McCoy Wins Again As Bulldogs Finish Second

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Georgia’s Lee McCoy continued his recent hot streak by sharing medalist honors at the Seahawk Intercollegiate on Monday at the Country Club of Landfall.

McCoy, a junior, finished at even-par 216, including a final-round 2-over 74. McCoy and Virginia Commonwealth’s Adam Ball were declared co-medalists.

McCoy won for the second straight week, for the third time this season and for the fourth time in his career. He also has finished second, fourth, fifth, 11th and 12th, and his season average is now 69.91. Last week, he was chosen as the National Golfer of the Week by Golfweek and as the Co-Golfer of the Week by the Southeastern Conference.

“Lee is playing with a tremendous amount of confidence right now,” Georgia coach Chris Haack said. “He really believes he can go out and win every time we tee it up. A team with a leader like that really has the potential to succeed.”

The Bulldogs shot the lowest score of the third round only to come up just short in the team competition. Georgia’s closing loop of 5-over 293 landed it at 21-over 885. Campbell claimed team honors at 16-over 880. Rounding out the top five were Army (22-over 886), Virginia Commonwealth (28-over 892) and Harvard (35-over 899).

Freshman Zach Healy paced the Bulldogs on Monday at 1-under 71, followed by McCoy, senior Nicholas Reach and sophomore Greyson Sigg all at 2-over 74. Junior Sepp Straka had the Bulldogs’ non-counting score of 4-over 76.

Healy placed third at 2-over 218, while Reach wound up at 10-over 226, Straka checked in at 11-over 227 and Sigg finished 38th at 13-over 229.

Playing as an individual, senior Mookie DeMoss came in third at 2-over 218 after closing with a 1-over 73.

The Bulldogs will return to action Saturday and Sunday in the 3M Augusta Invitational at Forest Heights Golf Club.

• Brian Harman, Kevin Kisner, Hudson Swafford, Russell Henley and Erik Compton will be in action this week in the Shell Houston Open.

• Chris Kirk was the top Bulldog in the Valero Texas Open as he placed eighth at 1-under. Kevin Kisner was 26th at 3-over, followed by Harris English in 30th at 4-over and Hudson Swafford in 35th at 5-over. Brian Harman missed the cut.

• The Bulldogs continue to lead the Rivals Cup standings with $7.7 million in earnings this season. UNLV is second with $5.4 million.

Bulldogs Playing In 2015 Seahawk Intercollegiate

The Georgia men’s golf team will continue to work its way toward the postseason when the Bulldogs play next week in the 2015 Seahawk Intercollegiate.

Georgia will play Sunday and Monday at Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C. The tournament features 36 holes on Sunday and 18 on Monday.

After the Seahawk Intercollegiate, the Bulldogs’ lone remaining regular-season event will be the 3M Augusta Invitational April 4-5. Georgia then will turn its attention to the SEC Championship April 17-19 on St. Simons Island.

“Everything we do now is with an eye on the postseason,” Georgia coach Chris Haack said. “We’re playing with a lot of confidence right now and we need to keep that up over the next few weeks before the SECs. We’re excited to play in the Seahawk and to get another opportunity to compete and improve.”

The Bulldogs will use a lineup of senior Nicholas Reach, juniors Lee McCoy and Sepp Straka, sophomore Greyson Sigg and freshman Zach Healy. Senior Mookie DeMoss will compete as an individual.

The Bulldogs have two first-place finishes and a second-place effort over their past four tournaments. Georgia has won three events overall.

Joining the Bulldogs and host UNC-Wilmington will be Campbell, Old Dominion, Virginia Commonwealth, Columbia, Harvard, Georgia Washington, Loyola (Md.), Richmond, South Dakota State, Elon and George Mason.

There is no live scoring planned for this event.

What They're Saying About The Bulldogs

Several media outlets have articles or videos this week related to Georgia golf. Check them out below:

Teachings of golf coach Chris Haack spell success

No longer in the shadows, Lee McCoy adjusting to spotlight

Bubba Watson reflects on the life of friend David Miller

Brendon Todd's perseverance finally pays off

Masters is dear to Erik Compton's hearts

Russell Henley known for competitive nature

Brian Harman ready for chance at Augusta National

Bubba Watson plays 'pie golf' with Jimmy Fallon

McCoy First, Bulldogs Second In Linger Longer

Lee McCoy holds his Linger Longer Invitational trophy on Sunday.

Led by tournament medalist Lee McCoy, the Georgia men’s golf team came in second in the Linger Longer Invitational on Sunday.

McCoy, a junior, finished at 14-under-par 202, including a 5-under 67 in the final round, for a 2-shot victory over Texas’ Beau Hossler. The win is McCoy’s second of the season and the third

of his career.

McCoy’s 14-under tally is the third-lowest final score in school history (trailing only an 18-under by Chris Kirk and 15-unders by Ryan Hybl and T.J. Mitchell). He opened the tournament with a 7-under 65, which is the third-lowest loop in Georgia annals. McCoy’s season average now stands at 69.60.

McCoy led the Bulldogs’ charge as they wound up at 19-under 845, five shots shy of Texas’ 840. Georgia now has three victories and Sunday’s runner-up finish on its 2014-15 resume.

Junior Sepp Straka followed McCoy with a 3-under 69 on Sunday, while sophomore Greyson Sigg signed for a 1-under 71 and senior Mookie DeMoss posted a 6-over 78. Senior Nicholas Reach had the Bulldogs’ non-counting score of 8-over 80.

Straka placed eighth at 5-under 211, followed by Sigg at even-par 216, Reach at 2-over 218 and DeMoss at 16-over 232.

“I’m pleased with the way we played this weekend,” said Georgia coach Chris Haack. “The guys are playing with a lot of confidence right now. We’re closing in on the championship part of the season, so we’re in a pretty good place. I’m really proud of Lee for the way he performed. He was pretty steady all tournament, just like he’s been all season. He’s really been leading the way for us.”

Playing as individuals, freshman Zach Healy wound up 19th at 1-under 215, while sophomore Jaime Lopez Rivarola came in at 2-over 218 and senior Sam Straka finished at 31-over 247. Healy and Lopez Rivarola closed with 2-over 74s on Sunday and Straka had a 13-over 85.

The Bulldogs will return to action March 29-30 in the Seahawk Intercollegiate

 In Wilmington, N.C.

Bulldogs Headed To Linger Longer Invitational

The Georgia men’s golf team, winner of two of its last three events, will be trying to keep its hot streak alive this weekend in the Linger Longer Invitational.

The Linger Longer Invitational will be held Saturday and Sunday at Great Waters and Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro. The teams will play 36 holes on Saturday following an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start, then 18 holes starting at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.

The Bulldogs will use a lineup of seniors Mookie DeMoss and Nicholas Reach, juniors Lee McCoy and Sepp Straka, and sophomore Greyson Sigg. That quintet has won three times this year, including the recent Puerto Rico Classic and the Southern Intercollegiate Championships.

Senior Sam Straka, sophomore Jaime Lopez Rivarola and freshman Zach Healy will participate as individuals.

Joining the Bulldogs and co-hosts Kennesaw State and Mercer will be Alabama, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Clemson, Georgia State, Liberty, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Purdue, Texas, UNC-Greensboro and Yale.

The Bulldogs will be paired with Oklahoma, North Carolina and Mercer on Saturday.

Georgia has won the Linger Longer Invitational four times, including 2014.

David Miller Passes Away

David Miller was a three-time All-SEC
pick and a two-time All-American.

David Miller, an All-American and All-SEC performer for the Georgia men's golf team in the 2000s, passed away on Wednesday. He was 36.

Miller helped the Bulldogs win the SEC title in 1998, the first of Coach Chris Haack's career. Miller redshirted in 1999 when Georgia won the national championship, then came back to help the Bulldogs win SEC crowns in 2000 and 2001. Miller co-captained the Bulldogs in 2002.

"We are so saddened by this news," Haack said. "David was a great Bulldog. He was the consummate teammate and friend. Our program is where it is today because guys like David bought into what we wanted to do and helped lay a strong foundation. I am going to miss him so much."

Miller was named All-SEC in 1998, 2001 and 2002. He earned All-America honors in 2001 and 2002. The 2001 squad was the first to have five All-Americans from the same team without any being named Honorable Mentions (Nick Cassini, First Team; Erik Compton and Bryant Odom, Second Team; and Miller and Ryan Hybl, Third Team).

Arrangements are incomplete at this time. Please check back for more information.

Bulldogs Claim SICs Team Title

The Georgia men's golf team claimed the title on Monday in the Southern Intercollegiate Championships at Athens Country Club.

The Bulldogs fired a 1-under-par 575 in the 36-hole event to post a 13-shot victory over Georgia State. The title is the Bulldogs' third this season and the 56th in Georgia coach Chris Haack's career.

Medalist honors went to Georgia State's J.J. Grey at 4-under 140.

The Bulldogs were led by senior Nicholas Reach and junior Sepp Straka, who posted 1-under 143s and wound up fourth. Sophomore Greyson Sigg placed 10th at 1-over 145, followed by junior Lee McCoy in 12th at 2-over 146 and senior Mookie DeMoss in 17th at 3-over 147.

Playing as individuals, freshmen Zach Healy and Jaime Lopez Rivarola were fourth at 1-over 143 and senior Sam Straka came in 38th at 9-over 153.

"I'm pretty happy with the way the day went for us," Haack said. "It's always good to win, but we had to work hard to get it and that's good, too. We were up just one shot after the first round, so to see us get it going over the second 18 was gratifying. It was also good to see that we can win with a balanced effort instead of having to rely on just one guy. We got better today and we can build on this moving forward."

The SICs were the brainchild of Georgia athletic director Herman Stegeman and Athens Country Club founder Lon Dudley in 1934. The first tournament was held in 1935 and ran annually through 1942. It resumed in 1946 and was held through 1965, then was relaunched in 1975 and ran through 1990.

Previous individual medalists include Wake Forest's Arnold Palmer in 1950, Oklahoma State's Bob Tway in 1979 and Centenary's Hal Sutton in 1980. Georgia's winners include Lester Kelly in 1955, Bob Moser in 1959, Cobby Ware in 1960, Vinny Giles in 1966, Chip Beck in 1976, 1977 and 1978, Paul Claxton in 1989 and Franklin Langham in 1990.

Since the 1996-97 season, Haack has led the Bulldogs to at least one win in 17 of his 19 seasons, 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.

The Bulldogs will return to action Saturday and Sunday in the Linger Longer Invitational. Georgia is the defending champion.

Bulldogs Hosting SICs At Athens Country Club Monday

With a nod toward the program's illustrious history, the Georgia men's golf team will be hosting the Southern Intercollegiate Championships on Monday at Athens Country Club.

The 1-day, 36-hole event will begin at 8:30 and there is no cost for admission. The Bulldogs have entered nine players are set to tee off between 9:50-10:14 a.m. on the first and 10th holes.

When the Bulldogs found themselves with one extra day of competition for the spring, Bulldogs coach Chris Haack organized the event with 13 additional schools. When it came time to name the tournament, Haack chose the Southern Intercollegiate Championships.

The SICs were the brainchild of Georgia athletic director Herman Stegeman and Athens Country Club founder Lon Dudley in 1934. The first tournament was held in 1935 and ran annually through 1942. It resumed in 1946 and was held through 1965, then was relaunched in 1975 and ran through 1985.

Individual medalists include Wake Forest's Arnold Palmer in 1950, Oklahoma State's Bob Tway in 1979 and Centenary's Hal Sutton in 1980. Georgia's winners include Lester Kelly in 1955, Bob Moser in 1959, Cobby Ware in 1960, Vinny Giles in 1966, and Chip Beck in 1976, 1977 and 1978.

"We're happy to be the host school for this tournament and we're just as happy that we can dust off the old SICs name," Haack said. "We've enjoyed reading about the history of the event and what is means to our program and to Athens. Some of the giants of golf have played in this tournament. Golf has been played in this town and on this campus for a long, long time, so it's been good for our current players to learn more about the impact this tournament made."

Haack will use a lineup of seniors Mookie DeMoss and Nicholas Reach, juniors Lee McCoy and Sepp Straka, and sophomore Greyson Sigg. Georgia also will enter senior Sam Straka, sophomores Parker Derby and Jaime Lopez Rivarola, and freshman Zach Healy as individuals.

Joining the Bulldogs will be Charleston Southern, Francis Marion, Furman, Georgia Regents University, Georgia State, Lipscomb, Maryland Eastern Shore, Presbyterian, Princeton, Savannah State, Stetson, Western Carolina and Youngstown State.

Five Bulldogs Playing In Valspar Championship

• Five Bulldogs are playing in this week's Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla.: Hudson Swafford, Harris English, Kevin Kisner, Brian Harman and Erik Compton.

• At last week's World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at Doral, Bubba Watson led the way with a third-place finish at 7-under. Brendon Todd placed 23rd at 2-over, while Chris Kirk and Russell Henley were 56th at 10-over.

• Ryuji Imada missed the cut in the Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande.

• In the Web.com Tour's Cartagena de Indias at Karibana Championship in Colombia, Bryden Macpherson finished 37th at 6-over, followed by Justin Bolli in 71st at 16-over. Scott Parel missed the cut.

• Macpherson and Parel are back at it this week in the Brasil Champions presented by HSBC.

• In Las Vegas on Wednesday, the Bulldogs came in 15th in the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters at 19-over 883. Junior Lee McCoy paced the Bulldogs with an 11th-place finish at 3-under 213.

• A reminder that Georgia will be hosting the Southern Intercollegiate on Monday at Athens Country Club. The 36-hole event is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and there is no cost for admission. Joining the Bulldogs will be Charleston Southern, Francis Marion, Furman, Georgia Regents University, Georgia State, Lipscomb, Maryland Eastern Shore, Presbyterian, Princeton, Savannah State, Stetson, Western Carolina and Youngstown State.

Bulldogs Set To Tee It Up In Las Vegas

Fresh off its second victory of the season, the Georgia men’s golf team will return to action this week in Las Vegas.

The Bulldogs will play Monday through Wednesday in the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters. Georgia coach Chris Haack will use a lineup of seniors Mookie DeMoss and Nicholas Reach, juniors Lee McCoy and Sepp Straka, and sophomore Greyson Sigg. That quintet won The Carmel Cup in August and the Puerto Rico Classic last month.

“Going into Puerto Rico, our goal was to get the spring off to a good start and knock off a little rust,” Haack said. “Coming away with the win was an added bonus. Getting a victory and having all five guys contribute was a big confidence booster. We’re going into Las Vegas knowing that if we continue to play well that we can win.”

Joining the Bulldogs and tournament host UNLV will be Alabama, Arizona State, California, Illinois, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, SMU, Southern Cal, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Christian, Texas Tech and UCLA. The teams will play at Southern Highlands Golf Club, which is set up as a par-72 covering 7,510 yards.

“This is as good a field as we’ll see all season,” Haack said. “But our philosophy is, ‘Someone’s going to win, so it might as well be us.’ I just want our guys to fight and play the best they can. That’s all I ever ask for.”

The Bulldogs will be paired with Texas Tech and Texas A&M in the first round on Monday. They will tee off between 11:40 a.m. and 12:20 p.m.

Following the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters, Georgia will be hosting the Southern Intercollegiate on Monday, March 16, at Athens Country Club. The 36-hole event is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and there is no cost for admission. Joining the Bulldogs will be Charleston Southern, Francis Marion, Furman, Georgia Regents University, Georgia State, Lipscomb, Maryland Eastern Shore, Presbyterian, Princeton, Savannah State, Stetson, Western Carolina and Youngstown State.

Harman's Late Charge Lands Him 11th

Brian Harman

• Brian Harman was the top Bulldog in the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., as he finished 11th at 2-under. Harman’s tournament was punctuated by a final-round 6-under 64. Russell Henley took 44th at 5-over, while Kevin Kisner was 51st at 6-over. Harris English, Chris Kirk, Erik Compton and Hudson Swafford missed the cut.

• Four Bulldogs will compete this week in the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at Doral -- Russell Henley, Chris Kirk, Brendon Todd and Bubba Watson.

• The PGA Tour stop this week is the Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande. Ryuji Imada is the lone Bulldog in the field.

• The Web.com Tour resumes with the Cartagena de Indias at Karibana Championship in Colombia. Bryden Macpherson, Scott Parel and Justin Bolli are slated to participate.

• The Bulldogs remain atop the Rivals Cup with $5.8 million in earnings. UNLV is second with $4.0 million.

• FedExCup Standings: No. 3 Bubba Watson, No. 19 Harris English, No. 36 Russell Henley, No. 48 Chris Kirk, No. 66 Brendon Todd, No. 71 Hudson Swafford, No. 76 Brian Harman, No. 100 Kevin Kisner and No. 120 Erik Compton.

• World Golf Rankings: No. 3 Bubba Watson, No. 22 Chris Kirk, No. 51 Brendon Todd, No. 56 Russell Henley and No. 57 Harris English.

• Presidents Cup standings: No. 2 Bubba Watson, No. 5 Chris Kirk, No. 13 Harris English, No. 24 Brendon Todd, No. 28 Russell Henley, No. 32 Brian Harman, No. 58 Erik Compton, No. 67 Kevin Kisner and No. 74 Hudson Swafford.

• We'll have more later this week, but just a reminder that the Bulldogs will return to action March 9-11 in the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters in Las Vegas.