Nationwide Tour Championship

The Nationwide Tour Championship starts today in Daniel Island, South Carolina.  Three Bulldogs are in the field of 60 in this final event of the season on the Nationwide Tour. 
Erik Compton currently sits in 14th place on the money list and is in good position to secure his PGA Tour Card for 2012.  Paul Claxton currently is in 38th place on and Justin Bolli is in 55th place on the money list.  Both Claxton and Bolli will need strong finishes in this last event of the season to move into the top 25 of the money list.

All the action can be followed live by clicking here:
http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/h045/

Bulldogs, Mitchell Win ODU/OBX Collegiate

The Dawgs posted the seventh best tournament score in program history in Winning the ODU/OBX Collegiate

Led by first-time medalist T.J. Mitchell, the 16th-ranked Georgia men’s golf team won the ODU/Outerbanks Collegiate Invitational on Tuesday to conclude the fall portion of its schedule.

At Kilmarlic Golf Club, the Bulldogs posted a final-round 12-under-par 276 to wind up at 30-under 834. Georgia pulled away on the back nine for a four-shot victory over Liberty. The Bulldogs’ 30-under tally is the seventh-best in school history.

“It was so nice to look in the eyes of all our players after this one,” said Coach Chris Haack, who has piloted the Bulldogs to 46 titles in 16 seasons. “These guys have worked so hard, and you could tell that it meant a lot to them. We’ve got a pretty green team and we’ve still got a long way to go, but we’re really going to enjoy this one. Winning a tournament is a feeling that never gets old.”

Mitchell, a junior from Albany, closed with a 5-under 67 to finish first at 15-under 201. Mitchell posted a two-shot win over Liberty’s Robert Karlsson, with whom he was paired on Tuesday. Mitchell’s 15-under score ties the school record for the second-lowest figure, trailing only Chris Kirk's 18-under 295 in the 2007 All-American Classic. Mitchell finished the tournament with three eagles and 14 birdies.

“I could not be prouder of T.J.,” Haack said. “He got off to such a great start (an 8-under 64 in the first round) and really just kept his foot on the gas. Coming in, he knew what was at stake for the team and for him individually and he never backed off. He really grew up this week.”

Keith Mitchell (no relation to T.J.) and Bryden Macpherson also recorded top-10 efforts. Mitchell shot a 10-under 206, including a final-round 4-under 68, to come in a career-best third. Macpherson signed for a 2-under 70 on Tuesday to wind up eighth at 1-under 215. Macpherson recorded three top-10 finishes in his four fall events.

Brian Carter shot a 1-under 71 on Tuesday to finish 13th at 1-over 217. Michael Cromie came in 23rd at 3-over 219, including a final-round 3-over 75.

The Bulldogs will resume their schedule Feb. 19-21 in the Puerto Rico Shootout.

PGA Tour Feature on Erik Compton

The PGA Tour has put together a video spotlight on former Bulldog, Erik Compton.  Compton, who was an All-American while a Bulldog, is currently #13 on the Nationwide Tour Money List and has secured his spot on the PGA Tour for 2012.
The video can be watched by clicking here:
http://www.pgatour.com/video/r/shows/inside_the_pga_tour/2011/10/18/shows_compton_profile_11inside42.pgatour/index.html

Georgia Golf Update-Monday October 17th

                                                                                                                                                               
English Records Top 5 Finish at Miccosukee Championship on Nationwide Tour

Harris English is now 61st on the Nationwide Tour money list

Harris English, playing in just his fourth event as a professional, finished tied for 3rd and earned $31,200 to move up to No. 61 on the money list. Harris has one more event, The Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open, to move into the top 60 on the money list to qualify for the season ending Nationwide Tour Championship.
English won the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational in July as an amateur. He turned pro at the Soboba Golf Classic, where he collected a paycheck of $2,588 for his T49 finish. English used a third-round 62 at the WNB Golf Classic in Midland, TX, as a stepping stone into a playoff with former U.S. Amateur champion Danny Lee, who won on the first extra hole. English trails No. 60 Andrew Buckle by $1,900.

Former Bulldogs playing and making the cut at the Miccosukee Championship include Justin Bolli who tied for 18th, Brendon Todd tied for 52nd, and Erik Compton tied for 57th.

Currently Erik Compton is the top Bulldog on the Nationwide Tour money list as he stands at 13th.  Paul Claxton is in 39th followed by Justin Bolli at 53rd, Harris English in 61st and Brendon Todd in 84th.


McGladrey Classic Results

Kevin Kisner and Matt McQuillan both tied for 26th at the McGladrey Classic on the PGA Tour.  Richard Scott, playing is his first PGA Tour event of the year, tied for 64th.  Both Kisner and McQuillan picked up $29,000 for the week and Scott pocketed $8,400.

The next and final event of the season on the PGA Tour is the Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals Classic being played this week. Former Bulldogs in the field will include Kevin Kisner, Matt McQuillan, and Ryuji Imada.

Champions Tour AT&T Championship

Both Chip Beck and Tim Simpson were in action at the AT&T Championship on the Champions Tour.  Beck finished tied for 47th while Simpson finished tied for 65.  

Georgia Golf Update, Friday October 14th

                                                                              
PGA Tour at Sea Island for McGladrey Classic

With the PGA Tour making a stop in Georgia this week, five former Bulldogs will be competing on the Seaside Course at Sea Island.  Ryuji Imada, Matt McQuillan, Chris Kirk, Kevin Kisner, and Richard Scott will be among the 132 players as the tour returns to Sea Island for the second year for the McGladry Classic. 
Richard Scott, who resides on St. Simons Island, Monday qualified this week to earn a spot in the field.

Live scoring can be followed at:
http://www.pgatour.com/r/leaderboard/

 Memories of Beck's 59 still vivid 20 years later
Stan Awtrey wrote an article for PGATour.com about Chip Beck shooting 59 on the PGA Tour 20 years ago.  Chip Beck became the second golfer to shoot 59 in a PGA Tour event when he did so at the Las Vegas Invitational.

click here to read the full article:
http://www.pgatour.com/2011/tournaments/s530/10/11/beck_recalls_59/index.html


English Making Late Push for Tour Championship

Harris English currently sits at 81st on the Nationwide Tour money list

Harris English may have graduated from the University of Georgia in May but his education is continuing on the Nationwide Tour.
English, 22, is making a late-season run to the Nationwide Tour Championship but realizes time isn't on his side. With just two full regular-season tournaments left on the schedule English is hoping to do enough.

go to PGATour.com to read the rest of an article about Harris and his success on the Nationwide Tour:
http://www.pgatour.com/2011/h/10/12/harris-english/index.html

Follow Harris and other former Bulldogs Paul Claxton, Justin Bolli, Erik Compton, and Brendon Todd at the Micosukee Champsionship this week on the Nationwide Tour.
Click here for live scoring:
http://www.pgatour.com/h/leaderboard/

Bulldogs Come In Fourth At Brickyard Championship

Macpherson tied for 12th at The Brickyard Collegiate

The 16th-ranked Georgia men’s golf team fired the lowest score of the third round to close out its showing in the Brickyard Collegiate Championship on Sunday.

At Riverside at the Brickyard, the Bulldogs shot a 7-under 281, which was Sunday’s lowest loop and was the second-lowest round of the three-day event. Georgia wound up in fourth at 8-over 872, with team honors going to Georgia Tech at 16-under 848.

“I was proud of the way the guys hung in there,” Georgia coach Chris Haack said. “With a young team, every day is so critical to the process. We know we’re going to make some mistakes along the way, but we’re learning and getting valuable experience every time we tee it up. This was definitely a positive day for us, and it’s one that we can build on.”

Junior Bryden Macpherson paced the Bulldogs on Sunday with a 3-under 69. Freshman Sepp Straka signed for a 2-under 70, while junior T.J. Mitchell and freshman Nicholas Reach each carded a 1-under 71. Sophomore Brian Carter had the Bulldogs’ non-counting score of 6-over 78.

Macpherson finished 12th individually --- his third top-20 in as many outings this season --- at 1-over 217. Medalist honors went to Florida State’s Brooke Koepka at 11-under 205. Carter placed 20th at 3-over 219, followed by Reach at 5-over 221, Straka at 7-over 223 and Mitchell at 8-over 224.

Playing as individuals, sophomore Michael Cromie shot a 2-over 74 on Sunday to finish at 6-over 222 and freshman Sam Straka carded a 2-under 70 for a final tally of 11-over 227.

Georgia will conclude its fall schedule Oct. 23-25 at the Old Dominion/Outerbanks Collegiate in Powells Point, N.C.

Bulldogs Ready to Defend Title at Brickyard Collegiate

The 16th-ranked Georgia men’s golf team will continue the fall portion of its schedule by playing in the Fifth Annual Brickyard Collegiate Championship this weekend.

The Bulldogs will compete Friday through Sunday at The Brickyard at Riverside trying to continue the success they have enjoyed in Macon. Georgia claimed the 2007, 2008 and 2010 team titles and boasted individual medalists in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

“The Brickyard has been kind to us through the years,” Georgia coach Chris Haack said. “We’ve got a lot of pleasant memories from this tournament. We’re bringing a new group in this year, but they know about our history at the Brickyard, and they would love nothing more than to keep it going for us.

“This is a great tournament, and it’s one that we’ll keep on our schedule as long as they have it. They do a terrific job with every part of it, and our guys really enjoy going down there.”

The Bulldogs will use a lineup of juniors Bryden Macpherson and T.J. Mitchell, sophomore Brian Carter, and freshmen Nicholas Reach and Sepp Straka. Macpherson leads the Bulldogs and is second in the SEC with a 69.5 scoring average, followed by Reach, who is ninth in the SEC, at 71.86. Georgia also will enter sophomore Michael Cromie and freshman Sam Straka as individuals, meaning their scores cannot count toward the team total.

Joining the Bulldogs and tournament host Mercer at the Brickyard will be Air Force, Augusta State, Chattanooga, Charleston, Colorado State, No. 18 Florida State, No. 5 Georgia Tech, Gonzaga, Mississippi, North Florida, Oklahoma, Texas-Arlington and Virginia Tech. Oklahoma is coached by former Georgia player and assistant coach Ryan Hybl.

The Bulldogs will tee off at 8:30 a.m. on Friday with their counterparts from Georgia Tech and Augusta State. Tee times and live scoring can be found at golfstat.com. Additional information can be found at brickyardcollegiate.org.

English Forces in Playoff on Nationwide Tour

In just his second event as a professional, Harris English fell just short of winning his second title of the season on the Nationwide Tour.

English played his way into a sudden death playoff with Danny Lee after 72 holes at the WNB Golf Classic in Midland, Texas. Aided by a third round 62, English tied Lee on 18-under, the two went to extra holes. Lee won the title with a par on the first hole of the playoff.

English was seeking his second win on the Nationwide Tour in 2011. He won the Children's Hospital Invitational in July as an amateur and turned professional before last week's Soboba Golf Classic where he finished T49.

"I didn't hit my tee shot where I wanted to in the playoff. I tried to get a good angle at the flag but kind of got a bad break but that's what happens," English said. I gave myself a chance for par and that's all I could get. I started off a little slow today with a bogey at No. 1 but the eagle at No. 12 really got me going and got me back in it and I kind of cruised in from there. Overall, it was a good day. I was just glad I was in it."

With his second-place finish, English earned $56,700 and he moved to 79th on the 2011 money list while fellow Bulldog Brendon Todd finished in a tie for 10th.

Both English and Todd will be playing again this week when the Nationwide Tour stops in Chattanooga, TN for the Childrens's Hospital Classic.  They will be joined by Bulldogs,  Paul Claxton, Erik Compton, and Justin Bolli.