Bright Future for Golf Club of Georgia New Owner Returning Club to Lofty Status

GEORGIAPGA.COM FOREGEORGIA.COM « JULY 2015

Bright future for Golf Club of Georgia New owner returning club to lofty status

B y M i k e B l u m Kenny invested millions of dollars in hen the Golf Club of the restoration of Horseshoe Bend, with Georgia opened in the improvements to the course, club- the early 1990s, it house and infrastructure coming in W immediately shot to stages. The same outline for Golf Club of the top of the list of metro Atlanta’s Georgia has already begun, with the finest private golf clubs, with the Creekside course opening recently after Lakeside course selected as the best five months of renovation work by new private course to open in the U.S. Medalist Golf and renowned Atlanta- in 1991. based golf course architect Bob Cupp, The Creekside course followed two who also handled the renovation at years later, giving the club a second Horseshoe Bend. standout layout that provided a Improvements to the clubhouse are to decided contrast in playing style from begin this month and expected to take Lakeside. about a year to complete. The changes In short order, the Alpharetta club will include a reconfiguration of the hosted the Georgia Amateur, U.S. men’s locker room and grille, an Open qualifiers, Georgia PGA tour- Golf Club of Georgia, Lakeside 11th hole updating of the main dining room and naments, a unique pre-Masters event the creation of some meeting space matching the U.S. and British within the existing building. The social Amateur champions, and a Champions prominent in Atlanta area golf circles as sary for the members to sell. aspects of the clubhouse will also be Tour stop for six years. it once was. Businessman Ben Kenny, who also addressed, with a new banquet hall and The Champions Tour event ended in Among the reasons was the departure owns Horseshoe Bend in Roswell, the expansion of the bar to make it an 2000 due to sponsorship issues, and of the club’s original Japanese ownership, acquired Golf Club of Georgia last year, indoor/outdoor operation. other than the Georgia Cup and an which spent lavishly to help create Golf and is early in the process of restoring the Golf Club of Georgia opened as a golf annual college tournament the club Club of Georgia’s lofty reputation. The club’s standing in the Atlanta golf com- club as opposed to a country club, and has hosted for the past decade, Golf membership operated the club for about munity, much as he has done in recent Club of Georgia has not been nearly as a decade, but it eventually became neces- years with Horseshoe Bend. [ See Golf Club of Georgia, page 6 ]

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Crossword Puzzle Page 38 2 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 3 P R E S E N T E D BY Instruction Fore You

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P U B L I S H E R ALL greens are Golf Media, Inc. / John Barrett E D I TO R Mike Blum W E B S I T E / FAC E B O O K / S O C I A L M E D I A Jason McCullough / Kristen Zeck JUNIOR/COLLEGE GOLF NEWS COORDINATOR the same speed! Samantha Stone M A R K E T I N G & A DV E R T I S I N G By Ted Fort up short. In these pictures, you’ll see that I have National Sales: Ed Bowen/Bowen Group, PGA Director of Instruction So, how did I choose such a created white, imaginary target holes for [email protected] Marietta Golf Center (seemingly) poor title for this my eyes. In the 1st picture, I have found Local & Corporate Sale: John Barrett/Rick Holt, article? For any given length of that the green is rolling 3 feet faster that [email protected] • Brandy Jones, a putt, my speed never my “normal” speed. So, I have created a [email protected] If you’re a great putter, you A R T D I R E C TO R Lori Ors changes. Poor putters are con- new hole at 7 feet, and I can make a understand exactly what I mean C R E AT I V E S E RV I C E S Catalina Montana by the title. If you’re a bad putter, stantly trying to adapt their “normal” stroke to my 7 foot target. When CO N T R I B U TO R S stop buying new putters and speed to the new conditions. I think that it’s going to stop at the 7 foot Ted Fort • Steve Eubanks read the rest of this article. As a For every 10 foot putt that I mark, it rolls another 3 feet to reach my 10 Steve Dinberg • Al Kooistra PGA professional, I’m invited to play have ever hit, my speed has always been foot hole. the same. In other words, I have a “normal” In the 2nd picture, I have found that the G E O RG I A S E C T I O N , in numerous charity events each year and P G A O F A M E R I C A O F F I C E R S speed that I would use to make a 10 greens roll 3 feet slower than my “normal” I have the pleasure of meeting many President new people. The pleasure is meeting footer. When I arrive at a tournament, I’ll speed. So, I have created a new target hole Mark Mongell, PGA / [email protected] the amateurs and getting to know some- make a few strokes from the flattest 10 that is 3 feet past my 10 foot target. When Vice President thing about them. But, many times, the I am preparing for the Brian Albertson, PGA / [email protected] tragedy is watching them putt. Putting speed of my putt, my eyes Secretary John Godwin, PGA / [email protected] is such an easy skill set and many of the become focused on my new, imaginary target Honorary President skills can be learned, but few spend time Brian Stubbs, PGA / [email protected] perfecting the art. instead of the hole. If your One of the biggest problems that I see eyes get distracted by the C H A P T E R P R E S I D E N TS in poor putters is distance control. It’s hole, you’ll lose your dis- Central Chapter President almost impossible to miss a 10 foot putt tance control. Winston Trively, PGA / [email protected] by 5 feet to the right or 5 feet to the left of Additional accommo- East Chapter President dations must be made for Brandon Youmans / [email protected] the hole. But, how many times have you North Chapter President uphill and downhill putts, seen someone hit a putt 5 feet past or 5 Shawn Koch, PGA / [email protected] feet short of the hole? (...maybe a recent but those must be made U.S. Open?) We all know that greens are after you have made your AT- L A RG E D I R E C TO R S very different from course to course, and initial adjustment. Having Billy Jack, PGA / [email protected] many will blame the speed of the greens a downhill 10 footer on Chad O’Dell, PGA / [email protected] for their poor putting. When greens are the fastest greens, the Brandon Stooksbury, PGA / [email protected] Mark Lammi, PGA / [email protected] extremely fast, poor putters will decel- feet that I can find. If I find that every putt target hole could be 3 feet away from you. Brian Conley, PGA / [email protected] erate in an attempt to keep the ball from travels 3 feet past the hole, the greens are I’ll always be aggressive or accelerating to my target hole, although that target may Matthew Evans, PGA / [email protected] going too far past the hole. When they 3 feet faster than my “normal” speed. Todd Ormsby, PGA / [email protected] decelerate, they lose control of the Therefore, every hole on the course just be well short of the hole. When you are able to visualize an imaginary hole and are clubface, making it almost impossible to became 3 feet closer to me. My imaginary S E N I O R D I V I S I O N start a downhill putt on the intended line. hole is now closer on every putt. My target able to distract yourself from the real hole, President When the greens are slow, they never hole changes, so my speed doesn’t have to you will find an amazing ability to control Mike Schlueter, PGA / [email protected] get the ball to the hole. Everything comes vary. distance. A S S I S TA N TS’ D I V I S I O N President Will Bartram, PGA / [email protected] t INSIDE THIS ISSUE s If you have any S E C T I O N S TA F F a c FEATURES: Lee McCoy ponders future ...... 26 Executive Director Mike Paull e Assistant Executive Director/ r Georgia Open preview ...... 8 PGA Tour event in Alabama...... 28 questions about this Junior Golf Director Scott Gordon o Atlanta Open wrapup...... 10 Planterra Ridge renovation...... 29 Tournament Director Pat Day, PGA F Operations Manager Eric Wagner Georgians in PNC ...... 12 article, feel free Section Assistant Carrie Ann Byrne DEPARTMENTS: Ga. Women's Open preview ...... 14 Golf FORE Juniors ...... 32 FOREGeorgia is produced by Golf Media, Inc. FedExCup update ...... 16 to contact me at Copyright ©2014 with all rights reserved. Travel: Maggie Valley...... 18 Chip shots...... 34 Reproduction or use, without permission, New products ...... 37 of editorial or graphic content is prohibited. Judson tournament wrapup ...... 22 fortifiedgolf.com Georgia PGA website: www.georgiapga.com. Roberto Castro feature ...... 24 FORE Georgia website: www.foregeorgia.com

4 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 5 a site not as ideal for a golf Golf Club of GA course, with a considerable Golf Club of Georgia [ Continued from the cover ] number of wetlands areas impacting the layout and the that aspect will not change. However, terrain not nearly as gentle as for families that want swim and tennis that used for Lakeside. facilities along with the great golf the While Lakeside offered a club offers, Golf Club of Georgia mem- traditional, tree-lined set- bers have access to those at Horseshoe ting with its large, Bend, which has long been well- undulating greens respon- regarded for both and formerly hosted an sible for much of its ATP tour event, challenge. Creekside was Jacqueline Welch, the vice president more of a modern, target- for both clubs, describes the work being style course, with the done at Golf Club of Georgia as “a total wetlands areas requiring a transformation. Golf Club of Georgia number of forced carries. had an amazing reputation and we want Over the years, some of to capitalize on that reputation. We’re the areas that required shots making a lot of changes to bring it to the to have to carry from point A next level.” to point B have become fairways, and a undersized par 4s also In addition to the renovation work on few others are either having some of the offering scoring opportuni- Creekside and the improvements to the high native grasses mowed or being ties. The ninth still requires clubhouse, one of the aims of the club’s sodded to add some definition. a modest carry over a hazard, “transformation” is to make it a more John Huban, who took over as Golf but with the right side inviting place for families. Without Club of Georgia’s head professional fairway bunkers removed is a swim and tennis, Golf Club of Georgia about a year ago, says member play was much more receptive hole. ole #6 operated as mainly a guys’ club, but largely oriented towards Lakeside. There are three standout Lakeside H with more of an emphasis placed on “They sort of avoided Creekside. It holes on the nine, starting junior clinics and camps, the family- was hard and a little too demanding.” with the narrow par-4 third, oriented direction the club is heading in Among Cupp’s changes was the one of several with sizeable hills along is already evident. removal of a sizeable percentage of the fairway that can be friend or foe Kenny’s efforts to upgrade the entire bunkers, mostly along the fairways, with depending on how it re-directs shots facility at Horseshoe Bend have been little work done to the greens com- that land on them. well received by its membership, who plexes. Some new tees were added to The toughest hole on the course, and spent many years hoping for a return to reduce the length of some of the forced one of the most difficult you’ll Cre ekside Hole #11 its 1980s status as one of the Atlanta carries, and a new set of senior tees are encounter anywhere, is the long par-4 area’s top private clubs. being introduced to make it a little less eighth, with a creek short of the green According to Welch, Kenny is intimidating for members who can’t hit requiring a lay-up for shorter hitters or much else. bringing the “one vision, one direction” it as far as they once did. those whose tee shots are a bit errant. A Lakeside is not as potentially penal as approach he used at Horseshoe Bend to Huban said the initial response to long, narrow green presents a tough Creekside, but has more than its share of turn around the declining status there to Cupp’s efforts to soften Creekside a bit target from long range, with fall-offs water in play, along with some greens that Golf Club of Georgia. After more than a was positive, but it remains a serious along the edges making for some testy can get very quick with plenty of break. decade of being a membership-operated challenge, just not quite as daunting as short game shots. Water is a serious factor on about half club, not everyone was on board with the it was previously. Creekside’s target nature is perhaps the holes, including an exceptional trio change in direction, but as Welch pointed The removal of many of the fairway best exemplified by the reachable par-5 of par 3s that rate high for both beauty out, “It’s hard to make everybody happy.” bunkers has made Creekside a less fifth, which sports a large, island fairway and challenge. Both nines finish with Welch says there was also some initial demanding course off the tee, but there followed by an angled second shot over a risk/reward par 5s with water guarding skepticism at Horseshoe Bend after are still plenty of holes that will not wetlands area that is being re-sodded. the greens, and the par-5 11th offers Kenny acquired the club and informed respond kindly to miss-hit shots. If you Trouble and trees left of a narrow strip of some glorious views with a green the membership of his plans for it, but can hit it reasonably solid off the tee, green and a thin row of trees are in play perched along Lake Windward. after the sizeable amount of money he Creekside is not an overwhelming test, to the right for those who bail out. The par fours are a diverse group, with spent to improve it, the skepticism has although there are several stout par 4s and There are no soft touches on the four on the short side and only one with been replaced by appreciation. a pair of demanding par 3s that will lengthier back nine, with the only short serious yardage numbers, with its down- Kenny’s goal for the members of his require your best efforts to avoid damage hole among the group the par-4 13th, hill nature reducing the effective length. clubs is simple, Welch says. to your scorecard. which begins with a carry over wetlands Most of the fairways are on the generous “He wants you to enjoy yourself.” Creekside’s more inviting front nine to a fairway that runs out for those who side, with the greens complexes pro- For more than two decades, the mem- offers a number of scoring opportunities, hit more club than they need. Even if viding much of the challenge on a bers at Golf Club of Georgia have beginning with a narrow, rolling par 5 you find the fairway, a tree short left of course, that like Creekside, is superbly enjoyed a pair of outstanding but con- that features one of the more sloping the green can impede approach shots. conditioned. trasting courses, but have enjoyed one greens on the course. For the most part, The remainder of the nine features two more than the other. the excellent putting surfaces on lengthy par 3s with hazards in play, a par Lakeside, the first of the two to be Creekside are gentler than those on 5 with a creek that winds through the designed by acclaimed architect Arthur Lakeside, but they have sufficient move- fairway and impacts both the second For information on Golf Club of Georgia, Hills, was built on the prime golf course ment and speed to put your touch to the and third shots, two more par 4s call 770-664-8644 or visit land on the property, with much of the test. requiring carries to reach the fairway back nine winding along Lake Both par 3s on the outgoing nine are and a pair of strong par-4 finishing www.golfclubofgeorgia.com Windward. Creekside was constructed on short and on the tame side, with a pair of holes that lack hazards but not

6 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5

2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 7 Georgia Open returning to Pinetree McLuen looking for third title in event

B y M i k e B l u m Tway and Franklin Langham all won the tournament as amateurs prior to

ot all golf tournaments pro- G

turning pro on the way to stints on the E O R

duce down-to-the-wire G I

PGA Tour. But once the purses on that A P

excitement, with the out- G tour skyrocketed beyond those offered by A N come not decided until the the Georgia Open, the state’s PGA Tour final hole. contingent ceded control of the event to For most of the past decade, the tour players competing at levels below Georgia Open has only had a handful of golf’s major leagues. competitive finishes, with the winning No amateur has won the tournament margin seven shots in three of the last since Langham in 1989, and the Georgia four tournaments. PGA has had only four winners since Two of those three runaway victories Gregg Wolff in 1991 – Stephen belong to Jay McLuen, who scored his Keppler in 1994 and ‘95, Tim first win in the tournament at Barnsley Weinhart in 2004 and Jeff Hull in Gardens in 2011 and won again last year 2007. at Pinetree Country Club, the first time Several of the winners of the event Pinetree’s scenic p the event was sponsored by Tilted Kilt, a over the past 25 years used their victo- ar-3 12th sports pub with several metro Atlanta ries as springboards to careers as tour locations. players that included the PGA Tour, Jonathan Fricke also won by seven in including Langham in 1992, Matt has made two 2015 starts on the by seven shots at Barnsley in 2011, and 2013 at the Legends at Chateau Elan, his Peterson in ‘93, Justin Bolli in 2003 Web.com Tour, with his professional was sixth and eighth the next two years second straight tournament title after and Roberto Castro in ‘09. highlight a tie for 16th in the PGA Tour at the Legends. scoring a narrow victory the previous Former tour players who won the Mayakoba Classic in 2013. Nagy made an impact on the tourna- year, also at the Legends. Georgia Open after competing on the After 36 holes last year at Pinetree, ment for the first time in 2012, finishing McLuen and Fricke are part of the PGA Tour or what is now the Web.com McLuen trailed Eddie Lee, a contender one shot behind Fricke at the Legends, state’s contingent of tour players who Tour include two-time champions Dave in the tournament each of the last three the only time since 2007 the Georgia have taken home the majority of winners’ Schreyer (1996, 2001) and Dicky years, by three shots. After opening with Open has had a tightly contested finish. trophies since the event began in 1954. Thompson (1998-99), along with Tim scores of 66 and 72, McLuen pulled away Nagy was 10th the next year before Winners in the 1960s and ‘70s Conley (2005) and Bryant Odom from the field with scores of 66-65 the posting his second top-3 finish in 2014 included PGA Tour members Tommy (2008). Fricke and McLuen are still both final two rounds to finish seven shots at Pinetree. Aaron, Hugh Royer, Jr., DeWitt competing on various tours, as is 2010 ahead of Jimmy Beck of Columbus. The last Georgia PGA member to win Weaver and Larry Nelson, with Tim winner Samuel Del Val. Third place was a distant 11 shots off the the tournament was Hull in 2007, who Simpson and Gene Sauers winning The Georgia Open, which will be lead, with Matt Nagy and Kelby edged future PGA Tour player Luke List three times each in the 1980s. played August 6-9 at Pinetree in Burton tying for third at 280. by a shot, with amateur David Noll, Aaron, Steve Melnyk, Lyn Lott, Bob Kennesaw, has played at various sites Beck, Nagy and Burton were all McLuen and former PGA Tour player around the state since leaving Savannah, playing on familiar turf. All three played John Engler of Augusta also contending Jay McLuen where it was based for a number of years, on the golf team at Kennesaw State with for a victory. Hull was formerly head pro in the early 1990s. The tournament has Pinetree, the home course for the Owls. at Port Armor (now Reynolds Landing) made stops at courses on Lake Oconee Both Beck and Burton were still mem- and has since left the Georgia PGA (1994-96) and at Jekyll Island (1997- bers of the Owls’ team this past season, Section for the Carolinas Section. 2000), playing primarily in metro with Beck recently joining Nagy in the Since Hull’s win, the top finishes by Atlanta since making a visit to The Frog professional ranks. Beck, who had a top- Georgia PGA members have been ties for in 2001. The Legends has served as host 10 finish on the eGolf Tour in his pro fifth by Bill Murchison in 2008 and five times, three of those between 2002 debut, won the Georgia Amateur at Craig Stevens in ‘09, ties for sixth in and ‘05 and again in 2012 and ‘13. Pinetree in 2013 and also won a college 2011 by Murchison, Keppler and Clark Other host courses include Settindown event hosted by Kennesaw State at the Spratlin, and Nicol’s tie for fifth last Creek (2003), Reynolds Landing (‘06), course. year. Augusta’s Champions Retreat (‘07) and Lee tied for fifth at 281 after placing Keppler, who won back-to-back tourna- Savannah Harbor (2010), with Barnsley third in 2012 and tying for fifth in 2013. ments at Lake Oconee in 1994 and ‘95, Gardens, the Legends and Pinetree all Also tying for fifth last year was Chris finished one shot out of a playoff there in hosting the event multiple times from Nicol of Georgia Golf Center, who was ‘06 along with Sonny Skinner, with 2008 through this year. low among the Georgia PGA contingent Hull two shots back in sixth on the course McLuen, a Forsyth resident who has in the field. where he spent two stints as head pro. limited experience on the Web.com and McLuen has a history of success in the Weinhart, a seven-time Georgia PGA Tours, found Pinetree to his liking Georgia Open. He lost in a playoff at PGA Player of the Year, had a strong G

E last year, winning by seven with a 19- Reynolds Landing in 2006 tied for fourth O

R three-year run in the tournament from G I

A under 269 total. McLuen plays primarily in ‘07 at Champions Retreat and was P G

A on regional tours in the Southeast, and third at Barnsley Gardens in ‘08. He won [ See Georgia Open, page 12 ]

8 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 9 Skinner scores victory in Yamaha Atlanta Open Takes a liking to White Columns in initial visit

Sonny Skin B y M i k e B l u m ner three feet, but Smith of Skinner, but he went left off the 18th answered when he tee and had to chip out of the trees, ntil the Yamaha Atlanta reached the par-5 13th in resulting in a bogey Open Pro-Am, which was two for a tying birdie. Owen, the head pro at Dunwoody played the day before the Skinner broke the tie Country Club, closed within one of U tournament teed off, Sonny when he birdied the short Skinner with consecutive birdies at holes Skinner had never played a round of golf par-5 15th while Smith 4, 5 and 6, but parred the next 12 holes at White Columns Country Club, the had to settle for par on the for a 70 and a 138 total. tournament host. hole. A birdie at 14 got Nicol within two of Skinner shot 65 in the Pro-Am to Smith almost forced a Skinner’s lead, but he made double bogey claim low pro honors, then followed with

G playoff when his birdie at the short par-4 15th, and went birdie-

O R

a 65 the next day to lead by two strokes G pitch from a mound bor- bogey-birdie on the final three holes.

after the opening round. G A dering the 18th green Royak, a member at St. Ives, had six After making 14 birdies in those two narrowly missed. Skinner birdies the second day and shot 68 to rounds, Skinner began the second and closed out his round with share fifth with Nicol at 139, winning final day of the tournament with 11 two solid pars, two-putting low amateur by three over Mark straight pars, falling into a tie for the from relatively long range on Nickerson of Atlanta National, Erik lead at that point with playing partners part time at both 17 and 18. Martin of Golf Club of Georgia, Sean Bradley Smith and J.P. Griffin, both River Pointe in Albany and plays a heavy Like Skinner, Smith began his profes- Murphy of Druid Hills and Lilburn’s new to the Georgia PGA. tournament schedule, competing in both sional career as a tour player, competing Ted Moon, a former runner-up in the Just like the pro-am and opening Georgia PGA and national PGA events, on tours in his native Australia, Asia and Georgia Open who recently completed round, Skinner spent the final round hit- along with occasional appearances on the the Latino America Tour before a bad his college career at Belmont. ting fairways and greens and giving Champions Tour. back led to a switch from playing to Moon and Murphy were contenders himself birdie opportunities on most of “I think I only missed two greens yes- teaching. While a junior in Australia, after opening rounds of 68, but both suf- the holes. Unlike the previous two days, terday and only one today,” Skinner said. Smith had a chance meeting more than a fered double bogeys on the front nine the the putts did not fall for Skinner. He “And in the pro-am, I only missed two.” decade ago with Skinner, who was next day to fall back. missed two short birdie attempts early in Skinner also enjoyed the pastoral drive playing in a Buy.com (now Web.com) Tying for seventh at 140 were Joe the round and never made a putt of any through the North Fulton suburbs to Tour event at Smith’s home club. Finemore of Big Canoe, Charlie King consequence the entire day. White Columns, and jokingly offered Smith said he told Skinner that story of Griffin Golf Course and Champions But thanks to one superb tee shot on a that he might leave his long time home and wanted to see if he remembered it. Tour member James Mason, who won par 3 and a deft pitch for a near tap-in on in south Georgia to move somewhere Smith went on to play college golf in the the Atlanta Open in 2000, the last time a par 5, Skinner did not pull off a final close to the course, while wondering if U.S. at UAB, and has played well in a it was played at White Columns. round Faldo (18 pars), carding two White Columns head pro Mitch Cook handful of starts in Georgia PGA Section Finemore was 7-under for his round birdies against 16 pars. might have some part-time position on and Assistants’ events, beginning with a after 17 holes the final day, shooting 31 That proved to be just enough to pro- his staff available. third place finish last year in the on the back nine with an eagle on the duce a narrow victory, as Skinner’s final Skinner built his first round lead on Assistants’ Championship. In three starts 16th and adding two more birdies on the round 70 gave him a 36-hole score of 9- the strength of seven birdies and no this year prior to the Atlanta Open, he front before a closing double bogey at the under 135 and a 1-shot margin over bogeys, notching birdies on four of teamed with Matthew Evans of par-5 ninth. King and Mason both shot Smith, who closed with a 69 to take White Column’s most inviting holes (11, Rivermont to tie for second in the Pro- back-to-back 70s. second at 136. Griffin made a bogey on 15, 16 and 7) and three of the most diffi- Pro Scramble, won an Assistants’ event at Tying for 10th at 141 were Todd the final hole for a 71 and tied for third cult (14, 2 and 4). The 65 put him two Augusta Country Club and tied for Ormsby of Highland Country Club in at 138 with Kyle Owen. ahead of Smith and Griffin, and the three second at Orchard Hills. LaGrange, Stephen Keppler of “I thought I had been here, but I did battled it out the final day, with Owen Griffin played at the mini-tour level Marietta Country Club, Clark Spratlin not remember one hole, and I always and Chris Nicol also contending. after completing his college career at of Currahee Club in Toccoa and Evans. remember holes from courses I’ve Nicol, an assistant at Georgia Golf Georgia Southwestern, and has joined the Ormsby parred his first 10 holes in the played,” Skinner said. Center and a two-time Georgia PGA staff at Cherokee Town & Country Club second round, went 5-under on his next White Columns, an excellent Tom tournament winner, shot 70 and tied for as an assistant. He had three top-5 fin- six with an eagle on the 13th, but fin- Fazio design, proved to be a perfect fit for fifth at 139. Also tying for fifth was 2007 ishes in Assistants’ Division events ished bogey-bogey for a 69. Keppler has Skinner, who drives it straight but not Atlanta Open champion Bob Royak, earlier this year and another top five in won three of the Georgia PGA’s four especially long and hits lots of quality who earned low amateur honors. the Pro-Assistant Championship before majors and owns 14 individual Section iron shots, but does not hole a sizeable Smith, the Director of Instruction at his strong showing at White Columns. titles, but has yet to win the Atlanta percentage of his birdie efforts. Eagle’s Landing, had three birdies and no A back nine 30 in the opening round Open. He shot 33 on his final nine for a Skinner said he liked the way “the bogeys in his second round, pulling shot Griffin into contention, and he second round 68. trees framed the fairways. It fit my eye on within a shot of Skinner with a birdie on moved into a tie for the lead the second Mark Anderson of Brunswick every hole and I could hit a good driver the opening hole and tying for the lead day with back-to-back birdies at holes 10 Country Club was 4-under for the day or 3-wood. The greens were holding, so when he holed a birdie putt at the short and 11. But he pulled his tee shot on the after 10 holes and one shot behind you could hit it where you looked, and I par-4 seventh. par-3 12th into a tough lie and made Skinner, but made back-to-back double hit a lot of greens.” Skinner regained the lead when he hit double bogey. Birdies at the two par 5s The veteran pro from Sylvester teaches his tee shot on the par-3 12th to about on the back nine kept him within range [ See Atlanta Open, page 12 ]

10 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 11

Skinner has top Georgia PGA finish in PNC G

or the second straight year, no hole. He was 1-under after 14 holes the while Taylor rebounded from a E

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member of the Georgia PGA next day, but bogeyed three of his last tough opening round to shoot A

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qualified for the PGA four holes and shot 2-over 74. Smith did 73 the next day, beginning A F Championship, with none of not make a birdie in the third round and his second round with nine the seven Section members competing in shot 77, closing out his round with three straight pars. the recent PGA Professional National consecutive bogeys. From 2005-13, the Championship managing a top 20 finish. Failing to make the 36-hole cut were Georgia Section had 10 The top 20 finishers from the PNC Clark Spratlin of Currahee Club, Kyle players qualify for the PGA qualify for the 2015 PGA Championship Owen of Dunwoody Country Club, Championship, sending at at Whistling Straits. The top finish by a Gary Miller of the Oaks course, Phil least one player to the Georgia PGA member was a tie for 39th Taylor of Ansley Golf Club and Brian major championship every by recent Yamaha Atlanta Open cham- Puterbaugh of the Hooch. year in that stretch except pion Sonny Skinner, who completed a Spratlin and Owen both shot 7-over 2007. Tim Weinhart and busy week at the Philadelphia Cricket 149 to miss the cut by two. Spratlin had Craig Stevens, who have Club. scores of 75 and 74 and Owen shot 74- eight PGA Skinner also competed in the U.S. 75. Spratlin tried to rally with a pair of Championship appear- Senior Open in Sacramento, which ended birdies on his final nine in the second ances between them and the day the PGA PNC began. Because round, while Owen was 1-over for the have been fixtures in the Skinner missed the cut in the Senior tournament early in his second round, PNC for the past 15 H Open – by just one shot – he was able to but did not make a birdie over his final years, both failed to ank Smith play in the PNC two days later after 16 holes. qualify for the event flying cross country. Miller shot 75-76 for a 151 total, this year. Of the other six Georgia PGA members in the PNC, the only one to make the 36-hole cut was Hank Smith, who recent years (Brent Witcher, Mark seven par 4s that range from 418 to 455 failed to make the 54-hole cut. Georgia Open Silvers, Kyle Scott, Tim O’Neal), but yards, with the 10th the shortest of the Skinner, who plays out of River Pointe [ Continued from page 8 ] both Witcher and Silvers are likely to be group but the only one of the seven with in Albany, has made it to the PGA playing on that tour that week. water in play. Championship three times since 2008, 2002-04, tying for third in ‘02, losing a While McLuen won with a 19-under The 452-yard dogleg left 18th is likely twice finishing as runner-up in the PNC. playoff to former PGA Tour player Bolli total and Beck was second at 12-under the toughest of the group, but is not the He played steadily in the most recent in ‘03 and winning at the Legends in ‘04 last year at Pinetree, only four other finishing hole for the tournament. club professional championship in by one shot over Kris Blanks, another players in the field shot lower than 4- Although the holes retain their same des- Philadelphia, posting scores of 72-72- future PGA Tour player. under 284, with just 10 players breaking ignation for the tournament, the leaders 73-72 for a 7-over 289 total. The Entry deadline for the tournament is par for 72 holes. the final two days begin on the 10th tee tournament was played over two courses, July 17, with the state’s top club profes- Pinetree can play as long as 7100 yards so the tournament finishes on the par-5 with the primary course playing to par sionals and many of the top amateurs from the back tees, and is a stronger test ninth, which is a more spectator-friendly 70 and the other course a par 72. exempt from qualifying. Other than past for the state’s top players since a renova- hole than the 18th. With four holes to play late in the champions and top-10 finishers from last tion in 2008 by Atlanta-based golf Two of the par 3s are in the 220-yard third round, Skinner was even par for the year, mini-tour players have to qualify to course architect Bill Bergin, a former range, but none of the four is particularly tournament and inside the top 20, but get into the field, with six qualifiers tour player. penal, with a trio of short par 4s offering three straight bogeys late in the round scheduled from July 20-27, three in The course added 280 yards from the some scoring opportunities along with dropped him into a tie for 37th. He metro Atlanta and one each in Rome, back tees and the putting surfaces were the par 5s, three of which are reachable in bogeyed four of his first six holes the Savannah and Albany. changed to Champions Bermuda, now two by many of the competitors. final day before rallying with three Both the SwingThought.com (for- ranking among the best and most chal- The 16th is only 505 yards and yielded birdies. A bogey on the 18th left him merly Hooters) and eGolf tours are lenging in the Atlanta area. more eagles last year than several other with a 2-over 72 and 7-over total. A score playing that week in the Carolinas, Pinetree is relatively generous off the par 4s yielded birdies, with the ninth also of 4-over 284 played off for the 20th and which will keep some of the state’s mini- tee, and is more a second shot course, offering an excellent chance for birdie for final spot in the PGA. tour players out of the field. Several with the speed and movement on the those who can position their tee shot on Skinner played steady golf throughout players with Web.com Tour status have greens serving as a primary defense. The the proper side of the fairway to set up the tournament, closing out his first played well in the Georgia Open in heart of Pinetree’s challenge is a group of the second shot on the dogleg right. round with 14 straight pars after two early bogeys. He matched par of 72 the next day and began his third round with became a Georgia PGA member in 2006 He’s won both the Georgia Senior Open birdies on the first two holes before Atlanta Open and has played primarily in Section and Georgia PGA Senior Championship taking five bogeys the rest of the way [ Continued from page 10 ] events since, with occasional appearances in recent years, and also made an impact without a birdie for a 3-over 73. on the Web.com and Champions Tours, at the national PGA level. Smith, the head pro at Frederica Golf bogeys at 12 and 13 to tie for 15th at 142 the latter after he turned 50 in 2010. Skinner has twice finished second in Club on St. Simons Island, shot 73-74 after a second round 70. Since joining the Georgia PGA, the PGA Professional National the first two days, struggling down the Skinner played on the PGA Tour for Skinner has earned Player of the Year Championship, the national champi- finish both times. He was even par after four years in the 1990s and spent 10 full honors in 2006 and last year, won the onship for club professionals, and has 14 holes in the third round, but shot 3- seasons on what is now the Web.com Match Play Championship in ‘06 and the earned national PGA Player of the Year over 73 with a double bogey on his final Tour between 1993 and 2004. He Section Championship in 2009 and ‘12. and Senior Player of the Year honors.

12 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 13 Volvik Ga. Women’s Open back at Brookfield Paolozzi, Shirley, Haigwood among field

M during her high school career at

B y M i k e B l u m G O

E N

O T

R A Roswell, and has been runner-up the

G N

I he Volvik Georgia A A

P P last two years after a fourth place G R

A I T

Women’s Open celebrates C

H showing in 2012.

A R

its 20th birthday this D

/ Paolozzi, Haigwood and Shirley

T H

month, with the event back E

P played in the final group in the second G

T A at Roswell’s Brookfield Country Club

O round of last year’s tournament, and

F A

for the third straight year, with Volvik M

E between them had 25 out of a possible

R I serving as host for the third time. C A 27 pars on Brookfield’s front nine. The The tournament will be played July back nine featured several swings in 13-14, with Druid Hills assistant profes- momentum, with Haigwood leading sional Karen Paolozzi returning to by three shots with five holes to play. defend her title. Paolozzi is one of the Haigwood hit her tee shots in the country’s top female club professionals argaret water on the par-5 14th and par-3 15th and competed in last month’s Women’s M Shirley and Paolozzi made up two shots on her PGA Championship in New York. on both holes to take the lead. Shirley The Georgia Women’s Open was held was only two back of Paolozzi after for the first time in 1995, and was played played out of Brookfield, won twice as birdies at 12 and 14, but struggled at Canongate courses in Peachtree City an amateur in the late 1990s before down the stretch. Trailing by two with Ka and Newnan until moving to Callaway turning professional. Register was ren Paolozzi two holes to play, Haigwood birdied the Gardens in 2012. Brookfield, which part of an NCAA champion Arizona long par-4 17th and almost forced a hosted a tournament on the LPGA Tour team, with 1998 Georgia Women’s playoff, missing her birdie try on the in the late 1970s and early 1980s, served Open champion Summer Sirmons, now eight years, but missed the 2011 and ‘12 18th. as host for the first time in 2013, with an Atlanta area teaching pro, also part of tournaments before returning to score Shirley, Haigwood and Wright have Volvik coming on board that year as title an NCAA championship team during her third win in 2013 at Brookfield. been consistent contenders in the tourna- sponsor. her years at Georgia. Last year, Shirley was a contender late ment in recent years, along with Carmen The tournament expanded its playing Angela Jerman, a teammate of into the final round, but wound up sixth Bandea, a frequent challenger over the field last year, allowing golfers from out- Sirmons on the 2001 championship team after a disappointing finish. A few past decade but never a winner. side Georgia to compete for the first and a former LPGA Tour player, is months later, Shirley won the U.S. Bandea, who has played on both the time. Players from several states, mainly expected to return to the tournament Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, Symetra and Canadian tours, has finished from Tennessee, competed in the 2014 field this year. Jerman finished second in an event in which she lost in the match in the top five each of the last five years, event. With several weeks left before the the Georgia Women’s Open as an ama- play finals the previous year. tying with Haigwood for second behind entry deadline, the tournament had teur in 2001 and tied for third, one shot The Georgia Women’s Open has had Shirley two years ago. She also was attracted players from Pennsylvania and out of a playoff in 2009 as a pro, but has six different winners, the past six years, second in 2007, losing in a playoff to Illinois, along with two former Georgia not played much in recent years, tying beginning with Mariah Stackhouse in Ramage at White Oak. Bandea tied for residents who have played in the tourna- for eighth in her most recent tournament 2009. Stackhouse had yet to begin her fourth last year, three behind Paolozzi. ment previously. appearance in 2011. Jerman is married to sophomore year in high school when she Wright was third last year, finishing Paula Pearson-Tucker, now living in Highland Country Club head pro Todd won in a playoff at Summer Grove, and two in back of Paolozzi after a final round Miami, was a Georgia Women’s Open Ormsby. came close to a repeat title the next year, 68. She has finished fourth or better five regular when she lived in the state, and Diana Ramage, who also played on finishing two shots behind Emilie of the last seven years, including her win finished as low senior pro in the tourna- the LPGA Tour, won the tournament in Burger, then a member of the Georgia in 2012, and has not been out of the top ment last year. 2005 and ‘07, and is one of several former women’s team. Shirley, an assistant coach 10 during that span. Former Milledgeville resident and ex- Auburn golfers to have won the Georgia at Georgia at the time, was second that Along with Agnew and Jean Clemson golfer Ashlan Ramsey, Women’s Open. Courtney Swaim year. Reynolds, Wright is playing on the finished fifth in the Georgia Women’s Trimble, now the head women’s golf The most recent playoff in the tourna- Symetra Tour this year, with that tour Open in 2011 at Summer Grove, and coach at Louisville, won over Jerman in ment came in 2010, when current LPGA playing in Rochester, N.Y., two days will be back in the field this month, 2001, and Margaret Shirley, who Tour player Dori Carter defeated cur- after the Georgia Open ends. The competing in the professional division. coached as an assistant at both Auburn rent Symetra Tour player Lacey Agnew. Georgia Women’s Open will also lose The tournament has had a mix of pro- and Georgia, has three Georgia Women’s Kendall Wright, who is also playing several of the state’s top amateurs to the fessional and amateur winners in its Open titles to match Blaylock. on the Symetra Tour, won by four shots at North and South event at Pinehurst, 20-year history, with a number of the Shirley, who recently became the Callaway Gardens in 2012, with Shirley with Stackhouse and incoming UGA most prominent names in Georgia Executive Director of Atlanta Junior taking first by a five-shot margin at freshmen Rinko Mitsunaga and Bailey women’s golf over the past two decades Golf, has been a consistent presence in Brookfield the next year. Tardy playing there. among the champions. the tournament since her days in junior In her first appearance in the Georgia The field is divided into several divi- Caroline Peek Blaylock, who played golf. Shirley won the Georgia Women’s Women’s Open, Paolozzi edged Roswell’s sions for the amateurs, with two several years on the LPGA Tour, won the Open in 2006 while a member of the Jessica Haigwood by one shot last year Championship flights and two flights for event three of its first six years, including Auburn women’s team and again in ‘08 with a 4-under 140 total. Haigwood, a players not in the championship division, the first two in 1995 and ‘96. Krissie shortly after she graduated. From 2003- member of the women’s golf team at along with two senior amateur flights Register, who grew up in Roswell and 10, she finished fifth or better seven of Augusta State, played at Brookfield and a senior professional division.

14 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 15 FedExCup Playoffs chase nearing conclusion Reed, Watson, Kisner, Kirk top Georgia pros

just to qualify for the Playoffs, and would A The top 30 after the U.S.

B y M i k e B l u m L

need at least one win and another top E Open consisted of a number of

ith less than two A

finish or two to have a chance to contend L players accustomed to being in

G months remaining in C for a spot in the Tour Championship. M that position, including Brandt the 2014-15 PGA Tour Woods missed last year’s Tour Snedeker (8), Justin Rose (10), W schedule, the field for Championship, as did Phil Mickelson, Jason Day (13), Rickie Fowler the FedExCup Playoffs is taking shape, the only player to win twice at East (19), Bill Haas (20) and Jim with players jockeying for spots in the Lake. Mickelson won in 2000 and ‘09, Furyk (22). top 125 on the points list. but is winless since the 2013 British But there were even more The top 125 players after the PGA Open. After the poorest season of his players unaccustomed to playing Tour stop in Greensboro, N.C., Aug. 20- career in 2014, Mickelson has bounced at East Lake, with many of those 23 will qualify for the FedExCup back with a much better showing in in the top 30 mainly due to a vic- Playoffs, which begin the following week 2015, but does not have many starts tory this season, with the odds of at Plainfield Country Club in New left to improve his position of 45th in remaining in the top 30 all the way Jersey. The top 100 after the Barclays the FedExCup standings after the U.S. to the Tour Championship not in will play in Boston on Labor Day Open. their favor. weekend, with the top 70 on the points Leading the standings by a wide Robert Streb was the surprise list after the Deutsche Bank margin was Masters and U.S. Open winner of last fall’s McGladrey Chris Kirk Championship moving on to Conway champion Jordan Spieth, who Classic at Sea Island Golf Club, but Farms in Chicago for the BMW almost certainly will be No. 1 in the his play since then has indicated Championship two weeks later. standings going into the Playoffs. Spieth time. that his victory was not a fluke. The Tour Championship returns to is the only three-time winner on the Kisner finished outside the top 100 in Youngsters Ben Martin (15) and Atlanta’s East Lake Golf Club Sept. 24- PGA Tour this year, and is closing in on the final FedExCup standings his first Brooks Koepka (16) are 2014-15 win- 27, with the top 30 in the FedExCup Rory McIlroy for the top spot in the three seasons on the PGA Tour, but has ners who are likely to contend for spots standings comprising the field. The World rankings. been one of the hottest players in the in the Tour Championship field after this players will compete for a purse of $8.25 McIroy is fourth in the standings after game in recent months. He lost in play- year, but international players Steven million, with the four Playoffs events playing a limited schedule in the U.S. offs at Hilton Head and the Players, Bowditch (18), Sangmoon Bae (23) offering a total of $33 million, along and has won twice (Match Play performing exceptionally well in both, and David Lingmerth (30) may be hard with $35 million in bonus money for the Championship and in Charlotte), with had consecutive top 10s at Colonial and pressed to remain in the top 30 this Playoffs qualifiers. Jimmy Walker the only other multiple Memorial, and tied for 12th in the U.S.. season. Although the Tour Championship champion this year, winning early in Open. Other unexpected names among the field will not be determined until the Hawaii and a hometown victory in San A member of Georgia’s 2005 NCAA top 30 were rookie Daniel Berger (27) Playoffs event in Chicago concludes, the Antonio. He was second in the standings, Championship team along with Chris and relative PGA Tour newcomers top two players in the World Rankings with Dustin Johnson third after his Kirk and Brendon Todd, Kisner is chal- Russell Knox (28) and Shawn Stefani will definitely be in the field, along with crushing runner-up showing to Spieth in lenging Bubba Watson for top ‘Dog in (29), who have played well enough over most of the other top-ranked players. the U.S. Open last month. the Fed ExCup standings. Watson, who the course of the season to have realistic There will be some prominent players Johnson won the World Golf won a WGC event in China last Fall hopes of making it to East Lake. who will not make it to East Lake, begin- Championships event at Doral and has early in the 2014-15 schedule, was 12th Among Georgia’s PGA Tour contin- ning with 2007 Tour Championship contended several other times this year, in the standings, making just nine starts gent, there are quite a few players outside winner Tiger Woods, who was 200th in most recently at Chambers Bay. He will through the U.S. Open. the top 30 who have hopes of moving up the FedExCup standings after the U.S. be looking to return to East Lake after Kirk (17) was the third former with a strong showing or two. Open, with four or five starts remaining sitting out last year’s event even though Bulldog in the top 20, largely on the Harris English (35) came close to on his 2015 schedule. Woods will have to he was among the top 30 in the strength of his victory in the Colonial. qualifying for the Tour Championship move up considerably in the standings FedExCup standings. The highest ranked player who attended last year and is close again, but has been Reportedly, Johnson was college in the state was Tournament of mostly quiet lately after a strong 2015 serving a six-month suspension for Champions champion Patrick Reed, start. Jason Bohn (37) was second a failed drug test, but since the with the ex-Augusta State standout fifth behind Kirk at Colonial and is looking to PGA Tour does not publicly in the standings. make it to East Lake for the first time. announce player suspensions, Also in the top 30 was former Georgia Bohn has never finished in the top 60 Johnson’s absence last year was Tech All-American Matt Kuchar, with since the FedExCup was established in never fully explained. the St. Simons Island resident 26th after 2007. Of the top 23 players in the finishing the last five seasons in the top Former Georgia Tech golfer Cameron FedExCup standings after the U.S. 10 four times and the top 20 on the other Tringale qualified for the Tour Open, only two were non-winners occasion. Kuchar, the PGA Tour’s most Championship for the first time last year this season – Japan’s Hideki prolific top-10 machine in recent years, and is in position this year (40) after fin- Matsuyama (9) and former UGA has just one since February, that coming ishes of fifth in Houston and second in A

L golfer Kevin Kisner (14), who in Hilton Head the week after the New Orleans. K O O

I will be looking to qualify for the Masters. Kuchar has not missed the Tour S T R Kevin Kisner A Tour Championship for the first Championship since 2009. [ See FedExCup, page 36 ]

16 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 17 Beat the Summer heat at Maggie Valley Popular resort offers scenic, enjoyable golf

B y M i k e B l u m f Georgia’s summer temperatures are a little too warm for a comfortable round of golf, there’s some I welcome relief just a few hours away in the mountains of North Carolina. Maggie Valley Club and Resort is a relatively short, pleasant drive from metro Atlanta, and typically offers summer temperatures at least 10 degrees cooler than it is in metro Atlanta and most other parts of Georgia. The North Carolina mountains are a popular destination for vacationers looking for a variety of outdoor activities with more comfortable weather conditions than exist in most of Georgia during the summer months. Maggie Valley is located in the western corner of North Carolina between the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park are both just minutes away, as is the tourist- does not have the severity that exists on off the tee, but tree lines and a decent of the other holes on the front side, will friendly city of Asheville. some mountain-style layouts, with only a spread of rough off the fairways necessi- penalize tee shots that stray too far to The area’s recreational opportunities few seriously uphill shots before the tate a fair amount of accuracy. On a either side. are plentiful, with golf a big part of course heads back down the mountain number of holes, hazards just through The other par 5 on the nine(No. 6) Maggie Valley’s allure for the past 50 and no severe drop-offs. the fairway can snare tee shots that may features a creek that bisects the fairway, years. The back nine is quite a bit shorter be hit a little too solidly while being just with a fairly ample landing area Maggie Valley’s golf course has been than the front, with the downhill nature a bit off line, with several of them not narrowing as you near an extremely around since the early 1960s, with the of several of the holes reducing the effec- requiring a driver for longer hitters. long green without much width. Valley nine, located along the road that tive length even more. With an exception or two, the quality leads to the resort, opening for play in Maggie Valley measures a modest bent grass putting surfaces are neither 1963. A second nine built on higher 6466 yards from the blue tees, 6130 from particularly undulating nor fast, but have ground closer to the mountain was added the whites and is listed at 5242 from the sufficient subtleties to put your touch to shortly after the original nine opened, gold tees, although the tees on some of the test. With many of the greens bor- giving the course an entertaining con- the shorter holes from the golds can be dered to the side by bunkers and slight trast in topography and challenge moved just in front of the whites to make drop-offs, getting up and down after between the two. them better, more challenging holes. slightly errant approaches requires a deft One of the individuals involved in the The course is rated at 69.9/128 from short game, especially development of the resort was primarily the back tees, 68.6/125 from the whites on some of the nar- responsible for the layout, and even and a very friendly 65.4/115 from the rower green designs. though he was not a professional golf gold tees. The forward tees are a comfort- The topographically course architect, Maggie Valley is a first able 4600 yards. gentle front nine rate course in both design and condi- Players not accustomed to teeing it up includes several holes tioning, while offering the splendid from the tips can take on Maggie Valley with creeks and small views you expect in a mountain setting. from the blue tees without being over- ponds within reach off “It’s a tale of two nines,” Maggie whelmed, with just one hole that may be the tee, but mostly far Valley head pro Trey Smith says. “The a concern. The dogleg left third is listed enough removed to not front nine is at the floor of the valley sur- at 458 yards from the back tees and 430 be a serious concern. The rounded by mountains. The back nine from the whites, with creeks lining both nine includes two short climbs to roughly three thousand feet by sides of the fairway. A pair of front but potentially pesky par the time you reach the 13th green. bunkers guards the putting surface, but 4s (2 and 5) and an Except for the tee boxes, you can hardly as on almost all the holes, the approach to inviting par 5 (No. 4) find a level lie on the back side.” the center of the green is open. that is only 474 from the Although there are considerably more Maggie Valley is reasonably generous back tees, but like many elevation changes on the back nine, it [ See Maggie Valley, page 22 ]

18 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 19 20 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 21 Judson Legends Pro-Am sports new format Totland wins college event; Needham third

B y M i k e B l u m situation where they could more easily know the college players. he Judson Collegiate interact with their amateur partners and Tournament Director Jackie & Legends Pro-Am collegiate player. Cannizzo, a member of the golf staff at Challenge was played “We could have more conversations Country Club of Roswell, pointed out T for the fourth time and spend more time with each other,” that the tournament “first started as a late last month at Country Club Jones said. The change was good for the college event. The opportunity to pair up of Roswell, with the tournament Legends’ amateur partners and benefi- with the Legends was an added bonus.” changing its playing format this cial for the college players, with the Cannizzo said the Leadership year to more closely reflect the Legends players losing a competitive Conference held at Georgia Tech the day mentoring aspect of the event. opportunity while gaining a chance to before the tournament started, was a During the first three years of help the next generation of female huge success, with a huge increase in par- the tournament, the LPGA golfers. ticipation from both speakers and Legends played one round of golf Although this year’s Legends field workshop attendees. in a pro-am format with a team of was a little smaller than the past three The Judson Collegiate & Legends Pro- amateurs, and also played one day and was missing a few name players, Am Challenge was created to honor the aylor Totland with players who were also com- Judson winner T the majority of the Legends’ actual memory of Jim and Beth Judson, a ah Bae (L) peting in the college portion of the (center) with Sar legends returned to play last month. Roswell couple who were a big part of dham (L) tournament. and Sydney Nee Among the players competing the local golf and philanthropic commu- The individual score during the along with Jones were Nancy Lopez, nities. They died in a plane crash round with the college players was Pat Bradley, Betsy King, Amy Alcott, returning from watching daughter the only one that counted for the competing individually for a purse of Hollis Stacy, Jan Stephenson and Lauren Judson compete in a college Legends’ players in the field, with two of more than $100,000, they had to divide Kathy Whitworth, one of the LPGA’s tournament. the tour’s lesser-known players coming their attention between competition and true legends. Lauren Judson, her brother Dean, away with victories the first three years mentoring. “The field was as good as the field we Cannizzo and family friend Kirk Knous the event was held. The change in format took some of the had last year,” said Jones, who felt her helped create the JCI Foundation and the Alicia Dibos, a non-winner during focus off the Legends’ competitive fellow Legends enjoyed the new format her stint on the LPGA Tour, won the nature, and put them into a more relaxed and the increased opportunity to get to [ See Judson, page 29 ] first two years, and Barb Moxness, also a non-winner in a relatively brief but successful LPGA career, was last year’s Maggie Valley but front and rear bunkers place a pre- get close to the hole than the yardage champion, winning in a playoff over [ Continued from page 18 ] mium on distance control, with the front would indicate. Dibos. bunker obscuring the view of the green. A creek winds through the fairway on This year, the Legends format changed That hole is followed by the longest par The uphill par-5 13th begins with a the par-5 18th but can be carried by to two pro-am rounds with college 3 on the course, with the seventh tee shot over a frog pond brimming with longer hitters, setting up the opportunity players competing both days prior to stretching out to almost 230 yards, with fish. Trouble lurks off both sides of the to reach the downhill hole in two. The their 54-hole tournament. The LPGA a trio of bunkers protecting a kidney- fairway, with the hole gradually heading creek is also in play down the right side for Legends competed in two separate team shaped green with right side pin uphill to a green with a pronounced false shorter hitters on their lay-up shot, and formats, one a scramble with their three positions very difficult to get to. front and a Chambers Bay-like backboard left of the green for those going for it from amateur partners, and a modified Like the sixth, the par-4 10th sports a at the rear. long range. The large green has some scramble (“shamble”) with a college creek slicing through the tree-lined Things are mostly downhill from bailout room to the right, with the hole player, counting the best ball among the fairway, with a small target bordered by there, beginning with an elevated tee among the most scenic and interesting two. mounds making for one of the more shot at 14 that must avoid trees right and finishing holes you’ll encounter. Atlanta resident Rosie Jones serves as demanding approach shots on the course. another small creek through the fairway Maggie Valley offers a variety of stay the Tournament Host for the Legends The hole’s terrain is similar to that on the on the left that can transform a well- and play packages, with two-and-three- players, and was part of one of the win- front nine, but that changes beginning struck tee shot into a problem. bedroom condos offering appealing views ning teams in the first day of the pro-am. with the second shot to the dogleg right, The par-3 15th also heads downhill, of the course from private balconies. Jones said the change in format stemmed par-4 11th. with a large, inviting green beckoning Guests have full access to the club’s other from wanting to have more interaction The fairway is on the generous side, with nothing but grass in between tee amenities, with Maggie Valley centrally between the Legends and the college but with OB right and a creek through and putting surface. located for the array of outdoor activities players, which fit the overall leadership the fairway on the left, there are penalties Maggie Valley concludes with an available in the area. aspect of the event. for inaccuracy. The approach heads interesting pair of finishing holes. The “We wanted to have a chance to sharply uphill, with a wide green fea- downhill, dogleg left 17th is a short mentor the college players,” Jones said turing two distinct tiers – upper left par 4 with OB right near the far after the completion of the second pro- behind a bunker and significantly lower corner of the dogleg and trouble all For information on Maggie Valley, am. right. When the pin is cut up top on the the way along the left. The short call 800-438-3861 or visit The Legends played with college left, hitting that portion of the green in approach is one of the few that has www.maggievalleyclub.com players in the three previous tourna- regulation is a real accomplishment. to carry a front, middle bunker, with ments, but since the pros were also The par-3 12th tops out at 109 yards, a sloping green making it tougher to

22 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 23 Castro hoping to salvage difficult season Ex-Tech star looks to reclaim ‘13 success

B y M i k e B l u m season, with the likelihood of I’ve been home more PGA Tour appearances some for the first wo years ago at this time, before the regular season ends time in two Roberto Castro was in the in August. years.” midst of a sensational sopho- It was an unusual and B e g i n n i n g T more season on the PGA Tour, somewhat awkward situation with his start in which ended with an appearance in the for Castro, who stood next to the Byron Nelson, Tour Championship at East Lake. the ninth green and watched Castro was Castro, who grew up in the north as his brother narrowly looking forward to Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta and was an missed a birdie putt on his a more active All-American at Georgia Tech, had final hole that would have summer schedule enjoyed success each step of the way from sent the two to a playoff. on the PGA Tour, junior golf to the PGA Tour, culmi- After the round, Castro pointing out that nating with his outstanding showing in related an observation from he has “always 2013, when finished 21st in the final a veteran PGA Tour player played my best golf FedExCup standings and earned $2.155 that certainly applied to in the summer. I million. the conclusion of the U.S. still have time to But after a significantly less successful Open qualifier. make some hay.” showing in 2014, Castro lost his exempt “He said that if you play Roberto Castro Castro said there status, and things haven’t gotten any this game long enough, was no obvious better this year, with Castro facing the you’ll see everything. I answer for the obstacle of a limited number of starts think that goes to the top of the list.” decline in his play that has required him to play in Monday Castro said that very possibility was a Castro was 41st in the FedExCup from 2013 to 2014. qualifiers to get into some events. topic of discussion during a practice standings going into the 2013 Playoffs, “The difference was not huge. I just Through the first seven months of the round at Hawks Ridge. While that hypo- but played well in all four events, placing didn’t play as good. Every little part of 2014-15 PGA Tour schedule, Castro had thetical situation seemed unlikely to ninth, 15th and ninth the last three to my game just did not come together.” made just eight starts, and even though occur, Castro wasn’t caught off guard finish the year 21st in the standings. A Other than driving distance and put- he made five cuts, he barely registered on when it did. final round 65 at East Lake ended ting, neither of which were the strengths the FedExCup points list, ranking 210th, “I’m not surprised by anything in Castro’s season on a high note, but it of Castro’s game during his successful with just one finish better than 58th. golf,” he said. “Anything can happen. would be a while before Castro did any- 2013 season, Castro’s statistics dropped When Castro competed in last month’s You watch enough tour events and you thing to celebrate on the golf course. off measurably last year. He hit fewer U.S. Open Sectional qualifier at Hawks know.” After a trio of top 25 finishes last year fairways and far fewer greens, and when Ridge in Ball Ground, he had made just When Castro finished his round, he on the West Coast, Castro went almost he did hit greens in regulation, he did one PGA Tour start since mid-March, was three shots clear of his brother in three months without a decent showing not make nearly as many birdies. He that coming in the Byron Nelson fourth place, but Franco birdied the sixth before tying for eighth at Quail Hollow went from 42nd in scoring in 2013 to Championship, where he made the 36- and seventh holes at Hawks Ridge before in Charlotte. But Castro missed nine of 158th in 2014, both numbers very sim- hole cut but not the 54-hole cut, coming closing his round with a pair of pars. his next 12 cuts and was unable to sal- ilar to his standing on the points and away with just one FedExCup point for Castro was hoping his U.S. Open vage his season with a respectable but not money lists. his efforts. appearance wound get his 2014-15 quite good enough showing in the reg- Castro said his problems began with Castro, who played his way into two season headed in a positive direction after ular season finale in Greensboro. his driving, but the most glaring drop in events on the PGA Tour’s Florida swing a mostly forgettable first half of the year. Castro finished the 2013-14 season his ball-striking stats came in greens in in March through Monday qualifiers, put “Just playing in the U.S. Open tells 135th on the points list, and had to com- regulation, which went from 33rd in ‘13 those experiences to use at Hawks Ridge. you where your game is at,” he observed. pete in the four-tournament Web.com to 169th in ‘14. The most consistent After firing an 8-under 64 in the Castro qualified for the Open as a PGA Finals to retain his exempt status on the aspect of his game remains his putting, morning round of the 36-hole qualifier, Tour rookie in 2012, and thanks to his PGA Tour. Castro made the cut in all which was not that great even when he Castro followed with a 68 in the after- outstanding 2013 season, was exempt four events and added another top-10 enjoyed his career best season and is noon to finish third in the 42-player from qualifying last year. He did not finish in Charlotte, but came up short by ranked near the bottom of the PGA Tour field. make it into the 2013 U.S. Open, but less than $32. He shot higher than 74 in stats this year. Only the top three finishers earned began the best three-month stretch of just one of 16 rounds, but his one high “I’ve been playing good,” he said. “I spots in the U.S. Open, with Castro’s golf in his life shortly thereafter. score proved costly, ending what had just haven’t shot low scores.” spot in jeopardy until younger brother Two weeks after the Open, Castro fin- already been a disappointing season on a After his strong performance in U.S. Franco Castro missed a birdie putt on ished second to Jay Haas in the AT&T particularly sour note. Open qualifying, Castro came back with his final hole that would have forced a National at Congressional, more than After competing in 60 tournaments in his best showing of 2014 in Memphis, Castro brothers’ playoff for the final qual- holding his own in a head-to-head final 2013 and ‘14, Castro has not played closing with a 66 to tie for 40th. He ifying spot. round battle. A month later, he tied for nearly as much this year, which he said picked up enough FedExCup points to With Castro also in the field for the sixth in the Canadian Open, and in his has its positive and negative aspects. move up from 210th in the standings to FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis later next start tied for 12th in the PGA “I went crazy hard for two years. It’s a 193rd, which doesn’t sound like much, that week, it gave him a relatively rare Championship in just his second appear- little frustrating not to get to play as chance for back-to-back starts this ance in one of golf’s four majors. much, but looking on the bright side, [ See Roberto Castro, page 36 ]

24 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 25 Busy summer, tough decision awaits McCoy Bulldog senior could go pro after Walker Cup U S G A

B y M i k e B l u m match the school record held by current PGA Tour players Chris Kirk and fter an outstanding junior Russell Henley. Three of those wins season for the UGA golf came in succession this spring including team, Lee McCoy has a the Linger Longer Invitational at A summer tournament Reynolds Plantation and the Augusta schedule that’s getting busier by the Invitational at Forest Hills. He also week, with a difficult decision to follow broke the school scoring record (70.08), in the fall. was selected first team All-American and McCoy, who moved with his family was a candidate for several Player of the from Tampa to Clarkesville prior to his Year awards. senior year in high school, has already McCoy enjoyed his third straight strong represented the U.S. once this summer in finish in the regionals, but did not play his international competition, will do so best golf in the stroke play portion of the again this month and likely for a third NCAA Championship. He did save his time in September. best score for the final round, shooting a Also this summer, he has made his first team low 70 to tie for 33rd at 294. appearance in one of golf’s major cham- “I did nothing in stroke play,” McCoy pionships and his first start in a regular said. “I was very happy the team put me PGA Tour event, and has another one on their back.” scheduled this month. Lee McCoy Georgia tied for third to qualify for Since competing with his Georgia match play, with the Bulldogs the lowest teammates in the NCAA Championship senting the U.S. a five-hole stretch, but closed out his seeded team among the eight qualifiers. in Florida, McCoy has played in the Immediately after his successful quali- round with nine straight pars for a 66, “Nobody expected anything out of us, Palmer Cup in Illinois, the U.S. Open in fying round at Hawks Ridge, McCoy missing the cut by two shots. but we made it to the final four,” McCoy Washington state and a PGA Tour event headed to Illinois for the Palmer Cup, an How McCoy fares in his PGA Tour offered. in Hartford, Conn. annual event matching top American starts will have an impact on his decision After a solid final round in stroke play, McCoy will play in the PGA Tour college players against their European later this year whether to turn pro. McCoy was back on form for the match John Deere Classic this month, followed counterparts, most of whom are playing “I’m going to get to play in so many play portion of the tournament. by an appearance in the Pan Am Games in the U.S. incredible events,” McCoy said, with the “I found my game and a waxed the in Toronto the following week, with the The U.S. team won 18-12, with U.S. Amateur at Olympia Fields in first guy I played,” McCoy said of his U.S. Amateur in Chicago likely on his McCoy posting a 1-2-1 record. He August breaking up his schedule of pro 5&3 win in the anchor match against August schedule. September should teamed with Georgia Tech’s Ollie events and team competitions. South Florida. McCoy also won against include a trip to England as a member of Schniederjans to split his two team McCoy made his first appearance on a LSU’s No. 1 player, but was the only the U.S. Walker Cup team, with McCoy matches, winning decisively in alternate national stage in the U.S. Amateur last UGA golfer to win as the Bulldogs lost facing a career decision at the conclusion shot before losing in best ball. McCoy year, sharing medalist honors in stroke in the semifinals to the eventual national of that event. lost his first singles match, but managed play qualifying at Atlanta Athletic Club. champion. After qualifying for the U.S, Open in a a half the final day against the No. 1 McCoy posted scores of 67 and 68 at the Four of the Bulldogs who were in the Sectional qualifier at Hawks Ridge, an player on the European team. Riverside and Highlands courses for an lineup in the regionals and NCAA inaccurate story in the Atlanta Journal- Schniederjans won both his singles 8-under 135 total, but drew Nathan Championship have eligibility remaining, Constitution had McCoy turning pro matches, including a win against Smith, America’s top mid-amateur in but McCoy is considering turning pro and before the U.S. Open. Europe’s No. 1, and Georgia Tech team- the first round of match play, and lost on giving up his senior season. “My first pro event will be our national mate Anders Albertson went 2-2, the 19th hole. “We have a chance at nationals next championship,” McCoy said. “It doesn’t splitting both his team and singles The success he enjoyed from his U.S. year, no doubt,” he said, “whether I’m on get any better than that.” matches. The U.S. team was led by Amateur experience carried over to his the team or not.” McCoy was referring to playing in a Georgia Tech coach Bruce Heppler. junior season with the Bulldogs, as Of his plans, he said “It’s too early to professional event, not competing as a McCoy will also compete in the Pan McCoy emerged as one of the country’s tell. There’s too much golf to play before pro, and made it clear that his upcoming Am Games, which will be played in elite collegiate golfers. I decide.” scheduling priority was the Walker Cup, Toronto. The golf tournament is sched- McCoy played well as a freshman in McCoy shot 65-66 for a 13-under 131 which will be played in England in uled for July 16-19, the week after Athens, and followed with a solid sopho- total to place second in the U.S. Open September. McCoy plays in the John Deere Classic. more season, winning one tournament, qualifier at Hawks Ridge, but missed the “Hopefully I’ll make the Walker Cup After flying cross-country following taking second in regionals to help cut at Chambers Bay by three shots with team. That’s my big goal. This is not the U.S. Open, McCoy’s first appearance Georgia qualify for the NCAA back-to-back scores of 74. He played going to hurt my chances,” he said of in a regular PGA Tour event got off to a Championship and earning honorable respectably both days, but a triple bogey qualifying for the U.S. Open. “I’ll get a shaky start. He was 4-over after four mention All-America honors. in the opening round proved costly, and little links experience.” holes in the opening round, but was even Coming off his co-medalist effort in he encountered the same challenge the McCoy is a near certainty to make the par the rest of the day and shot 74. the U.S. Amateur, McCoy enjoyed one of other 155 players faced on the course’s Walker Cup, which would be his third Things went considerably better the the finest seasons in Georgia history as a less-than-championship-quality putting appearance as a member of a team repre- next day, as McCoy ran off four birdies in junior. He won four tournaments to surfaces.

26 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 27 PGA Tour plays at Grand National this month RTJ Trail course has hosted big events in past

B y M i k e B l u m in both the PGA Championship and More than half the greens on the Lake Tournament of Champions, but not the course are bordered by water, and the he Robert Trent Jones Trail Masters. layout, which was built along Lake Grand National Lake course With only five weeks left in the Saugahatchee, features several in Opelika, Al., has hosted FedExCup regular season after the risk/reward shots, most notably on the T the LPGA Tournament of Barbasol Championship, most of the par-5 12th. Lake is relatively tight off the Champions, NCAA Championship and PGA Tour players who did not qualify tee, but is more a second-shot course, Nike (now Web.com) Tour for the British Open will be playing in with some demanding pin positions bor- Championship since it opened in the the tournament to improve their dered by hazards. The putting surfaces early 1990s. standing on the points list, which deter- are large with ample amounts of undula- This month, the course will be the site mines which 125 players qualify for the tion, and the presence of mounds along of a new PGA Tour event, as the inau- Playoffs and earn exempt status for the the edges makes it an all-around chal- gural Barbasol Championship will be 2015-16 season. lenge for the pros’ short games. played July 16-19. The tournament will It’s been 15 years since the Grand Although there are a few walks across be played the same week as the British National Lake course has hosted a big bridges, the Lake course is spectator Open, and is one of four on the PGA time event after a busy four-year stretch friendly, with several intersecting holes Tour played the same week as either a between 1997 and 2000. Jason Bohn and a minimal amount of elevation World Golf Championship event or the The course hosted the Nike Tour players before injuries ended her career, changes. In that regard, the course is British Open. Championship in 1997, with PGA Tour winning that event. Both tournaments similar to Callaway Gardens, which The tournament will have a purse of veteran Steve Flesch winning by four moved to other courses on the Robert hosted a PGA Tour event from 1991- $3.5 million and will offer 300 shots. The LPGA played its Tournament Trent Jones Trail after making their ini- 2002. FedExCup points to the winner, who of Champions there the next year, with tial appearance at Grand National. The Columbus area, which had a PGA receives a two-year exemption and a spot Kelly Robbins, one of the tour’s top The NCAA Championship was played Tour event for more than three decades, at Grand National in 2000, with the has been without a tour event since a course also hosting a Preview event in the one-year trial with the Champions Tour fall of 1999. Luke Donald won the in 2003 was unsuccessful. Opelika, Preview while playing at Northwestern, which is located near Auburn, is a short with Augusta’s Charles Howell the drive from Columbus, and is only about 2000 individual champion in record-set- 90 minutes from Atlanta off I-85. ting fashion, leading Oklahoma State to As one of the PGA Tour’s handful of a national title. “opposite” events, the Barbasol Howell shot the lowest 72-hole total Championship will be lacking for the in NCAA history (23-under 265), game’s marquee players, but tourna- matched the 18-hole scoring mark (63) ments in that category have produced and won by a whopping eight shots. He plenty of drama in recent years, and have holed a clutch putt on the 72nd hole to proved as springboards to future success force a playoff between Oklahoma State for many of golf’s best. and Georgia Tech, with Oklahoma State Former U.S. Open champion Geoff winning over a Tech team headed up by Ogilvy won an opposite event in Reno- Matt Kuchar and Bryce Molder. Tahoe last year, with Atlanta area native The Lake course is considered as per- and former UGA star Chris Kirk win- haps the best of the Robert Trent Jones ning in Mississippi in 2011 the same Trail courses, with the Grand National week the British Open was played. Links course right there with it. Lake Jordan Spieth’s breakthrough tour- serves as the tournament course because nament on the PGA Tour was a the ninth hole on Links does not come runner-up finish in Puerto Rico in 2013, back to the clubhouse, making two-tee with recent Georgia Tech golfer starts impractical. Chesson Hadley winning as a PGA The Lakes course can play as long as Tour rookie last year in Puerto Rico. 7150 yards, but will be on the short side Golfers with Georgia ties have a his- by PGA Tour standards, with no par 4s tory of success in opposite events, most over 445 yards and a quartet of par 5s notably veterans Jason Bohn and that average under 540. The par 3s, how- Jonathan Byrd. Bohn tied for second in ever, are a strong group, with three of the Mississippi last fall and was also a four over 210 yards and the semi-island runner-up there in 2012, with Byrd third 15th among the featured holes on the in Reno-Tahoe last year and second in course. 2013.

28 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 Planterra Ridge loses trees, enhanced by lake

B y S t e v e E u b a n k s Ridge had to create two-and-a-half new ust as a beautiful sunset can holes when the adjacent local airport, brighten an otherwise miserable Falcon Field, commandeered everything day, sometimes a feature that has from the approach shot on No.3, though J nothing to do with golf course the green on No.5. The new holes architecture can totally trans- improved the place but, again, not in form the makeup of a club and cheer the way that would make you sing praises to attitudes of players who are on it. anyone outside your closest group of Such is the case at Planterra Ridge family and friends. Golf Club, the ClubCorp property that Then the trees came down and the dam was part of the old Canongate network of went up. courses in Peachtree City. Originally After decades of permitting problems designed by Rocky Roquemore, the and political wrangling, Fayette and course opened in 1994 as the last of the Coweta Counties finally built Lake three master-planned golf properties in McIntosh, a 240-acre reservoir fed that the golf-cart infested town half-an-hour acts as a water source for both counties. A Planterra Ridge south of Hartsfield-Jackson International park and dock were added on the Airport. Peachtree City side and sailors and For the first 18 years, it was a fine, kayakers enjoy late afternoon sunsets on Nothing else has changed. No bunkers from all mid-range family club with few memo- the calm waters. were deepened; no greens redesigned; no over the world down to play. rable features: nothing wrong or The lake also abuts Planterra Ridge, tees added or pars changed: the only dif- “It is the busiest club in town by far,” gimmicky but nothing that would make turning an average golf course into one of ference is the lake. And it’s a major one. said Steve Soriano, the general manager of you raise your eyebrows and tell your the most scenic and challenging layouts Residents now fondly refer to their the Peachtree City cluster of courses. “We friends about it. LocalU.S. Open quali- on the south side of the city. course as “Planterra by the Sea” and they owe that to the ‘added water attraction.’ fying was held there a couple of times, Nine holes are now on the water with can’t get enough of it, inviting guests It makes it a beautiful place to be.” but other than that the course seemed lake views on three more, a change that destined to toil in relative obscurity, lost puts Planterra on par with the courses of in the stew of real-estate golf that Lake Oconee. The lake also affected the drowned the Atlanta market throughout playability of the place, as what was once the 90s. rough is now water and holes that were But something interesting happened tree-lined before are now open and on the road to anonymity. First, Planterra breezy.

Judson Totland birdied five of the first 10 holes in the final round to offset a triple [ Continued from page 22 ] bogey on the par-4 fourth, and preserved tournament that supports it, with the her lead with pars on her last seven holes. emphasis this year shifting more to the Bae had the lead midway through the Leadership Conference that preceded the final round until she took a triple bogey tournament. on the short but perilous par-4 ninth. Jones had come close to winning the Needham had a chance to win before an first three years in the individual compe- erratic finish that began with a double tition, and managed to be part of the bogey at the par-5 13th and a bogey at the winning team in the Legends-college 14th. She rebounded with birdies and 15 player format the first day. Barb and 16 to close within one of the lead, but Mucha’s team won the scramble format, made bogey on the difficult par-4 17th with Betsy King the Legends-college and settled for par on the par-5 18th. winner the next day and Laurie Rinker Defending champion Jessica the pro on the first place scramble team. Haigwood of Roswell, who plays at Taylor Totland of Furman won the Augusta State, was among the leaders 54-hole Judson Collegiate Invitational, after an opening 71, but followed with carding scores of 71-74-71 for a 3-over back-to-back 75s and tied for sixth at 216 total. Sarah Bae of North Carolina 221 with Milton’s Payton Schanen, State was second at 217, shooting 75-69- who will be a freshman at Mercer this 73. Sydney Needham of Villa Rica, Fall. Schanen shot 74-74-73, beginning who is transferring from Samford to her final round with 11 straight pars Florida, shot 71-73-74 to place third at before carding four bogeys and two 218. birdies over her final seven holes.

2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 29 Greg Norman Golf Academy offers a variety of programs, including summer camps, full-time, post-graduate, customized and adult programs. Greg Norman Champions Golf Academy Myrtle Beach facility a top training ground

he Greg Norman Champions house parents. sive golf instruction, helps stu- Golf Academy, located at the The Greg Norman Champions Golf dents achieve the goal of receiving Barefoot Resort in North Academy is a full-tome boarding golf a college scholarship. T Myrtle Beach, S.C., has been academy that offers a variety of programs, The post-graduate program meeting the needs of top amateur and including summer camps, full-time, was designed to prepare players professional golfers since it was created in post-graduate, and customized and adult ages 17-21 for college golf and 2010. programs. beyond. It allows students an The GNCGA is one of the largest golf The summer camp provides weekly extra year to improve their golf training facilities in the world, with and multi-week training programs for games to compete more effec- access to four courses that Norman was boys and girls ages 8 to 21. The summer tively at the college level involved in the design and construction. camp begins in May and runs through without losing a year of eligi- The 10,000 square foot state of the art September, offering the same experience bility. The post-graduate facility was designed to meet the needs of as full-time high school and post-grad- programs also start in August golfers at every stage of their develop- uate students receive. and ends in May. ment. The GNCGA full-time program The professional and The facility houses two classrooms, full focuses on education and improving golf instructional know how of locker rooms and a world class gym fea- skills in 10 months, running from Greg Norman provides a turing Cybex equipment. There are three August to May. It provides top juniors platform for junior golfers hitting bays for the GNCGA students, from the U.S. and abroad with an looking to dramatically with each one equipped with V-1 video instruction program and training envi- improve their ability to com- analysis. ronment. pete effectively and win in GNCGA coaches guide the junior The academy partners with K12, a life. #attacklife! golfers in a daily basis with one on one leader in online learning, as well Low In addition to the large number of jun- grams are also offered for those training along with group instruction Country Prep School for an excellent pri- iors in attendance, the GNCGA offers looking to improve in a particular area. Monday through Saturday. The students vate school academic experience. The adult golf programs that include one, Those areas include the short game, long are housed at The Farm in Carolina academic offerings are high end, and two and three-day golf schools covering game, putting, driving, full swing, Forest and are cared for by the GNCGA’s combined with the individualized inten- all aspects of the game. Customized pro- bunker play and chipping.

30 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 31 Golf FORE Juniors Sarah Luke Harrison Schniederjans

Schniederjans, For the tournament, Lee had 20 birdies and an eagle, breaking the 54-hole Harrison claim scoring record set by recent Georgia Southern golfer Scott Wolfes, who shot GPGA Jr. titles 201 in 2009. Lee won last year’s Georgia Luke Schniederjans of Powder Springs PGA Junior Championship at Dunwoody and Sarah Harrison of Augusta were the Country Club. winners in last month’s Georgia PGA Junior Gainesville’s Spencer Ralston shot 68- Championship at Pinetree Country Club. 67 the final two rounds and was second at A A G Schniederjans shot 70-75 for a 1-over 208, with Georgia PGA runner-up Ryan G P P A A I I G 145 total to finish four ahead of Hines third at 210 after a final round 68. G R R O O E E G Woodstock’s Ryan Hines. Schniederjans Hunter Dunagan of Augusta was fourth at G had five birdies in his opening round to 211, with Roswell’s JonErik Alford and lead by one after 18 holes, and expanded Canton’s Brady Keran fifth at 212. Keran S.M. Lee Lauren his lead the next day despite a triple bogey shot 66 in the second round. Lightfritz on the par-5 ninth hole. Hines shot 74-75 Luukas Alakulppi of Valdosta was sev- and made double bogey on the ninth in enth at 214 and Atlanta’s Will Chandler the final round. was eighth at 215 to earn spots on the Ollie Schniederjans, Luke’s older GSGA Junior Challenge Match team that brother and a recent Georgia Tech grad- will play a team from South Carolina this uate, won the Georgia PGA Junior month. Championship in 2009. Lightfritz shot 4-under 212 at Coosa Hunter Hester of Peachtree City and Country Club in Rome to finish two ahead Jake Lawson of Atlanta tied for third at of Payton Schanen of Milton, the 2014 150. Lawson was one back after an opening GSGA Girls champion. The two players 71, carding five birdies, and was tied with shared the opening round lead at 69, but A G

Schniederjans midway through the final Lightfritz took the lead outright with a S round before making a 9 on the par-5 11th. second round 70. G Hudson Huber of Tyrone and Hunter After making just three bogeys the first Fry of Dacula tied for fifth at 152, with 45 holes and standing 7-under at that Huber closing with a 72. point, Lightfritz was headed for an easy vic- A G S

Harrison won the girls division by three tory and possible tournament scoring G shots with scores of 78-74—152. She record, but made four bogeys on her final shared the lead after the opening round, nine for a 73. Alissa Yang shot 72-70 the final two 4 Georgians win rallying with three birdies on her final nine Schanen birdied the final two holes in the days and was fourth at 217. Lizzie Reedy of after making a triple bogey on the par-4 third round for a 70 to take second at 214. Marietta was fifth at 218 after a final round AJGA tournaments 18th. She pulled away the next day despite Melissa Talbott of Woodstock was second 71, Ivy Shepherd of Peachtree City was Four Georgians scored victories in making just one birdie. at 141 after 36 holes with scores of 70 and sixth at 220, and Christina Yang of American Junior Golf Association tourna- Alejandra Ayala of Alpharetta shot a 71, but after notching nine birdies the first Suwanee and Amanda Doherty of Atlanta ments last month, with Lawrenceville’s final round 76 to take second at 155, with two days, did not make a birdie in the final tied for seventh at 221. Doherty shot 69 to Jenny Bae scoring her win in a Junior All- first round co-leader Christine McDonnell round and shot 75 to place third at 216. share the opening round lead. of Suwanee third at 159. Kate Owens of Star event at WindStone GC in Ringgold. Suwanee and Buford’s Skylar Thompson Bae shot 67-69-72 for a 5-under 208 total tied for fourth at 160, with Alissa Yang of Jenny Bae Charles Huntzinger to win by two. Skylar Thompson tied for Norcross sixth at 161 after a final round 76. sixth at 216, with Ivy Shepherd 10th at 219. Bae led after each of the first two rounds, but was three shots behind Lee, Lightfritz take heading to the back nine the final day. She shot 2-under 34 on the final nine to make GSGA Junior titles up five strokes on the 45-hole leader. S.M. Lee of Buford and Lauren Lightfritz It was just the second AJGA tournament of Suwanee scored impressive wins in the for the 13-year-old Bae. Junior All-Star tour- GSGA Junior and Girls Championships, with naments are for players age 12 to 15. both players finishing under par for 54 Luka Karaulic of Dacula was second in holes. the boys division, finishing two shots Lee was dominant at Augusta’s West behind the winner with scores of 73-68- Lake Country Club, winning by eight shots 66—207. Tyler Lipscomb of Carrollton with a 16-under 200 total. He shot a tour- shot 68-67 the final two rounds to tie for nament record 63 in the first round to lead fourth at 209, with Ben Carr of Columbus by seven, and maintained his advantage tying for sixth at 210. A with scores of 67 and 70 the next two days. A Brendan Patton of Alpharetta tied for G G J J A A

32 F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 eighth at 211, with Garron Terrell of Idle Hour Club, talking a playoff over Woodstock 10th at 212, Will Kahlstorf of Layne Marie-Carter of Lyons. Watkinsville and Liam Shinn of Norcross Both players finished with 159 totals, T11 at 213, and Thomas Hogan of St. with Carter shooting a final round 77 after Simons T13 at 214. Patton, Shimm and trailing Marchman by two after the first Hogan all shot 68 in the first round. round. Hannah Gasaway of McDonough Charles Huntzinger of Duluth, who is was third at 160. headed to Penn State this Fall, scored his Davis Hall of Marietta was second in first AJGA win in the FJ Invitational in boys 16-19 at 145, and Matthew Geiser of Greensboro, N.C. Huntzinger finished at 4- Atlanta was second in the 12-13 age under 276 with scores of 71-66-70-69 to group at 147. Jackson Toole of Lyons shot win by two. 72-74—146 to win the 14-15 division by Huntzinger trailed Benjamin Shipp, two over Brendan Patton. also of Duluth, by four shots after 36 holes, Sam Barrett of Thomasville shot 75- but after starting with scores of 66-67, 77—152 to win boys 12-13 by three shots Shipp struggled the next two days and at Shoal Creek in Birmingham. Kate tied for 11th at 285. GSGA Junior cham- Mashburn of Calhoun tied for second in pion S.M. Lee was second after 36 holes at girls 15-19 at 170, two behind the winner. 136 after a second round 66 and finished tied for sixth at 282. Chung wins by 7 JonErik Alford scored his victory at Bear Creek on Hilton Head Island. Alford at Chateau Elan trailed by seven shots after an opening 76, Peter Chung of Dacula won a Hurricane but closed with scores of 72-68 to win by Junior Golf Tour event at Chateau Elan last three at even par 216. month, firing a final round 67 to finish at 2- Alford was still six back after the second under 211, seen shots ahead of the round, but moved into contention with runner-up in boys 15-18. three birdies on the front nine the final Nicholas Gibson of Lawrenceville was day and wrapped up his first AJGA victory second in the 13-14 age group at 217, with birdies on the last two holes. His final three behind the winner, and Tess round 68 matched the low score of the Davenport of Buford was second in girls tournament. 11-14 at 228. Austin Fulton of Villa Rica was the Joshua Grenville-Wood of Peachtree fourth AJGA Georgia winner in June, also City was the boys 15-18 winner at White pulling off a major third round comeback Oak in Newnan with scores of 71-72—143. in Mount Sterling, Ky. Fulton was six back Peachtree City’s David Bartels was after 36 holes after scores of 74-72, but got second at 144. Brandon Cho of Suwanee off to a fast start in the final round with shot 151 to win the 13-14 age group by 12 three birdies on his first five holes. shots. Fulton still trailed by five shots with six The girls 15-18 winner was Cameron holes to play, but birdied four of the six Daniel of Sharpsburg at 154, with Ashley holes for a 65 to overtake the lead and win Shim of Newnan second at 156. Liza by a shot. Alex Markham of Dacula tied Eubanks of Peachtree City shot 162 in for fifth at 216. girls 11-14, but lost in a playoff. Davenport In other AJGA events last month: and Kimberly Shen of Johns Creek tied Karaulic placed third in Ashland, Ky., and for third at 163. Nicholas Cassidy of Johns Creek tied for At Royal Lakes in Flowery Branch, fourth. Karaulic shot 67-71-69 for a 3- Wesley Hanson of Macon won the boys under 207 total to finish three behind the 15-18 with scores of 75-76—151. Tying for winner. Cassidy was four back at 208 after second at 153 were Grant Manning of scores of 68-69-71. Suwanee, David Frank of Dunwoody and Kayley Marschke of Suwanee was sev- Tanner Merck of Gainesville. Nicholas enth in the girls division in Nashville with a Gibson of Lawrencecille was the 13-14 227 total, with Lightfritz T11 at 232. Dario winner at 156, with Shyam Joshi of Ayala of Alpharetta tied for eighth among Dacula second at 158. the boys at 2-under 214 after a final round Louise Yu of Duluth shot 76-77—153 to 69. Jacob Bayer of Lawrenceville was 11th win girls 15-18 by seven over Kelly at 216. Strickland of Alpharetta. Tess Davenport won the 13-14 age group by seven over Marchman takes Dunwoody’s Woo Wade with scores of 77- 74--151. Jr. Peach Blossom Drew Smith of Decatur won boys 15-18 Waynesboro’s Rylie Marchman won the at the Grand National Links course in girls division of the Southeastern Junior Opelika, Al., shooting 72-79—151 to take Golf Tour Junior Peach Blossom at Macon’s the division by three.

2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 33 Chip Shots Rinko Mitsunaga

Hirschman defends Georgia Southern, was second in the pres- tigious Sunnehana Amateur. Southeastern title Kennerly finished at 6-under 274 in the Palmetto Am, posting scores of 66-69-74- Grant Hirshman, a member of the 65. He finished two shots behind North Oklahoma golf team, defended his title in Carolinian Ben Schlottman. the Southeastern Amateur at Country Club Alpharetta’s Zach Jaworski, who plays of Columbus, winning by five shots with a at Vanderbilt, tied for eighth at 281, with 15-under 269 total. Lexington’s Nathan Mallonee, a member Hirshman, who had yet to enter college of the Georgia State golf team, T14 at 284. when he won the tournament last year, Augusta’s Emmanuel Kountakis (Mercer) trailed by six shots after an opening par 71, A

tied for 16th at 285, with Davin White of G S

but matched the low score of the week in G Locust Grove and Georgia State, 20th at the second round with a 62 to close within 287. one of the lead. Wolfes shot 65-70-69-65 for an 11-under Carter Page of Waynesville, N.C., also UGA golfer Emilie Burger, who has 269 total, one behind Virginia golfer Derek Weaver a winner shot 62 and led by one after 36 holes, but regained her amateur status after playing Bard. Recent Mercer graduate Trey Rule Hirshman followed his 62 with a 63 to lead briefly as a professional. from Eatonton tied for 21st at 277. Robert on Canadian Tour by five heading to the final round. In a battle of USGA champions in the Mize of Columbus, the 2014 Georgia Atlanta resident Drew Weaver, a former Hirshman, from Collierville, Tenn., played quarterfinals, Misunaga won on the 19th Amateur champion, led the tournament British Amateur champion, continued his cautiously the final day, shooting 1-over 72 hole against Atlanta Junior Golf Executive after an opening 65 before finishing with a outstanding play in 2015 with a victory in to easily preserve his lead. Director Margaret Shirley, the 2014 U.S. 281 total. the recent season-opening tournament on Jared Bettcher of Auburn, Ala., closed Women’s Mid-Amateur champion and a the PGA Tour-sponsored Canadian Tour. with a 64 to take second at 272, with Beau three-time winner of the Georgia Women’s Weaver had to survive a five-way playoff Titsworth, Hirshman’s Oklahoma team- Mitsunaga takes Open. In another tight quarterfinal match, to win the tournament in Vancouver, mate, third at 274 along with Floridian Needham won 1-up against UGA golfer scoring three straight birdies on par-5s, two Sean Kelly. Page finished fifth at 275. GSGA Match Play Isabella Skinner of Cumming. on the 18th hole and one on the first hole, Tyler Joiner of Leesburg, who will be a Roswell’s Rinko Mitsunaga, who teamed Augusta’s Laura Coble, who has won the third extra hole. He earned $30,000 for freshman at Georgia Tech this Fall, was low up to win the USGA Women’s Four-Ball the tournament nine times, lost 1-up in his victory and followed with a tie for 10th among the Georgians in the field, tying for Championship earlier this year, added a the first round to Sea Island’s Cheryl in the next Canadian Tour event. eighth at 277 after shooting 67-68 the final recent individual title, taking the GSGA Grigg. Earlier this year, Weaver enjoyed a strong two rounds. Also tying for eighth wasVince Women’s Match Play Championship at run on the North Carolina-based eGolf Whaley, who will be a junior for the Yellow Piedmont Driving Club. Strawn captures Tour, winning one tournament, tying for Jackets. Whaley also tied for ninth in the Mitsunaga defeated Payton Schanen of second twice and placing third twice. In Monroe Invitational in New York. Milton 3&2 in the finals in a match of two Lee-Weir Memorial seven starts on that tour this year, he has six Bobby Brent was the low finisher from high school golfers from North Fulton. Amateur Rusty Strawn won last month’s top-10 finishes and has not finished lower Columbus, placing 13th at 280. Charlie Mitsunaga will be a freshman at Georgia Georgia PGA Senior Division Lee-Weir than 15th. Flowers of Columbus and Steven Fisk of this Fall, while Schanen will play for Memorial at Canongate 1, edging fellow Weaver plays out of Druid Hills Golf Club. Stockbridge were among the leaders after Mercer. amateur Mel Mendenhall for the title. In a recent eGolf Tour event in 54 holes, but both shot 78 the final day and Mitsunaga needed 19 holes to get past Strawn finished with a 9-under 135 Gordonsville, Va., recent Georgia Tech tied for 18th at 282. UGA golfer Zach Healy Villa Rica’s Sydney Needham in the semi- total, posting scores of 69-66. Mendenhall golfer Bo Andrews shot a final round 63 for of Peachtree Corners was T22 at 283, and finals, while Schanen won 4&3 over former was second at 67-69—136. a 205 total to finish second and earn $7500. Georgia Tech golfer Michael Pisciotta of James Mason of Dillard was low pro The SwingThought.com (formerly N

Alpharetta matched par of 284 and tied for R E

H and third overall with scores of 69-68— Hooters) Tour made two recent stops in T

24th. U O

S 137. Tying for fourth at 140 were pros North Carolina, with several Georgia golfers A Shad Tuten of Savannah, the runner-up I G

R Sonny Skinner of Sylvester and Danny posting top finishes. O

to Hirshman last year, was among the E G Elkins of Georgia Golf Center, who shot 68 Bobby Wyatt, a member of Alabama’s leaders after an opening 67, but wound up in the final round. national championship teams in 2013-14 tied for 30th at 285 with Jacob Joiner, who Clark Spratlin of Currahee Club was and a St. Simons resident, tied for second at will be joined at Georgia Tech by his fifth at 69-73—142, with Brian Cutter Creek GC with a 270 total. Albany’s younger brother. Puterbaugh of the Hooch and Charlie T.J. Mitchell, a recent UGA golfer, tied for King of Griffin Golf Course tying for sev- sixth at 277, along with Acworth’s James Kennerly, Wolfes enth at 143. Puterbaugh shared the lead White (Georgia Tech) and Canton resident after an opening 67. Amateur Bill Jeff Karlsson (Kennesaw State). Casey 2nd in am events Lenhardt and pro Mark Anderson of Johnson of Augusta was 12th at 280. Alpharetta’s Billy Kennerly and St. Simons’ Brunswick CC were ninth at 144, with Karlsson was fourth in New Bern, N.C., Scott Wolfes both placed second in Anderson closing with a 68. three shots behind the winner, with a 19- national amateur events last month. The tournament is a fixture within the under 269 total. Johnson was ninth at 274, Kennerly, who plays at Clemson, was Georgia PGA Senior Division and is played with Matt Nagy of Buena Vista, Karlsson’s runner-up in the Palmetto Amateur at in honor of former Canongate head pro teammate at Kennesaw State, 10th at 275. Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, S.C. Wolfes, Emory Lee and long-time PING represen- Ex-Georgia Tech golfer J.T. Griffin, a St. Scott Wolfes who recently completed his career at tative Billy Weir. Simons resident, and Wyatt tied for 11th at

34 G O L F F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 277, with recent Georgia Tech graduate Lane Jowers, Brunswick; 76 – Chad Ring, Anders Albertson of Woodstock tying for Fayetteville. 15th at 12-under 276 in his professional Lane Creek: 68 – Jarod Trammell, Jasper; debut. Henry Persons, Macon; S.M. Lee, Buford; Albertson was recently named the ACC Nathan Mallonee, Lexington; 69 – Ashton men’s golf Scholar Athlete of the Year, and Pellicano, Albany; 70 – Eamonn Owen, previously won the Byron Nelson Award for Madison; Eli Crumley, Cleveland; 72 – the top graduating senior based on his Colton Strawn, Athens; Ben Huckaby, entire academic and golf performance Bishop; 73 – Poli Medrano, Greensboro; throughout his college career. Larry Harris, Loganville; 74 – Garrett Bailey, Hartwell; Ben Avery, Athens; David Noto, Georgia Amateur Clarkesville; Edward Bannister, Loganville; Kyle Harper, Hartwell. Alternates: 75 – Trey qualifying results Pearson, Dacula; Jake Crane, Bogart; Bob Russo, Johns Creek; Hunter Young, The Georgia State Golf Association held 10 Gainesville. qualifiers around the state last month for West Lake: 65 – Gus Wagoner, Duluth; the Georgia Amateur, which will be played 67 – Matt Jackson, Waynesboro; 70 – July 9-12 at Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside Greyson Sigg, Augusta; 71 – Ethan course. Chamineak, Thomson; 72 – John Yi, Qualifiers from the 10 sites were: Marietta; William Garner, Augusta; 73 – Houston Lake: 67 – States Fort, Evans; Trevor Balliet, Augusta; Douglas Carter, Stephen Welsh, Macon; 70 – Bill Sharpe Sr., Augusta. Alternates: 73 – Carson Spears, Albany; 71 – Mark David Johnson, St. Augusta; 74 – Andrew Chong, Grovetown; Simons; 72 – Michael Chapin, Atlanta; Park Jordan Long, Stockbridge. Brady, St. Simons; Cole Ackerman, St. Green Island: 70 -- Ridge Purcell, Simons. Alternates: 72 – Neill Hatcher, LaGrange; Keller Harper, Atlanta; 73 – Columbus; Shawn Hodge, Kathleen. Charlie McDaniel, Columbus; 74 – Parker Governors Towne Club: 68 – Brock Derby, Columbus. Alternates: 74 – Mel Nixon, Kennesaw; 69 – Chris Gugliemo, Mendenhall, Marietta; Tyler Young, Cumming; Benjamin Shipp, Duluth; Shea Kennesaw. Sylvester, Roswell; Spencer Ralston, Cherokee Run: 71 – Mitch Kim, Gainesville; 71 – Nicholas Budd, Cumming; 74 -- James Kyles, Atlanta; Woodstock; Brett Barron, Suwanee; 72 – Danny Smyth, Atlanta; 75—Andy Patrick Bridges, Atlanta; Billy Johns, Johns Labanauskas, Atlanta; Taylor Smith, Creek; Garrett Marschke, Suwanee; Michael Covington; Jake Fendt, Suwanee; 76 – Motz, Cumming; Daniel Fienemann, Steven Wysocki, Hoschton; Cameron Peachtree City; Sean Murphy, Decatur; 73 – Hooper, Atlanta; Danny Whigham, Atlanta; Matthew Hayes, Marietta; Todd Schmitt, Dave Womack, McDonough; Erick Martin, Atlanta; Adam Morris, Acworth; Jason Alpharetta. Alternates: 77 – Harry Lambert, Coolik, Atlanta; Hudson Hooks, Atlanta; Suwanee; Chris Harris, Atlanta; Spencer Steve Davis, Rome; Luke Schniederjans, Papciak, Atlanta; 78 – Travis Steed, Mason. Powder Springs; 74 – Barrett Waters, Dallas. Newnan Country Club: 68 – Henry Alternates: 74 – Ryan Stachler, Alpharetta; Mabbett, Griffin; Trevor Smith, Brunswick; Zan Banks, Atlanta; Jack Stumpfig, Villa 69 – Carson Vaughan, Newnan; 70 – Scott Rica; Michael Sheahan, Marietta; Robert Odell, Claxton; Stanton Schorr, Columbus; Shaw, Cumming. Seth Sanders, Macon; 72 – Jason Henry, Fields Ferry: 69 – Sean Elliott, Sandy Newnan; 73 – Mike Cromer, Peachtree Springs; Chase Jones, Chatsworth; Chase Corners; Damon Stephenson, Atlanta; Jake Jones, Cartersville; Wyatt Larkin, Thomas, Cumming; Steven Fisk, Morganton; 70 – Jason Dejiacomo, Big Stockbridge; Austin Weathington, Atlanta; Canoe; Collin Doss, Rome; 71 – Harold Ryan Blackburn, Atlanta; 74 – Madison Wyatt, Atlanta; David Sullivan, Woodstock; Turner, Canton; Paul Kocsis, Fayetteville; Matt Eicholtz, Dalton; 72 – Kevin Burns, Sam Asbury, Atlanta. Alternates: 75 -- Tre Canton; Scott Davenport, Marietta; Spencer Lamb, Calhoun; Preston Heyward, Duluth; Ball, Suwanee; Justin Johnson, Canton. Jack Harpe, Griffin; Riley Baxter, Atlanta. Alternates: 73 – Jayce Stepp, Cartersville; Kinderlou Forest: 71 -- Taylor Welborn, Bill Faith, Atlanta; Daniel McKenzie, Atlanta. LaGrange; 73 – Mitch Lomax, St. Mary’s; Savannah Quarters: 66 – Travis Mobley, Luukas Alakulppi, Valdosta; 74 – Chris Hinesville; 68 – Tripp Coggins, Pooler; 69 – Rogers, Dawson; McKenzie Blanchett, Hal Hayes, Savannah; 71 – Danny Nelson, Moultrie; 75 – Scott Campbell, Sandy Savannah; 73 – Harrison Stafford, Springs; Sam Barrett, Thomasville; Jared Savannah; Jeff Cowart, Savannah; 74 – Purvis, Valdosta. Alternates: 76 – Rob Travis Williamson, Brunswick; Hunter Fry, Benton, Douglas; Brock Young, Tifton; Dacula; 75 – Howard Hickey, Savannah. David Matthews, Valdosta. Alternates: 75 – Josh Williams, St. Simons;

2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 35 PGA Tour sophomore Hudson regain form after undergoing hip Brian Ha FedExCup Swafford 88th and virtually certain rman replacement surgery last year; [ Continued from page 16 ] to retain his exempt status after Roberto Castro (194), who quali- playing better than he did as a fied for the Tour Championship in Russell Henley (51) has had chances rookie. 2013, but lost his exempt status for to win the McGladrey, Tournament of Brian Harman has slipped a bit this season and has played a limited Champions and in Houston, finishing after winning for the first time last schedule; and veteran Heath one or two shots behind the winner in all year, but contended in both the Slocum (199), who has note enjoyed three. Like Tringale, Henley made it to Players and Colonial and is up to a successful season since2010. East Lake for the first time last year. 96th. Bryce Molder has been a Among the prominent PGA Tour Zach Johnson has been an East Lake solid PGA Tour player since 2009, players outside the top 125 after the regular for the past decade, and has had a but is 99th this year and unlikely to U.S. Open were Geoff Ogilvy (128), solid season with a string of top-20 fin- make it to East Lake for the first K.J. Choi (133), Luke Donald (144), ishes, but has not had the big week or time. Ex-UGA golfer Erik Graeme McDowell (148), Angel two and was 59th. He has been in the top Compton should keep his PGA Cabrera (158), Martin Kaymer 20 in the final FedExCup standings six Tour card, but at 104 is unlikely to (160), Ernie Els (170) and Steve times the past eight years. make it to the Tour Championship. Stricker (174).

R Todd was also a Tour Championship At 117, former Georgia Tech T Players inside the top 125 but not S

rookie last year after capturing his first golfer Nicholas Thompson is in K close to the top 30 include Vijay

L PGA Tour title, and has played danger of losing his exempt status, A Singh (116), Charl Schwartzel respectably this season with a trio of top with veteran Stewart Cink in a (114), Lee Westwood (95), Adam 10s and was 62nd, two spots in front of similar spot at 120, but with no concerns Scott (87), Jason Dufner (77), and Chesson Hadley, Tringale’s Georgia yet about losing his status thanks to his second season but was making just his Padraig Harrington (69), the lowest- Tech teammate. Like Todd, Hadley has standing on the career money list. Cink 10th start at Hartford; Vaughn Taylor ranked player to win a PGA Tour event had a solid season with three top 10s and has a string of middle-of-the-pack finishes (162), who has played just six times off offering full points. several other top 20s. this season, but is still looking to find his past champions’ status, but has finished With only three tournaments left on Charles Howell has come close to game he apparently lost after winning the between 10th and 22nd four times; the schedule that will draw a sizeable qualifying for the Tour Championship 2009 British Open. Jonathan Byrd (163), who has gotten number of top players (British Open, each of the last two years, but was 70th Outside the top 125 after the U.S. enough starts as a non-exempt player, but WGC event at Firestone, PGA after a decent but unexceptional season Open were: hasn’t done much with his opportunities; Championship), the tour’s lower tier with two months to play. Fellow Augusta Former Clayton State golfer Will Davis Love (176), who has returned players will have opportunities to move native Scott Brown was 80th, with Wilcox (137), who has played well in his from foot surgery but had just one up in the standings, with two tourna- quality showing in 10 starts prior to ments played opposite those three (one in missing more than two months; Blake Alabama) and several others that typi- Adams (192), who is struggling to cally lack for star power.

Roberto Castro finished 6th and 12th in consecutive [ Continued from page 24 ] Web. com starts late in 2009, and played his way onto the tour late in the 2010 but will be critical when the PGA Tour season when he ran off three straight top- regular year ends in Greensboro in 20 efforts, highlighted by a runner-up August. finish in Wichita. The top 125 players on the final reg- Exempt on that tour for the first time ular season points list make it into the in 2011, Castro finished in the top 25 on FedExCup Playoffs and are fully exempt the money list to move up to the PGA for the 2015-16 season. Those who finish Tour in 2012, and after retaining his between 126 and 200 will play in the playing privileges, enjoyed his career Web.com Finals, with the top 25 money best season in 2013. winners from that 4-tournament series Castro admitted that following up a joining the top 25 money winners from season like 2013 “is really hard,” consid- the Web.com Tour regular season money ering the level of energy you have to list on the 2015-16 PGA Tour. expend to play at that level for an Those who finish outside the top 200 extended period of time. He said he are not guaranteed full Web.com Tour believes he has the ability to get to that status next year, and Castro does not want level again, but for players who are not to find himself in that situation. Castro blessed with exceptional talent, “You can has made just two Web.com starts this lose that little edge” that separates a suc- season, but might have to return to that cessful season from an unproductive one. tour late in the season if he drops out of Castro’s time to turn around a difficult the top 200 in the FedExCup standings. season is dwindling, and after his excel- Castro has a track record of success on lent play in the U.S. Open qualifier and the Web.com Tour, but after his out- strong finish in Memphis, he missed the standing PGA Tour showing in 2013, cut by just one shot at Chambers Bay and would just as soon not have to return to did not make it to the weekend in golf’s version of baseball’s Class AAA. He Hartford.

36 G O L F F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M J U LY 2 0 1 5 BRAND NEW! New Products FORE You

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Tour Edge today introduced a brand new product in the Exotics CB PRO family, the Armed with the same traditional clubhead shape, matte black finish, and PVD sole CB PRO U hybrid. Created with the infamous Slip StreamTM sole of the CB PRO fairway and clubface finish as the company’s DFX MOI model, this latest driver features a wood the U hybrid is a mini version designed for speed and powerful performance. 9-gram Nitrogen Valve sole port that’s moved 20 cm forward towards the clubface. The limited edition U hybrid is a game changer. This moves the CG to a low, face-forward position that in turn promotes fastball The new patented Slip StreamTM sole is redesigned for even faster speed by speed and low spin for more distance. minimizing turf contact regardless of the attack angle and position of the head at impact. Combined with our Nitrogen Charged Technology -- Powerbilt’s patented method The reduced wave length on the sole compared to the original CB PRO fairway wood, to reinforce the clubface without adding weight by pressurizing the clubhead with allowed engineers to design new heel and toe cavities. The new cutouts in the U hybrid nitrogen at up to 80 psi -- it allows for the thinnest face in golf. There’s no need for promote even less turf interaction and greater playability from all turf conditions. internal metal bracing. That in turn boosts trampoline effect, smash factor, ball In addition to the U hybrid’s unique sole design, the setup at address has been modified speed, consistency and accuracy -- all while reducing spin. It’s a recipe for incredible for a more Tour preferred look. Compared to the E8 hybrids the U’s leading edge is closer distance, without golfers having to worry about any hot or dead spots on the face, to the shaft for increased workability. The CB PRO U hybrid features a Carpenter 475 Air Force One clubs have the largest sweet spot in golf -- one that’s edge-to-edge, as forged cup face combo brazed to a hyper-steel body. This means that every single gram pressurizing the clubhead with nitrogen creates equal pressure across the entire of excess weight is eliminated from the face and shifted to the sole for a lower center of clubface. gravity position in the compact head. The Air Force One DFX Tour driver is available for right-handers only. Golfers can Tour Edge’s Exotics CB PRO U hybrids are available for right hand only. Every Tour order the Air Force One DFX Tour driver by calling 888-488-4653 or visit www.power- Edge club comes with a lifetime warranty. For more information, call (800) 515-3343 or bilt.com. visit www.touredge.com.

2 0 1 5 J U LY F O R E G E O R G I A . C O M 37 Crossword PUZZLE P R E S E N T E D BY .com

25. ___ shot, aka whiff in Irving, Texas and won by Steven Across 26. Outdoor building Down Bowditch (2 words) 1. California course which was the site 27. Insect that can distract a golfer 1. 1972 British Open winner over 23. Employ of the 2008 US Open (2 words) 28. Charles Howell ___ Jacklin 27. Goes up and down along the 7. Path of a drive 29. How a 5 stroke victory could be 2. Get back in front (3 words) fairway, for example 9. Louis Oosthuizen recorded a double described (2 words) 3. Look at closely 30. A golfer ____ on the backswing ___ at the Masters in 2012 31. Airline, briefly 4. Author of “The Secret of Golf,” before releasing the swing (2 words) 10. A (bad) high, short shot 32. Famously tough hole at Joe ____ 31. Golf crowd sounds, oohs and ___ 11. ____ of approach Pebble Beach 5. Old way of saying no 33. Listens to advice 13. Ryder Cup nation 35. There’s a lot of stress on this joint 6. Home of the 2015 British Open 34. Golfing great, Snead 14. Graeme McDowell’s nationality for golfers (2 words) 37. He beat Spieth at Colonial in 2015 16. The Arnold Palmer ____ is given 36. Rain heavily on 7. Clifford Roberts co-founded this 39. Medical pro to the player with the most money 38. Steve Williams and Mike “Fluff” famous course 40. For that reason earned on the Champions Tour Cowan, for example 8. Signal 43. Combination of England, Scotland 18. Stand in 41. Doesn’t make the putt, e.g. 12. Winners of the 2015 SEC men’s and Wales (abbr.) 20. Have 42. ___leg golf championship 21. Habit or pattern that is hard to 44. Shots that curve to the right 15. Placing the hands ahead of the ball change (for a right handed golfer) both at address and impact 22. ___ of bounds 45. This makes a ball reverse course 17. Hole No. 13 at Augusta National Answers at: 24. Curve a shot to fit a situation after it hits the ground 19. In 2015, this tournament was held www.foregeorgia.com/puzzle

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