to No. 80 in the FedExCup standings.

The Web.com Tour stop this week is the Cox Classic at Champions Run in Omaha, Neb. Scheduled to participate are Paul Claxton, Ryuji Imada, Kevin Kisner, Scott Parel, Richard Scott, Hudson Swafford and Brendon Todd. Adam Mitchell is listed among the alternates.

The 25 leading money winners at the end of the regular season will be guaranteed PGA TOUR cards for 2014. Kisner is 12th with $177,116 and Todd is 18th with $152,828. Parel is 28th with $128,957 — approximately $6,200 behind No. 25.

Four Bulldogs Seek U.S. Amateur Title

Senior Michael Cromie and three teammates are playing this week in the U.S. Amateur.

Georgia has four members of the 2013-14 team playing this week in the United States Amateur.

Rising senior Michael Cromie, rising juniors Nicholas Reach and Sam Straka, and incoming freshman Greyson Sigg are in the field in Massachusetts at The Country Club in Brookline and the Charles River Country Club in Newton Centre.

Reach will tee off at 7:20 a.m. Monday, followed by Cromie at 12:45 p.m., Straka at 1:20 p.m. and Sigg at 1:30 p.m. On Tuesday, Cromie will start at 7:45 a.m., Straka will play at 7:50 a.m., Sigg will begin at 8 a.m. and Reach will tee off at 12:35 p.m.

After the two days of stroke play, the top 64 will advance to the match play portion of the tournament.

The Golf Channel will air the first- and second-round matches and the quarterfinals Wednesday (4-6 p.m.), Thursday (noon-2 p.m.) and Friday (9-11 p.m.). NBC will show the semifinals on Saturday and the championship match on Sunday, with coverage each day going from 4-6 p.m.

Vinny Giles in 1972 is the only Bulldog to ever win the U.S. Amateur.

• The PGA TOUR stop this week is the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro. N.C. The field includes Justin Bolli, Erik Compton, Brian Harman and Chris Kirk, while Brendon Todd is listed among the alternates.

• Kirk was the top Bulldog at the PGA Championship, placing 57th at 7-over. Harris English took 61st at 8-over, while Bubba Watson and Russell Henley missed the cut.

• A large group of Bulldogs will play in the Web.com Tour's News Sentinel Open at Fox Den Country Club in Knoxville, Tenn.: Paul Claxton, Ryuji Imada, Kevin Kisner, Scott Parel, Richard Scott, Hudson Swafford and Brendon Todd.

• Claxton was 19th at 12-under in the Price Cutter Charity Championship last weekend. Parel, Swafford and Scott missed the cut.

• In the all-important Top 25 money leaders on the Web.com Tour, Kisner ranks 14th, Todd ranks 17th and Parel ranks 24th. At the end of the season, the Top 25 will receive PGA TOUR cards for 2014. Another 25 TOUR cards will be awarded based on the three-tournament Web.com Tour Finals following the regular season.

• Chip Beck will tee it up this week in the Champions Tour's Dick's Sporting Goods Open at En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, New York.

• The 2013 Bulldog Open is slated for Friday, Sept. 6, at the UGA Golf Course. Call (706) 369-6066 for information on fielding a team and/or becoming a sponsor.

• A reminder that this is YOUR blog. If you have any news you want to share, please do so by emailing Denise Saliba (dsaliba@sports.uga.edu).

Four Bulldogs To Play In PGA Championship

Harris English appeared in The Golf Channel's "Playing Lessons" recently.

Four Bulldogs will be in the field at the PGA Championship this week.

Harris English, Russell Henley, Chris Kirk and Bubba Watson are scheduled to tee it up Thursday through Sunday at Oak Hill Country Club in Town of Pittsford, New York.

Here are the first- and second-round tee times for the Bulldogs: Watson (1:05 p.m. and 7:55 a.m.), Henley (12:50 p.m. and 7:40 a.m.), English (1 p.m. and 7:50 a.m.) and Kirk (2:20 p.m. and 9:10 a.m.).

TNT will televise the PGA Championship from 1-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. CBS will take over Saturday and Sunday from 2-7 p.m.

• U.S. Amateur qualifiers Michael Cromie (a rising senior) and Greyson Sigg (an incoming freshman) were interviewed by WSB Channel 2 in Atlanta on Tuesday. Their interviews will air during the Bulldogs Gameweek broadcast Saturday at 10 a.m.

• In case you missed it, English recently appeared on The Golf Channel's Playing Lessons With The Pros. For some behind-the-scenes moments from his segment at Sea Island Golf Club, click here.

• English was the top Bulldog at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. He placed 14th at 2-under. Watson was 27th at 4-over.

• At last weekend's Reno-Tahoe Open, Brian Harman was 11th with 28 points in the Stableford scoring system, followed by Brendon Todd in 13th with 27, Justin Bolli in 32nd with 22 and Ryuji Imada in 68th with eight.

• The Web.com Tour stop this week is the Price Cutter Charity Championship at Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield, Mo. Paul Claxton, Scott Parel, Hudson Swafford, Kevin Kisner, Imada, Richard Scott and Todd are in the field.

• At the Mylan Classic at Southpointe Golf Club in Canonsburg, Pa., Swafford came in 10th at 5-under. Kisner was 21st at 2-under, Claxton was 27th at 1-under and Scott missed the cut.

• In the all-important Top 25 money leaders on the Web.com Tour, Kisner ranks 12th, Todd ranks 15th and Parel ranks 22. At the end of the season, the Top 25 will receive PGA TOUR cards for 2014. Another 25 TOUR cards will be awarded based on the three-tournament Web.com Tour Finals following the regular season.

• The 2013 Bulldog Open is slated for Friday, Sept. 6, at the UGA Golf Course. Call (706) 369-6066 for information on fielding a team and/or becoming a sponsor.

• Georgia remains in second place in the Rivals Cup standings for both the PGA TOUR and the Web.com Tour. Following last weekend's action on the PGA TOUR, Georgia Tech has 5,497 FedExCup points, while the Bulldogs have 5,287. Using the Web.com Tour's money list, Pepperdine is first with $717,390 and Georgia is next with $610,337.

• A reminder that this is YOUR blog. If you have any news you want to share, please do so by emailing Denise Saliba (dsaliba@sports.uga.edu).

Four Bulldogs Qualify For United States Am; Odom Named Coach At Western Carolina

Nicholas Reach has qualified for the United States Amateur.

Four members of the Georgia men's golf team have qualified for the United States Amateur.

Rising senior Michael Cromie, rising juniors Nicholas Reach and Sam Straka, and incoming freshman Greyson Sigg advanced from regional qualifying tournaments that concluded this week. 

The U.S. Amateur is slated for Aug. 12-18 in Massachusetts at The Country Club in Brookline and the Charles River Country Club in Newton Centre.

Cary, N.C., native Cromie tied for the top spot at the Country Club of Whispering Pines in North Carolina with a total of 138.

Reach, a native of Moscow, Pa., placed second in the event held at Cane Brook Country Club in Summitt, New Jersey, firing 137. 

Sigg, a native of Augusta, won the qualifier held at the Athens Country Club with a two-round total of 135. Straka, who hails from Valdosta, came in second, two shots back at 137.

Reach (2012) and Cromie (2011) will be playing in the U.S. Amateur for the second time, while Sigg and Straka will be making their first appearances. Said Reach, "The U.S. Amateur is a different feeling than any other tournament I've played. What I learned last year is going to help me tremendously this year."

• Former Georgia All-American Bryant Odom has been named the head coach at Western Carolina. Odom spent the last two seasons as the assistant coach at Wisconsin.

"I could not be more excited about the opportunity ahead of me at Western Carolina," said Odom. "My sincerest thanks go to Coach (Michael) Burcin who trusted me as his assistant over the past two years in Madison. I learned a great deal from him and will always be grateful for my experience at the University of Wisconsin. Looking ahead at Western Carolina, there is great potential because of the strength of current players, vision within the athletic department and support from the Cullowhee area. This region is also full of talented prospects. Abbi and I fell in love with Cullowhee on our initial visit and can't wait to settle into the community."

Odom played for the Bulldogs from 1999 through 2002, winning SEC medalist honors and All-America honors in 2001. He also served as a graduate assistant for Coach Chris Haack in 2009 and 2010.

Odom is married to the former Abbi Francis, who was a two-year letter winner for the Georgia women's golf team.

• The PGA TOUR stop this week is the Reno-Tahoe Open in Nevada. Justin Bolli, Ryuji Imada, Brendon Todd and Brian Harman are in the field.

• At last weekend's RBC Canadian Open, Chris Kirk and Bubba Watson came in 21st at 8-under, while Erik Compton, Harman and Bolli missed the cut.

• The Web.com Tour event this week is the Mylan Classic in Pennsylvania. Paul Claxton, Hudson Swafford, Kevin Kisner, Ryuji Imada and Richard Scott are slated to compete. Kisner won the Mylan Classic in 2010 for his first Web.com Tour win.

• At last weekend's Albertsons Boise Open, Claxton paced the Bulldogs as he finished 31st at 15-under. Scott finished 14-under for 33rd and Imada was 11-under for 53rd. Scott Parel, Swafford and Kisner missed the cut.

• Georgia remains in second place in the Rivals Cup standings for both the PGA TOUR and the Web.com Tour. Following last weekend's action on the PGA TOUR, Georgia Tech has 5,450 FedExCup points, while the Bulldogs have 5,053. Using the Web.com Tour's money list, Pepperdine is first with $651,206 and Georgia is next with $598,518.

• The 2013 Bulldog Open is slated for Friday, Sept. 6, at the UGA Golf Course. Call (706) 369-6066 for information on fielding a team and/or becoming a sponsor.

• UGA graduate Tony Parker has an interesting job in Scotland. Read about it here.

• A reminder that this is YOUR blog. If you have any news you want to share, please do so by emailing Denise Saliba (dsaliba@sports.uga.edu).