Bulldogs Set For SEC Championship

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. --- The Georgia men's golf team will join its fellow league members this weekend in the new-look Southeastern Conference Championship at the Sea Island Golf Club.

The SEC Championship will run Friday through Monday on the par-70, 6,898-yard layout on the Seaside Course. The defending champion, Georgia is ranked No. 25 by Golfstat in this week's polls.

Georgia will use a lineup of senior Greyson Sigg, sophomores Jack Larkin Jr. and Tye Waller, and freshmen Trevor Phillips and Spencer Ralston. Sigg leads the Bulldogs with a scoring average of 70.42, followed by Ralston at 71.23, Waller at 72.13, Phillips at 73.36 and Larkin at 73.91. Sigg and Waller are the only Bulldogs in the quintet with postseason experience.

Under the tournament’s new format, the Bulldogs and their conference counterparts will log 36 holes of stroke play on Friday. After an additional 18 holes of stroke play starting at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, the teams will be seeded based on standings for match play. The medalist also will be crowned after Saturday's competition. Two rounds of match play are slated for Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The advancing two teams will square off on Monday at 7:30 a.m.

"If you can't get excited this time of the year, there's something wrong," Georgia head coach Chris Haack said. "There's a great deal of pride attached to this one. The expectation, as always, is to win. And with this format, we're all in uncharted territory. Match play gives everybody a chance to be the champion. It's anybody's ballgame, anything can happen. Anybody can win it, so why not us?"

Georgia is slated to play Friday with Ole Miss and Missouri, with the first and second rounds beginning at 8:40 a.m. and 1:55 p.m., respectively.

Live results and tee times can be found at Golfstat.com.

Georgia has been a dominant force at the SECs, winning a league-best 29 conference titles. Under Haack, the Bulldogs have secured eight SEC titles, including six of the tournaments held at Sea Island. Georgia also boasts 16 SEC medalists, including Haack protégés Bryant Odom (2001), Brendon Todd (2004),  Russell Henley (2010) and Lee McCoy (2016).

This marks the 17th year for the SECs to be contested on the Sea Island Golf Club's Seaside Course. The SEC has conducted its annual championship on St. Simons Island since 2001 (Seaside Course 2001-2007, 2010-present; Frederica Golf Club 2008-2009).

The SEC is as strong as ever with three schools ranked in the top 10 and four others in the top 25.​

• Chris Kirk is the lone Bulldog in the Valero Texas Open this week,

Sigg, McCoy Perform Well In Q School

Georgia senior Greyson Sigg came in third and former Bulldog Lee McCoy took 14th in the Mackenzie Tour - Canada’s qualifying school at Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club on Friday.

Every player inside the top 40 and ties earned Mackenzie Tour status for 2017. Sigg will be exempt for the first eight events once his Georgia career ends in May. McCoy, who completed his eligibility in 2016, will be exempt for the first four events.

The first tournament is the Freedom 55 Financial Open scheduled for June 1-4 in Vancouver.

“My confidence is up, I’m playing well, and I’ve just got to go there and play good golf and see what happens,” Sigg said. “It’s a stress reliever to know I’ve got a set schedule. I’m glad I have a place to play and I’m looking forward to heading up there.”

Sigg wound up at 14-under 274, including rounds of 71, 67, 67 and 69. He finished just one shot behind Robby Shelton and Jhared Hack at 15-under 273. McCoy landed at 8-under 280, featuring a third-round 68. Former Bulldog Mookie DeMoss finished 57th at 1-over 289.

Sigg and his Georgia teammates will be back in action next Friday in the SEC Championship at Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island.​

• Russell Henley, Brian Harman, Kevin Kisner, Chris Kirk and Harris English will be in action this week in the RBC Heritage.

• Scott Parel is playing in the Champions Tour's Mitsubishi Electric Classic at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth.

• Slots are still available for the Coach Chris Haack Golf Camp, which will be held June 4-7 and June 8-11 for both boys and girls ages 10-18.

Bulldog Golf Mourns The Loss Of William Charles Adams Jr.

Bulldog Golf mourns the loss of William Charles Adams Jr., who passed away on Sunday in Thomasville. Mr. Adams, who lettered for Georgia in 1960, was 78.

Memorial services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Thomasville First United Methodist Church. Mr. Adams passed away April 2 at Camellia Gardens.

Mr. Adams was an Honor graduate of Valdosta High School and the University Of Georgia School Of Pharmacy. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a Medical Service Officer. He had a long and rewarding career as a Pharmacist and maintained a close relationship with many of his customers after retirement. As a member of the Church he loved singing in the choir and the fellowship with Sunday school class and church members. He enjoyed working at The Thomas County Food Bank and served on the board of the Thomas County Med Bank.

Mr. Adams was an avid golfer and fisherman. He especially enjoyed introducing young people to golf, a game he loved.

He is survived by his wife Bettye Day Adams; brother Larry Phillips Adams (Judy); children William Charles III (Candace); Piper (Brian); William Greer (Jennifer); Lane Clark (Richard); Sara Catherine Vaughn (David); Molly Wilson; stepsons Jeff Rawlings and Steve Rawlings (Lori); and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Thomasville First United Church, PO Box 975, Thomasville Ga 31799 or the Lawson-Neel MedBank, PO Box 5756, Thomasville, Ga 31758.

Henley Earns Masters Berth

Russell Henley holds the trophy after winning the Houston Open golf tournament, Sunday, April 2, 2017, in Humble, Texas. Henley won the tournament by three shots over Sung Kang. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

HUMBLE, Texas (AP) — Russell Henley no longer gets to take a week off, and he couldn't be happier. He's going to the Masters.

Henley overcame a four-shot deficit Sunday in the Houston by closing with a 7-under 65 for a three-shot victory, one of the most important final rounds of his career. Only later did he realize it might have his best.

He made 10 birdies. He never went more than two holes without a birdie.

"I made 10 birdies today?" he asked. "Oh, wow. Wow. Yeah, then I guess it's definitely the best."

Henley ran off five of them in the opening eight holes to briefly catch up to Sung Kang, only to make a double bogey from the bunker on the par-3 ninth at the Golf Club of Houston. Only the 27-year-old from Georgia was just getting warmed up.

The decisive stretch came on the par-5 13th, where Henley and Kang were tied for the lead. Henley pitched to 3 feet for birdie, while Kang missed from 15 feet. On the par-3 14th, Henley rolled in a 35-foot birdie putt on the fast greens, cut to try to mimic what players will face at Augusta National. Kang did well to save par from 6 feet. And then Henley raced out to a three-shot advantage with another up-and-down for birdie on the par-5 15th.

He finished with a bogey for 20-under 268, three shots ahead of Kang.

Henley won for the third time in his PGA Tour career, and his first since a playoff victory over Rory McIlroy in the 2014 Honda Classic. He was in danger of missing the Masters for the second straight year until winning the Houston Open, the only way into Augusta National at this point.

"I wasn't expecting to go back to Augusta," he said. "I was planning on not going, but I was going to try my best to win. So, the fact I get to go back is pretty cool and I'm excited. It hasn't really sunk in yet."

Henley became the third player in the last four years to win the Houston Open and earn a trip to the Masters. He will join Kevin Kisner, Bubba Watson and Hudson Swafford as the Bulldogs in Augusta.

Sigg Chosen As The SEC Golfer Of The Week

Georgia's Greyson Sigg has been chosen as the Southeastern Conference Male Golfer of the Week, according to an announcement by the league office.

Sigg, a senior from Augusta, claimed medalist honors at the Linger Longer Invitational at Great Waters Golf Course on March 21. Sigg had a tournament total of 16-under 200 — setting his personal best and matching the second-best figure in school history — as he won by five shots over Baylor’s Matthew Perrine. Sigg fired a personal-best-tying 7-under 65 in the second round.

The win is the fourth of Sigg’s career and the first this season. He has five top-10s and six top-20s in eight stroke-play events this year.

Sigg and his Georgia teammates will return to action in the 39th annual 3M Augusta Invitational Saturday and Sunday at Forest Hills Golf Club. The Bulldogs will use a lineup of Sigg, sophomore Tye Waller, and freshmen Will Chandler, Trevor Phillips and Spencer Ralston.

• Harris English, Brian Harman, Hudson Swafford and Russell Henley are playing this week in the Shell Houston Open.

Sigg Claims Medalist Honors At Linger Longer

Greyson Sigg became Georgia's first medalist of the season on Tuesday as he won the Linger Longer Invitational at Great Waters Golf Course.

Sigg, a senior from Augusta, fired a final-round 4-under 68 to wind up at 16-under 200 --- five shots better than Baylor's Matthew Perrine. Sigg's 16-under tournament total eclipsed his previous best of 12-under at the Carmel Cup and the Ka'anapali Classic earlier this season.

The win is the fourth of Sigg's career. He won three tournaments a year ago --- the Carmel Cup, the Southern Intercollegiate Championships and the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional.

"I could not be any prouder of Greyson," Georgia coach Chris Haack said. "He has been rock solid for us this season. He's our captain leading both on and off the golf course. He struck the ball great this week and really earned this victory."

Sigg helped the No. 20 Bulldogs come in third in the Linger Longer team race. Georgia closed with an 8-under 280 for a total of 11-under 853. Baylor claimed team honors at 33-under 831, followed by Virginia at 18-under 846.

Freshman Trevor Phillips matched Sigg with a 4-under 68 on Tuesday, while freshman Spencer Ralston signed for a 1-under 71 and sophomore Tye Waller had a 1-over 73. Junior Zach Healy had Georgia's non-counting score of 2-over 74.

Ralston landed at 1-under 215, followed by Phillips at 3-over 219, Waller at 4-over 220 and Healy at 11-over 227.

Playing as an individual, senior Jaime Lopez Rivarola finished 15th at 4-under 212, including an even-par 72 on Tuesday. Also playing as individuals Jack Larkin (1-under 71) wound up at 1-over 217 and freshman Will Chandler (8-over 80) came in at 20-over 236.

The Bulldogs will return to action April 1-2 in the Augusta Invitational.

• Bubba Watson and Kevin Kisner are playing this week in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Texas, while Chris Kirk will tee it up in the Puerto Rico Open.

• Sepp Straka, Keith Mitchell and Erik Compton will be playing in the Web.com Tour's Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by NACHER.

News and notes about the Bulldogs

• Seven Bulldogs will be in the field this week for the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard in Orlando, Fla.: Harris English, Brian Harman, Russell Henley, Chris Kirk, Kevin Kisner, Hudson Swafford and Bubba Watson. Palmer passed away in September and a new bronze statue of Palmer, positioned to overlook the first and 10th tees, has been placed at Bay Hill.

• The Bulldogs will return to action collegiately Sunday through Tuesday in the Linger Longer Invitational. Coach Chris Haack is expected to have a lineup of senior Greyson Sigg, junior Zach Healy, sophomore Tye Waller, and freshmen Trevor Phillips and Spencer Ralston. Also, senior Jaime Lopez Rivarola, sophomore Jack Larkin and freshman Will Chandler likely will compete as individuals.