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.

English and Henley Make Pro Debuts on Nationwide Tour

Harris English and Russell Henley will make their pro debuts today on the Nationwide Tour

After being roommates in college, teammates for four years, and after just representing the U.S. at the Walker Cup, Russell Henley and Harris English will make their pro debuts at this week’s Soboba Classic on the Nationwide Tour.
English accepted Nationwide Tour membership after his victory at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational. Henley is competing on a sponsor exemption. Henley could not accept membership because he waited more than 60 days to turn pro after his victory at the Stadion Classic at UGA. 
Harris will have 5 tournaments  left on the Nationwide schedule to play his way into the top 60, who qualify for the season ending Nationwide Tour Championship. 
Henley will have to rely on sponsor exemptions on the Nationwide Tour for the remaining events if he were to not finish inside the top 25 this week.

Live scoring can be followed on the Nationwide Tour website at:
http://www.pgatour.com/h/leaderboard/

Macpherson, Bulldogs Take Second In Adams Cup

Macpherson, Bulldogs Take Second in Adams Cup

Junior Bryden Macpherson and the 15th-ranked Georgia men's golf team each came in second on Tuesday in the Adams Cup of Newport.

The Bulldogs fired a final-round 1-under 287 to close at 13-under 851, nine shots behind Central Florida (842), which won the tournament for the second straight year.

Macpherson notched a career high with his runner-up effort as he finished at 10-under 206, including a 4-under 68 in the final round. Medalist honors went to Central Florida's Ricardo Gouveia, who finished two strokes ahead of Macpherson. Macpherson came in third in the season-opening Carpet Capital Collegiate in what was then his career-best finish.

"While I am a little disappointed that we did not win the golf tournament, I am excited about the way we played and the progress this team continues to make," Georgia coach Chris Haack said. "We've got a young group, but they are talented and they are getting better and better each week. I am very proud of Bryden. That's two top-5s for him right out of the gate. He's been a real leader for us and he's been a real presence in that No. 1 spot."

Freshman Nicholas Reach placed seventh at 2-under 214 as he fired a final-round 3-over 75. Junior T.J. Mitchell had an even-par 72 on Tuesday to finish in 14th at 1-over 217. Sophomore Michael Cromie (2-over 74 on Tuesday) and freshman Sepp Straka (73) each wound up at 5-over 221.

The Bulldogs will return to action on Sunday in a tri-match against Princeton and Army. The event will take place at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., and will start at 1 p.m.

Macpherson, Reach Pace Bulldogs In Adams Cup

Junior Bryden Macpherson and the Bulldogs lead in Rhode Island

Behind strong starts from Bryden Macpherson and Nicholas Reach, the 15th-ranked Georgia men's golf team grabbed first place on Monday at the Adams Cup of Newport.

Playing 36 holes at Newport National Golf Club, the Bulldogs logged loops of 1-over par 289 and 13-under 275 for a total of 12-under 564. Georgia will enter Tuesday's final round at Carnegie Abbey Club with a three-stroke advantage over Central Florida.

Macpherson is tied for the tournament lead at 6-under 138 after signing for an even-par 72 and a 6-under 66. Reach is one shot back at 5-under 139 with scores of 5-under 67 and even-par 72.

"It feels good to be sitting atop the leaderboard," Georgia coach Chris Haack said. "We've got three guys in the top 20 (Macpherson, Reach and T.J. Mitchell), and when you can do that, you've got a shot. We've got an important day ahead of us on Tuesday, but I am pleased thus far with our efforts."

Mitchell is 17th at 1-over 145 following rounds of 4-over 76 and 3-under 69. Sophomore Michael Cromie posted loops of 2-over 74 and 1-over 73 for a total of 3-over 147. Freshman Sepp Straka opened with an 8-over 80 but rebounded with a 4-under 68 to stand at 4-over 148.

Georgia Golfers To Tee It Up In Rhode Island

The 15th-ranked Georgia men’s golf team will resume the fall portion of its schedule this week in Rhode Island in the 18th Annual Adams Cup of Newport/Cleveland Golf Classic.

The tournament will consist of 36 holes on Monday at The Orchard Course at Newport National Golf Club and 18 holes on Tuesday at Carnegie Abbey Club. Georgia’s only other appearance in the event took place in 2002, with the Bulldogs coming in third.

Joining the Bulldogs and host Rhode Island will be Boston College, Brown, Bryant, Central Connecticut, Central Florida, Connecticut, Dartmouth, DePaul, Hartford, Holy Cross, Nova Southeastern, Rollins, St. Joseph’s, Temple, Texas Tech, Villanova and Yale. The 19-team field incorporates 12 different conferences.

“I am really excited about this tournament,” Georgia coach Chris Haack said. “We’re going to see some teams we don’t normally see and we’re going to play in a part of the country we’ve rarely been to. This tournament has a strong history, and we’re proud to be a part of it this year.”

Haack will use a lineup of juniors Bryden Macpherson and T.J. Mitchell, sophomore Michael Cromie, and freshmen Nicholas Reach and Sepp Straka. That quintet placed seventh in the season-opening Carpet Capital Collegiate Sept. 9-11. Macpherson led the way with a career-best third-place finish at 5-under 211.

“We saw a lot of positive things in the first tournament, things that we can build on as we move forward,” Haack said.

Additional information about the Adams Cup can be found at Rhode Island’s website, GoRhody.com.