This past June, "Go Dawgs!" was being heard all over the Pebble Beach Golf Links during the U.S. Open. Current team members Hudson Swafford, Russell Henley, and former Bulldog All-American Erik Compton, qualified for the 110th playing of the U.S. Open be advancing through sectional qualifying.
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| Russell Henley, Coach Chris Haack, Erik Compton, and Hudson Swafford |
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| Swafford at the 2010 U.S. Open |
Hudson Swafford won both his local and sectional qualifiers for the Open. The qualifiers represented his return to competitive golf after sitting out the 2009-'10 college season to have surgery to repair his torn cartilage in his shoulder. Swafford's sectional qualifier was in Germantown, TN and also included numerous PGA Tour pros who were playing in the St. Jude Classic that same week in Memphis. Hudson finished one shot clear of runners-up, Mathias Gronberg and Paul Goydos after firing rounds of 67 and 65 to stand at 10 under. Playing in his first round of a major championship, Hudson made quite a splash by being tied for the round one lead at one point during the day.
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| Henley on 18 at Pebble Beach |
Russell Henley was also playing in his first major championship by virtue of him winning his sectional qualifier at Settindown Creek in Roswell, GA. Henley finished 5 shots clear of the field thanks to a second round 64. The 2010 College Player of the Year made the cut and tied for low amateur by finishing tied for 16th place. During the final round, Henley was paired with Tom Watson in front of an overflowing gallery. Coming up 18, Henley was greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd to recognize his play for the week.
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| Erik Compton |
Erik Compton also made the field at the Open. Erik continues to play golf competitively, despite having endured two heart transplants in his life. During the first two rounds, Compton and Henley were paired together and were joined by Coach Haack in the gallery. Compton has gained conditional status for the Nationwide Tour in 2011 and is scheduled to play here at UGA in the Stadion Athens Classic in May.
