GEORGIAPGA.COM GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM «« FALL 2012 Crystal Lake on the upswing South Atlanta standout ‘best it’s been’

By Mike Blum

n real estate, experts like to say that it’s all about location. That also applies to golfI courses. But timing has become an equally critical ele- ment to the success (or relative lack thereof) of courses in the metro Atlanta area. The economic downturn of the late 2000s prevented a number of outstanding courses Crystal Lake's picturesque par-3 15th from getting off to financially sound starts. A number of those facilities are in the midst of come- sible for the design work of a sizeable backs aided by new ownership and/or managed by Affiniti Partners, and management company’s daily fee courses number of outstanding courses management, which have helped get according to General Manager/Head in the metro area consistently ranked throughout the state (Brasstown Valley, them back on more solid footing. Professional Chris Busbee, “is the best among Atlanta’s best. all three courses at Chateau Elan, Among the top Atlanta courses to it’s been the last couple of years.” With the bulk of metro Atlanta’s Chestatee, Chicopee Woods, open during the mid-2000s is Crystal Busbee, who was Crystal Lake’s golf golfers and golf courses on the north Club, Georgia National, Georgia Vets, Lake Golf & Country Club, a semi-pri- pro when it opened in 2006, says the side, facilities south of the airport Old Union, River Pines, St Marlo). vate facility in Henry County that ranks club’s affiliation with Affiniti has pro- struggle for recognition. But the quality The layout at Crystal Lake is among as one the finest in the entire metro area vided the necessary resources to keep the of Crystal Lake’s layout and condi- Griffiths’ best in Georgia, and is one of and is considered by many to be the best course maintained to standards set in its tioning match that of the best daily fee the stronger tests in all of Atlanta, with daily fee design south of the city. early years. Being part of the Affiniti facilities on the north side. five nicely placed sets of tees providing Crystal Lake recently joined the family is also beneficial from a mar- Crystal Lake’s appeal begins with the growing list of metro Atlanta courses keting standpoint, with almost all the efforts of Denis Griffiths, who is respon- [ See Tour Crystal Lake, page 6 ]

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@GolfFOREGeorgia 2 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM FALL 2012 A GREAT WHITE SHARK HAS BEEN SPOTTED IN THE EXUMAS

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2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 3 Instruction Fore You

3021 Kalah Place, Marietta, GA 30067 770-933-04GA / 770-953-6638 fax golfforegeorgia.com / [email protected] Send all press releases to: [email protected] numbers on the golf course, keeping track of PUBLISHER Set make-up changes normal, solid shots on windless days. Try to Golf Media, Inc. / John Barrett find your ball mark on the green, and after EDITOR Mike Blum you have repaired the mark, immediately WEBSITE/ FACEBOOK/ SOCIAL MEDIA OPERATIONS write down the yardage that club flew in the as swing speed slows HYPDMedia, Inc. / Ellen Marsau air, not how far it rolled. Do this over a SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICE & CONTENT number of rounds so that you have a suffi- Ellen Marsau / Alli Hunt By Danny Elkins cient sample to be confident of your data. If JUNIOR/COLLEGE GOLF NEWS COORDINATOR PGA Head Professional There are a couple of keys to you have compiled honest information you Lauren Freeman Georgia Golf Center maximizing your set make-up. might be surprised at the actual numbers. MARKETING & ADVERTISING National Sales: Ed Bowen/Bowen Group, The first of these is to match all Many players are shocked to find that they [email protected] Thirty years ago, back in my of the club specifications as have very small gaps, or at times NO gaps Local & Corporate Sale: John Barrett/Rick Holt, so-called prime, the clubs in my best you can. This does not nec- between some clubs. [email protected] bag consisted of a driver, a essarily mean that all clubs The rules allow us to carry 14 clubs with ART DIRECTOR Lori Montgomery three-wood, a one iron through must be the same brand. In fact, no restrictions on what you choose; you CREATIVE SERVICES Catalina Montana the sand wedge and a putter. I have six different brands in my could even carry 14 putters if you like. In CONTRIBUTORS Danny Elkins / Jeff Wallach / Bill Carpenter Boy, have times changed. bag. Matching really means that the reality this restriction forces most of us to Robert Matre / Steve Dinberg / Al Kooistra My current set make-up consists of a lengths and weights are similar enough make a choice at one end of the set or the driver, a three-wood, another three-wood that no club feels significantly different other. Either carry an extra long club, or carry GEORGIA SECTION, that I view as a four-wood, a five-wood that than the others. (For the record, my hybrid an extra wedge. PGA OF AMERICA OFFICERS is the equivalent of a three iron, a seven- doesn’t feel quite the same as my other After taking a close look at my game, I President Brian Stubbs, PGA / [email protected] wood that I view as a four iron, a 26° degree clubs, but I have not found a better alterna- recently made a change based on an Vice President hybrid I use as a five iron and then six iron tive, and it fills the gap nicely). obvious gap. For about four years I used a Mark Mongell, PGA / [email protected] through the pitching wedge, another The second consideration in set make- driver that I could hit very well off the Secretary pitching wedge bent to function as a gap up is to choose clubs that will leave you ground, flying it in the air just short of 230 Brian Albertson, PGA / [email protected] Honorary President wedge, and a sand wedge. And of course, manageable gaps between them. While yards. This allowed me to use a three wood Patrick Richardson, PGA / [email protected] a putter. the two sets noted above were very dif- that didn’t go very far, but enabled me to hit Why such a dramatic difference? Allow ferent in their makeup, they had one thing higher, softer shots from around 216 yards, a CHAPTER PRESIDENTS me to explain. in common; the gaps between the clubs in distance that worked perfectly relative to my Central Chapter President One obvious reason is that I’m 30 years each set were in a 10-12 yard range. And five wood, which flies 204. Mike Baker, PGA, [email protected] East Chapter President older and therefore have less clubhead here it should be noted that with slower When my driver broke as the result of my Josh Williams, PGA / [email protected] speed. Less clubhead speed means less swing speeds the gaps will be smaller, and golf bag falling off the back of the golf cart, I North Chapter President spin on the ball, less spin means that it is with faster swing speeds the gaps will be had a dilemma. A new driver that I added Ted Fort, PGA / [email protected] more difficult to get the ball up in the air. bigger. went farther than the old driver off the tee, AT- LARGE DIRECTORS Adding to the problem is the fact that the Once you have decided to take a critical but was not conducive to hitting from the Jeff Dunovant, PGA present day golf ball spins much less than look at your set make-up it is HIGHLY rec- deck. Now, I had a gap in the 225 range, a [email protected] the balls we played with years ago. ommended that this be done with a number I frequently have to long par fours Matthew Evans, PGA The combination of my reduced club- qualified fitter using a launch monitor. In and short par fives. [email protected] John Godwin, PGA head speed and the reduced ball spin this day and age there is no reason to do it In response to the dilemma I removed my [email protected] forced me to look for options that would yourself…but I know some of you will. 60 degree sand wedge, added a couple of Scott Mahr, PGA get the ball airborne. For me that meant Doing it on your own is no easy task and degrees of loft to my 56° degree wedge, and [email protected] trading in the long irons for fairway woods will certainly be less precise than using a added a three wood for the 225 yard dis- Michael Raymond, PGA [email protected] and hybrids. Once I got past my ego, the launch monitor, but it can be done. tance where I now had a gap. Bob Stevenson, PGA change to hybrids and fairway woods was a If you choose to do your own gap fitting I’ve made my choices, now it’s time for [email protected] no-brainer. do it during actual play. Chart your real life you to make yours. Darin Stinson, PGA [email protected]

SENIOR DIVISION President INSIDE THIS ISSUE Gordon McIntire, PGA / [email protected] ASSISTANTS’ DIVISION FEATURES: DEPARTMENTS: President Bill Fedder, PGA / [email protected] TK Travel: Myrtle Beach...... 22 Executive Director Mike Paull ...... 8 Assistant Executive Director/ Justin Bolli ...... 10 Junior Golf Director Scott Gordon GOLF BUSINESS: Tournament Director Pat Day, PGA Operations Manager Eric Wagner McGladrey wrap-up...... 12 McGladrey ...... 24 Junior Golf Manager: Lauren Giesecke Section Assistant Carrie Ann Byrne Peters Cup wrap-up ...... 14 Play 18 ...... 26 FOREGeorgia is produced by Golf Media, Inc. College Fall roundup ...... 16 Chip shots...... 28 Copyright ©2010 with all rights reserved. Golf FORE Juniors ...... 30 Reproduction or use, without permission, 2nd stage Q-school ...... 18 of editorial or graphic content is prohibited.

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2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 5 shorter tees, provided you play the one feature well-placed fairway bunkers and most appropriate for your game. at least one greenside trap that will zeal- Even from the white tees, there are ously guard pins cut behind it. Just several stout par 4s, but the par 5s are a about every Griffiths design includes an mostly friendly group, as are three of the interesting short par 4, and the well- par 3s. As he typically does, Griffiths bunkered 13th is Crystal Lake’s provides a nice mix of holes in both dis- representative, with a precise tee tance and difficulty, offering enough shot required to set up a prime scoring opportunities to offset the more scoring chance. demanding group. The quartet of extremely strong par Par-3 second hole Griffiths designed Crystal Lake after 4s are 4, 6, 14 and 16, with the super- several trips to , and the course sized 6th (514 from the tips, 467 from has a bit of a Scottish feel, with mostly the blues) the only one of the group ample fairways featuring bunkers that lacking serious trouble. Both 4 and 14 “With the five sets of tees spread out, will require some thought regarding require long second shots over hazards, Crystal Lake the best players and higher handicappers whether to play over/around/short with the water in play left off the tee on [ Continued from the cover ] can find a spot to play out here,” of them. the 16th, which includes a demanding Busbee says. Some of the bunkers obscure the view approach over sand. playable options for those who don’t try Crystal Lake held its own with the of landing areas behind them, but The strongest of the par 3s are both to bite off more course than they state’s club professionals and top without much change in elevation, there sandwiched in between the four can chew. mini-tour players when it are no “blind” shots, with the challenges toughest par 4s, although the pictur- Crystal Lake measures hosted events for the of Griffiths’ design very visible. esque 15th is not nearly as intimidating 7,200 yards from the Georgia PGA and Hazards are in play on about half the from the blue (150) and white (132) back tees, with the golds Hooters Tour, and its holes, split pretty evenly between tee tees as it is from the tips (240). A very 6,790, the blues 6,443 rating from the tips is an shots and approaches. There are only large green is surrounded by water on and the whites a healthy accurate reflection of its one or two forced carries off the tee, one three sides, with the size of the putting 5,943. Course rating/slope difficulty when played at its of which is largely predicated on the tees surface more of a concern than the numbers are: 74.4/142 (black); full length. you play. For shorter hitters, a few of the water from the shorter tees. 72.8/139 (gold); 71.2/135 (blue) and There are several tour-length par 4s par 4s may require lay-ups if you don’t The 6th is just plain long, ranging 68.7/127 (white). The forward tees are and a pair of very lengthy par 3s, but hit it solidly off the tee, with the four from 187 (white) to 243 (tips) and its just over 4,800 yards and rated at apart from a handful of holes, length is strongest two-shotters bunched together ample putting surface is guarded by a 68.7/118. not an overwhelming concern from the as part of a pair of very demanding menacing front bunker. three-holes stretches which include the The par 5s are not especially long and two hefty par 3s. mostly inviting, although the 8th Crystal Lake is not quite as chal- requires a pretty hefty carry over a wet- lenging around the greens. But with lands area. It’s a whole lot friendlier many of the putting surfaces of the from the white tees at just 416, but a wide, shallow variety, the nature of a host of bunkers along the way will keep number of holes can change markedly your interest level up once you clear the depending on pin position. Most of the hazard. bunkers are along the edges, and a few Sand is also a factor on the dogleg left We think so, but you be the judge. Crystal Lake GCC, located in Hampton, of the greens are bordered by mounds 12th, with creeks crossing the fairway Georgia, is a classic Denis Griffths design with Scottish highlights, a superb with slight drop-offs. not that much of a concern at the clubhouse, and a great practice area. Better yet, it is now managed by The excellent greens don’t have a opening and closing holes. Affiniti Golf Partners, the company that brings you so many other serious amount of undulation, but can Crystal Lake is easily accessible off great golf experiences in the Atlanta area. get quite quick at times, with Busbee I-75 exit 221 in Hampton, just three BringBrBrinnngg inin pointing out that the course “is always miles south of the Eagle’s Landing exit thistht ad for hishiss aadd fofoorr in tournament condition.” and less than three miles off the inter- thistthhiiss greatggrereeaat One of Crystal Lake’s distinct features state. The club features an array of offer!ooffofffefeerr! is the gnarly Bermuda rough bordering amenities and is a popular host for local some of the greenside bunkers, which outings, with a layout that has a natural can make for difficult shots whether feel with a number of pleasant views Atlanta you’re in the sand or out. despite its residential setting. 675 75 As a group, the par 4s are among the Everything at the club is geared toughest in the metro area, with only toward an enjoyable day on the links, three relatively soft touches, all of which although you will need to give it one of 75 your better efforts to post a score that will send you Jonesboro Rd. home with a sense of North satisfaction. Buy One Round Mt. Carmel Get One Free* Rd. We guarantee you’ll love this golf course! Call 770-471-3233! For information, call 770-471-3233 100 crystal lake blvd. | Hampton, GA 30228 | CRYSTALLAKECC.COM or visit www.crystallakecc.com. *Valid off rack rates only. 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2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 7 Henley follows slow start with torrid finish Heads to PGA Tour after 2 late Web.com wins LKOOISTRA AL

By Mike Blum playoff over two other heralded young- straight strong sters – Morgan Hoffman and Patrick showing in the U.S. idway through the 2012 Cantlay. Open, but his ama- Nationwide Tour season, Hoffman and Cantlay both shot 65 in teur career ended on a Russell Henley’s rookie the final round to catch Henley after down note when he year as a tour player was beginning the day five off the lead. was part of a losing notM exactly going as expected. Henley reclaimed his spot at the top of U.S. team in the Henley was one of the most touted the leader board with a birdie at the Walker Cup. newcomers on what is now the Web.com 17th, but hit his approach from a fairway After a handful of Tour, winning the Stadion Classic at bunker into the water and needed a starts on the UGA in 2011 while still a member of the clutch 20-foot putt for bogey to earn a Nationwide Tour as a Georgia golf team. spot in the playoff. pro in late 2011, Henley But at the halfway point of the 2012 Hoffman and Cantlay both ran into had a rude and unsuc- season, Henley was languishing outside trouble on the first playoff hole – the cessful introduction to the top 100 on the money list and had 18th – and Henley’s solid par gave him PGA Tour qualifying, yet to post a top-20 finish. his first victory as a professional. failing his first Q school The Macon native admittedly took Henley was a distant third two weeks test. Things didn’t get any some time acclimating himself to the later in Miami, and was in contention better once Henley began rigors of life as a young tour pro. But once again the following week in Jacksonville, his first full season as a he finally got settled in, Henley displayed this time in the role as challenger rather PGA Tour member. the talent and grit that was visible during than leader. He shot a final round 65 to “It was pretty frus- his years in college and amateur golf. erase a 3-stroke deficit after 54 holes, trating,” he said a few weeks

“I’m glad I started out here. I learned Russell Henley a lot about myself. This was the best on the course, but Henley kept —Russell Henley plugging away. year of golf for me.” “I wasn’t playing my best golf every week, but I felt confident about my After earning barely $20,000 the first draining a 30-footer for birdie on the after completing his first full season as a ability to compete.” half of the season, Henley made his first final hole to force a playoff, which he tour player. “I did not expect to come Even though he didn’t especially enjoy 2012 appearance on a leader board in again won on the first extra hole. out and win every event, but I expected his first few months on the Nationwide Utah, tying for 9th. Three weeks later in After a 6th place tie the next week in to compete.” Tour, Henley says he is “glad I started out Omaha, he tied for 7th. Two weeks the Web.com Championship, Henley While former UGA teammates Harris here. I learned a lot about myself. This after that, he made a run at victory in ended the season 3rd in earnings with English and Brian Harman got off to was the best year of golf for me.” Kansas City, falling two shots short and $400,000. His rewards include a two- productive starts as rookies on the PGA Once Henley got things going, he tying for 2nd. month break to get ready for his rookie Tour, Henley was not playing as well on made a major push to earn Player of the By this time, Henley was 31st on the season on the PGA Tour in 2013. the Nationwide Tour, and not having a Year honors, due in large part to his money list, within reach of a top 25 Henley enjoyed considerable success at pleasant time in his first exposure to the ability to produce in the clutch. finish that would earn him a spot on the the amateur/collegiate level, winning life of a tour pro. After playing superbly for 71 holes in 2013 PGA Tour. back-to-back Georgia Amateurs in 2008 “I spent a lot of weeks in towns that the Chiquita Classic (26 birdies, 1st in “I just got more comfortable,” Henley and ‘09 during his stellar career with the were not the most fun places to go,” greens in regulation, 2nd and 3rd in the says of his mid-season resurgence. “My Bulldogs. He won seven college tourna- Henley said. “I was staying by myself in putting stats, T8 in fairways hit), Henley attitude was better and I started to enjoy ments, matching Chris Kirk for the hotel rooms and had practice rounds saw his hopes of victory potentially playing a lot more. most individual titles in the team’s his- where I was stuck by myself. washed away with one errant shot. But “Everything got better, but I don’t tory, and was ’s Player of the “It’s not what you want to do when he responded with a putt he said “prob- remember a turning point. I started to Year following his junior season in 2010. you’re 23 and on the road. It was lonely.” ably defined my whole year. compete in tournaments and remem- Shortly after his Player of the Year The combination of sub-standard play “That was as nervous as I’ve felt in a bered how much fun that was.” honor, Henley attracted some national and dissatisfaction with life on the long time.” Following three top tens in a little attention by tying for 16th in the U.S. road has gotten into the heads of many Playing with or near the lead the entire more than a month, Henley aimed a Open and sharing low amateur honors. young tour pros, and Henley joined the tournament made for a stressful week, little higher and hit his target. Henley struggled for much of his long list. but Henley handled it nicely. After at least sharing the lead at the senior season in Athens, with the high- “I got negative and felt sorry for “There were a lot of people chasing me end of each of the first three rounds, light his win in the Stadion Classic at the myself. The only reason I got out of it but I just hung in there. They were Henley hung tough in a pressure-filled UGA golf course, just the second win by were the people around me. I’ve got a coming after me, but I held up under the final round in the Chiquita Classic out- an amateur on the tour in its 20-plus- good support group.” side Charlotte, winning a three-way year history. He also turned in a second Things were not quite as problematic [ See Henley, page 20 ]

8 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM FALL 2012 STAY | PLAY | MEET | UNWIND

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2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 9 Will Web.com title change Bolli’s career? Ex-Bulldog takes 4th shot at PGA Tour success

By Mike Blum needing a victory or runner-up finish to 2006, when he was 34th. He fell to 57th avoid a return to Q-school. last year, coming on the heels of a thor- n professional golf, one good week Bolli opened the , oughly forgettable showing the previous at the right time can alter the played at TPC Craig Ranch outside year on the PGA Tour. career of a player. Dallas, with a 65 to share the first round Bolli struggled in his rookie PGA Tour I Justin Bolli had been playing lead with five players. Bolli had a track season in 2005 and played respectably in on the Nationwide and PGA Tours since record in 2012 of fast starts and mid- ‘08, but changed his approach going into 2004, but had never had one of those dling finishes, but hung close to the lead the 2010 season and paid a price. tournaments. after 36 and 54 holes, beginning the final Never a particularly long hitter, Bolli Justin Bolli Bolli, 36, won three times on the round in 3rd place, two strokes off was advised to add some length and took Nationwide Tour in 2004, ‘07 and ‘09, the lead. that advice, something he now regrets. scores of 67 or better. leading to high finishes on the money list With the two co-leaders unable to pull Bolli missed 19 of his first 22 cuts, “At the Tour Championship I hit the and spots on the PGA Tour the following away, Bolli surged to the front with six with a tie for 13th in the season-ending ball great,” Bolli said. “If I hit it next year year. But in all three cases, his promotion birdies on his first 12 holes. He added Disney Classic his only finish better than like I did in the Tour Championship, I’ll was due more to several top finishes, not two more birdies over the final six holes 60th the entire season. be fine. If I can get the two (ball striking just his lone victory in those seasons. to offset a pair of bogeys and wound up This time, Bolli says he is going “to and putting) to match up, I’ll have a During his three years on the PGA with a 6-under 65 and a 2-stroke victory. play my game. I’m not going to try and pretty good year.” Tour, Bolli came close to a career- Thanks to the $180,000 winner’s hit it 300 yards. I’m just going to play When Bolli was a PGA Tour rookie in changing experience just once, tying for check, the largest on the tour, Bolli golf. There are a lot of people out 2005, he was single. Now he’s married 5th the final time TPC Sugarloaf hosted vaulted from 44th on the money to 9th. there who are comfortable with that style with a young son, and has moved from a PGA Tour event in 2008. When the PGA Tour plays its first full of game. the Atlanta area to Greenville, S.C., When Bolli began play in the 2012 field event of 2013 in January, Bolli will “It’s not about playing perfect shots. where his wife lived. Web.com (formerly Nationwide) Tour be among the players teeing it up in You have to be comfortable with your “My first year out there, I was not Championship, he was more than three Hawaii, hoping that his fourth season own game.” married and golf was the central thing in years removed from his last victory and on the tour will be better than the It’s not like Bolli is a short hitter. He my life,” Bolli says. “Now if I have a bad facing a third straight year on the tour first three. averaged 287 yards per drive in 2012, day, I don’t brood about it. My son for the first time in his career. This will be the first time that Bolli but that didn’t crack the top 100 on the smiles at me whether I shoot 65 or 80, Bolli, who grew up in Roswell and has gone into the PGA Tour season with Web.com Tour, which is filled with big and that gives you a different perspective. played on the golf team at Georgia in the some momentum from his finish the hitters, almost all of whom did not finish “Golf is still definitely important, but late 1990s, also faced the unpleasant previous year. In each of his first three in the top 10 on the money list. (Bolli it’s not as big of a deal.” prospect of a return to Q-school, where successful stints on the Nationwide Tour, was 9th.) Bolli got to share his Tour he had a dismal record in his last five Bolli had secured his PGA Tour card well For most of his career, Bolli was Championship victory with his wife and appearances. before the end of the season, and did not known as a solid ball striker (2nd in young son, but was not really expecting Coming into the Tour Championship, have to finish strong. greens in regulation in 2009) but a to celebrate when the tournament Bolli was 44th on the money list, After the worst season of his career in mostly average putter. That changed last started. needing a finish of third or better to 2010 on the PGA Tour and his least suc- year, when he was 2nd in one putting He knew what he had to do to move move into the top 25 and earn a fourth cessful Nationwide Tour showing last stat and 11th in another, which helped into the top 25, but said, “I didn’t want shot at the PGA Tour. year, Bolli was looking for better results him end the season 7th in scoring to get into all that. It’s hard to finish in There wasn’t much cause for optimism in 2012. A visit to a TaylorMade putting average. the top two or three. A lot of things have on Bolli’s part. He had not finished facility after the 2011 season helped him Bolli was unable to translate his solid to go your way, and it happened to be my better than 20th in a tournament in get things turned around. scoring into high finishes, placing higher week.” almost three months, and had missed the “I putted horribly in 2011,” Bolli said. than 19th in just three tournaments Unlike most of his fellow PGA Tour cut the previous week in Jacksonville. “I got off to a really bad start and the rest prior to his victory. In the Tour members, Bolli was not a highly-touted But Bolli said he “figured something of the year I had to fight just to stay on Championship, however, he combined junior and had to make the golf team at out with my swing” on his final nine in tour.” another strong showing on the greens Georgia as a walk-on. He saw some Jacksonville. Even though he came up In three of his first four Nationwide (6th in putting) with an excellent ball action with the Bulldogs as a sophomore one shot short of making it to the Tour seasons (2004, ‘06, ‘07 and ‘09), striking week (4th in GIR). and junior, but did not play at all during weekend, that provided a faint glimmer Bolli placed between 8th and 11th on The result was 22 birdies over four the Spring of his senior season, when the of hope, as he faced the prospect of the money list, falling short only in rounds and a 16-under total with three Bulldogs won the NCAA Championship. Ryuji Imada, who will have to go “I’m not going to try and hit it 300 yards. back to Q-school to retain his PGA Tour

I’m just going to play golf.” —Justin Bolli [ See Bolli, page 20 ]

10 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM FALL 2012 This historic event will be played at Sunset Country Club, Moultrie, GA where former and current greats such as Davis Love JrJr.,., Bill Robinson, Stephen KepplerKeppler,r,, Alan Doyle, , Gregg WWoWolffolffff and many othersother have been winners.

This is a “Do Not Miss” Pro-Am that can get a Professional and an Amateur in the column of GeorGeorgiarggia Golf Legends.

2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 11 Gainey charges to McGladrey victory Overtakes Love, Furyk with closing 60

By Mike Blum

iven what has transpired on the PGA Tour in 2012, the unexpected conclusion to G the recent McGladrey Classic should not have come as that big a surprise. No one saw Tommy Gainey’s final round 60 coming. But having a player come from seven shots behind after 54 holes to win was a fairly routine occur- rence this year, but not nearly as routine as a third round leader (or leaders) failing to close the deal.

Davis Love

rounds, a 66 or 67 was certainly green settled within a few feet of the cup, After waiting more than two hours, within reach. But neither was able leaving him one behind Gainey after a Gainey had his first PGA Tour victory, the to muster much of a challenge, closing 63. 10th time this year a player had come something that could have been Love and Furyk both were in position from at least four shots off the lead after said about all 16 players in the last to catch Gainey on the closing holes. 54 holes to win. eight groups the final day. A three-putt bogey by Love at the 14th, Early in the season, three players came The best score among those 16 his second three-putt of the day, left him from at least seven shots back to win in a was a 67 by Chad Campbell. three behind Gainey with four holes to five-week span. The most prominent There was, however, one player play. He reached the par-5 15th in two comeback/collapse since then came in the who managed to make a serious and made birdie, but pulled his tee shot British Open, when coughed run at Gainey. into the water at the par-4 16th, with his up the lead, enabling Ernie Els to erase a Tommy Gainey , who was double bogey dropping him into a tie for 6-stroke deficit. midway through the back nine when 4th at 268 after a 71. Gainey was an unlikely winner, but no Gainey posted his 16-under total, ran off Furyk, as he tends to do, plodded his more unlikely than some of the other and hometown favorite four birdies in a 5-hole stretch on the way around Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside players who had pulled off comparable Davis Love shared the lead going to the front nine and was 11-under for the tour- course. He wedged his way to birdies on comebacks this season. final round, but neither veteran was able nament with six holes to play. the two par 5s on the par-70 layout and One week after blowing a comfortable to withstand Gainey’s blistering finish. By the time Gainey parred the 18th made pars on every other hole, leaving lead in San Diego, Kyle Stanley closed Playing in the last group, Love and hole for his 60, Toms had birdied the him one behind Gainey standing on the with a 65 in Phoenix to win after trailing Furyk began the final round two strokes 13th, but faced the daunting task of 18th tee. by eight going to the final round. ahead of their closest pursuers and seven needing birdies on each of the last four After a 308-yard tee shot in the fairway Rookie John Huh was seven back after in front of Gainey. The two were on the holes to catch the leader. Toms birdied 15, left him only 162 yards to the hole, Furyk 54 holes in the Mayakoba Classic, but seventh hole when Gainey completed his 16 and 17 to give himself a chance of missed the green to the right and wound shot 63 and won a marathon playoff. sensational round, which put them in a taking Gainey to a playoff, but a poor up with bogey to drop out of a tie for 2nd Marc Leishman came from six back of position of having to shoot 67 to get into drive into the fairway bunker at the 18th with Toms. Furyk shot a 69, the same co-leaders to win in Hartford thanks to a a playoff and 66 to win. prevented him from reaching the score he shot in the final round at closing 62, and rookie Ted Potter fired a Considering that both players had shot demanding par-4 in two. Firestone, where Keegan Bradley closed final round 64 to erase a 4-stroke deficit either a 65 or 66 in all three of their Toms’ pitch shot from well short of the with a 64 to turn a 4-stroke deficit after and win a playoff at the Greenbrier. 54 holes into a 1-shot victory. Unlike Huh and Potter, Gainey is not a It was the third time this year that rookie, having completed his fourth Furyk was unable to maintain a lead after season on the PGA Tour. He nearly won Second best comeback Tommy Gainey’s 7-shot 54 holes. He shared first place with in his rookie season in 2008, losing in a Graeme McDowell going to the final playoff to Love in the Disney Classic. comeback was second on the PGA Tour in 2012 round of the U.S. Open, but shot 74 to That runner-up finish enabled Gainey MCGLADREY CLASSIC behind Kyle Stanley’s rally from 8 back in Phoenix finish T4, making bogey on the final hole to return to the PGA Tour in ‘09. But he :

when he needed a birdie. lost his status and spent 2010 on the IMAGES

12 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM FALL 2012 Nationwide Tour, where he won twice might want to pay attention. his spectacular Sunday finish in the tournament with the leaders Davis Love and finished 4th on the money list. “It just worked out for me and I’m McGladrey Classic. and Jim Furyk, it’s not in your favor.” Gainey was back on the PGA Tour in very proud to be here right now.” Gainey played respectably the first three The tournament featured a revolving 2011 and continued the momentum Gainey won on several mini-tours and rounds with scores of 69-67-68, and door of leaders until Gainey’s final from his strong Nationwide showing the twice on the Nationwide Tour in 2010. began the final day seven shots off the lead round explosion. previous year. Powered by four third-place But prior to his victory in the McGladrey of Furyk and Love in a tie for 29th. Youngster Bud Cauley and jour- finishes, Gainey ended the year 35th on Classic, he was best known for his appear- Three times on the first five holes, neyman Marco Dawson shared the first the money list with more than $2 million. ances on ’s “Big Break.” Gainey hit his approach to seven feet or round lead at 62, with Finally established as a PGA Tour With his unorthodox swing, distinctly closer. He made two of the three putts for heading up a trio at 64. Toms and locals member, Gainey struggled for most of Southern personality and use of two birdies, offsetting his Love and the 2012 season. In his first 30 starts he gloves that gave him the now-familiar one miss with a 40- opened with 65s. finished higher than 30th just three nickname that mirrors his initials, footer on the par-3 Arjun Atwal shot times. A distant 3rd place finish in the Gainey became one of the show’s first third. Gainey turned in 63 to take the 36-hole Colonial kept him afloat, and he came quasi-celebrities. 4-under after a birdie at the ninth from a lead at 130, one ahead of Love and Furyk into the McGladrey Classic 106th on the After almost a decade on the mini- fairway bunker, and got to 5-under on the and two in front of Toms and Cauley, who money list. tours, Gainey made it through Q-school day with a 10-footer at the 11th. fell back with a 70. Dawson plummeted “It’s been a struggle all year,” Gainey in 2007 and debuted as a PGA Tour At that point, Gainey was still two to 75. The cut came at 1-under 139 with said after his victory. “I hit it pretty well rookie in ‘08 with just five combined behind Love and Furyk, who were just 88 players advancing to the weekend. the first three days, didn’t make many Nationwide/PGA Tour starts the pre- beginning their rounds. Gainey rolled in Love and Furyk both shot 66 on putts. Today, putts just went in and that’s vious year. birdie putts of 12 feet on 13 and 20 feet Saturday to tie for the lead at 13-under, why I shot 60.” A disastrous rookie season had Gainey on 14 to pull into a tie for the lead, and two ahead of Atwal and D.J. Trahan. Gainey had a long time to wait after doubting his future in the sport, but he holed a greenside bunker shot on the par- Cauley was 5th at 10-under, with Georgia finishing his round, and recognized the salvaged the year with his play in the last 5 15th to move two in front. natives Will Claxton and Charles gap in career accomplishments between event of the season. A 64 in the final Another 20-footer, this one at 16, con- Howell among a group at 9-under. himself and his three main pursuers. round of the Disney Classic put Gainey in cluded Gainey’s 5-under-for-4-holes Howell, who closed with a 62 on the “I shot 60 today and you got Jim position to win, but Love matched his 64 stretch, and he parred the final two holes Seaside course two years ago to tie for 6th, Furyk, Davis Love and David Toms – to edge him by one stroke. for a course record 60, carding a 29 on the was 4-under for the day and within three future Hall of Famers – chasing me. I The almost $500,000 paycheck sus- back nine. of Gainey after birdies at 10 and 11. was just waiting, and I mean I was tained Gainey through a difficult 2009 “All I did all day was try to make a lot of But he three-putted three times on the nervous. When you got guys like Love, season, and a strong showing earlier this birdies. Because when you’re seven shots next six holes and wound up tied for 7th Furyk and Toms coming at you, you year in the Colonial kept him going until back, your chances of winning a PGA at 11-under.

2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 13 Georgia PGA wins big in Peters Cup

through 15 holes, went double bogey- Dominates GSGA second straight year bogey on 16 and 17. Keppler bogeyed the tough 18th, but won the hole and match when Hall hit his second in the water and string of one-sided losses to their amateur made double bogey. By Mike Blum opponents. Four-Ball Strickland (GSGA) def. Evans 2&1: fter four straight losses, the last The Georgia PGA was missing three of Stephen Keppler-Matthew Evans (PGA) Evans was 1-up after 14, but Strickland three by decisive margins, the its regular participants, but the absence of halved with Travis Steed-Mark Sweeney: birdied the 15th and was conceded Georgia PGA has reclaimed its Tim Weinhart, Clark Spratlin and Jeff Evans and Keppler led 3-up after five birdies at 16 and 17 after Evans bogeyed hold on the Billy Peters Cup. Hull had no impact on the outcome. The birdies on the front nine, but did not both holes. AThe 16 Georgia PGA members repre- GSGA team, which included a sizeable make a birdie after the 10th. Steed and Weeks (GSGA) def. Hogan 2&1: Hogan senting the state’s club professionals contingent of first-timers in the event, was Sweeney birdied 12 and 15, pulling even was 4-down after 6, but pulled even after duplicated their dominant win last year in trouble from the outset, winning just when the PGA team carded a double 11 following three straight bogeys by over the GSGA, scoring a 16-8 victory in one of eight four-ball matches the first bogey on the treacherous par-5 16th. Weeks. Both struggled down the stretch, the most recent competition between the day. They won only five of 16 in singles Greg Lee-Brian Dixon (PGA) def. Chase with Weeks winning the 17th and the two organizations. the following day. Jones-Bobby Brent 2&1: Trailing 1-up, match with a bogey. the PGA duo won holes 14 and 15, capi- Davis (PGA) def. Steed 4&3: Davis, one Brian Dixon Shawn Koch talizing on one of three bogeys by their of three PGA seniors who were unbeaten opponents in the back-and-forth match. in non-senior matches, was 2-under for David Potts-Shawn Koch (PGA) def. 15 holes without a bogey, and won five Zane Goldthorp-Justin Johnson 5&3: holes with pars. Potts and Koch won seven of the first 10 Brannen (PGA) halved with holes to take a 5-up lead. The PGA duo Goldthorp: Brannen was 3-up after 10, had seven birdies on the day, and was but Goldthorp pulled even when he aided by four GSGA bogeys. birdied the 16th and Brannen double- Craig Stevens-Sonny Skinner (PGA) bogeyed the perilous 17th. The 18th was def. Doug Hanzel-Bob Royak 3&2: halved with bogeys. Stevens and Skinner started the PGA to a Jackson (GSGA) def. Parrott 7&6: 6-0 record in senior matches. Skinner Jackson won the first six holes, three with aced the 11th to the put the PGA team 2- birdies and two with bogeys before closing up, with the GSGA unable to win a hole out the match with an eagle at the 12th. after the fifth. Skinner (PGA) def. Royak 4&3: In a 9- ERI PGA GEORGIA ERI PGA GEORGIA Danny Elkins-Bob Burk (PGA) def. Don hole stretch beginning at the fourth, Marsh-Dick Van Leuvan 1-up: The Skinner was an astounding 10-under par GSGA was 2-up after eight, but Elkins on the scorecard with six birdies and two and Burk birdied four of the next six holes eagles. He went from all square to 5-up, The victory, which came at Capital Six of the 16 players who competed for to go 2-up and held on for the win. with five birdies not nearly enough for City Club’s Brookhaven course, followed the Georgia PGA went 2-0, with three David Noll-Jack Hall (GSGA) def. Bill Royak. last year’s 15 ½ - 8 ½ Georgia PGA romp others finishing with records of 1-0-1. Murchison-Michael Parrott 3&2: The Stevens (PGA) def. Hanzel 1-up: In one at the Capital City Crabapple course, Only one of the 16 club pros went 0-2 in teams managed just one birdie each of the best played matches of the day, which was the site of three straight con- the competition. through 14 holes before the GSGA Stevens shot 65 to Hanzel’s 67. Stevens vincing victories by the GSGA from David Noll, the GSGA’s top player, birdied 15 and eagled 16 to end the went 2-up with birdies at 10 and 11, and 2005-09. was the lone member of his team to post match. executed a deft pitch to set up birdie at the The event will return to the Crabapple a 2-0 record, with Scott Weeks the only Tommy Brannen-Russ Davis (PGA) 16th to put him 2-up with two to play. course the next time it’s played in 2014. other GSGA competitor to avoid a loss in halved with Scott Weeks-Matt Russell: Hanzel won the 17th but Stevens halved The biennial competition was played in the two-day event. Brannen and Davis twice led 2-up before 18 for the win. consecutive years for the first time since A brief look at each of the 24 matches, the GSGA team won holes 11, 12 and 13. Elkins (PGA) def. Marsh 2&1: Marsh the late 1980s to accommodate a change which were held in beautiful Fall weather The PGA won the 16th with a par, and jumped out to a 2-up lead with a birdie at from odd to even number years at the at Capital City Club’s Brookhaven course, both teams bogeyed the 18th to end all the first and a hole-out eagle at the request of the GSGA. which was extensively renovated in 2009 square. second, but was 3-down after 12 fol- The GSGA will be glad to take a year to glowing reviews by acclaimed golf Winston Trively-Rodger Hogan (PGA) lowing four Elkins’ birdies. Marsh won off after the second straight smackdown it course architect Bob Cupp. def. Billy Mitchell-Mark Strickland 3&2: two of the next three holes, but Elkins suffered at the hands of the club pros, who Trively and Hogan were 4-up after eight won the match with a precise tee shot on were elated last year after stopping the and were never threatened, as one of the the 17th and a conceded birdie. GSGA’s two most formidable teams was Burk (PGA) def. Van Leuvan 2-up: In 1-over with just two birdies. the wildest match of the day, only two of the 18 holes were halved, none after the Sizzling Skinner The Georgia PGA’s Sonny fourth hole. Burk was 2-up after 10 before Singles Van Leuvan won the next four holes – the Skinner won his singles match with a 9-hole Keppler (PGA) def. Hall 1-up: Hall went 11th and 12th with birdies – to take a stretch in which he was 10-under, one day after from 1-up after 9 to 2-down after 13 with 2-up lead. Burk responded with birdies at scoring a hole-in-one in a team victory a trio of bogeys, but pulled even when Keppler, who had not made a bogey [ See Peters Cup, page 20 ]

14 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM FALL 2012 2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 15 Georgia Southern scores 2 victories;

GEORGIA SOUTHERN

FALL COLLEGE UGA Round Up Georgia State opened with a 2-under 282 in the morning round the By Mike Blum first day to lead Georgia Southern by one shot oming off a big win one week and Georgia by nine. The earlier in the Brickyard winds kicked up in the Collegiate, the Georgia afternoon and the rela- C Bulldogs were big favorites in tively short Berkeley Hills the AutoTrader.com Classic, an event layout played tougher, T.J. Mitchell hosted annually by Georgia State at with Georgia State’s score Berkeley Hills CC in Duluth. going up by 17 shots and At No. 7 in rankings, Georgia’s by 12. Georgia was one of only two teams in the The Eagles held steady in Scott Wolfes tournament ranked in the Top 50, with the afternoon, posting a 2- Eagles win again; Chattanooga barely making that list at over 286 total to lead the No. 49. Panthers by 12 and Mercer Wolfes co-medalist After a runner-up finish and a victory by 16 going to the final round. The Gainesville and freshman Jonathan A week after their victory at Berkeley in two of the team’s first three Fall starts, Bulldogs were a distant 25 shots off the Gray tied for 11th at 219, with Hills, the Georgia Southern Eagles added the Bulldogs were a non-factor in the lead after failing to break 300. Alpharetta’s Tyler Gruca shooting 73-74 a second Fall title, winning the Outer tournament at Berkeley Hills, finishing a Georgia Southern’s lead was in double the final two rounds. Banks Collegiate by 12 shots. distant 6th. figures for most of the final round, with Mercer was led by James Beale (T8, The Eagles finished with a 10-under Instead, it was Georgia’s three lowest the Eagles closing with a 290 total to win 216) with Eatonton sophomore Trey 854 total. Richmond was 2nd at 866 profile Division I teams at the top of the by seven. Georgia State’s 285 was the low Rule next at 219 (T11) with scores of with host Old Dominion 3rd at 868. final leader board. Mercer and host score of the day, with Mercer’s 289 third 71-70 the last two rounds. Georgia Southern led by five after 36 Georgia State turned in their strongest lowest among the 16 teams. The five players in Georgia’s lineup holes with opening day scores of 290 and showings in some time, placing 3rd and The Eagles were led by sophomore placed between 23rd and 35th, with the 287, and closed with a tournament low 2nd respectively. Scott Wolfes of St. Simons Island, who Bulldogs managing just two-sub par 277 to expand its lead. The tournament title went to Georgia tied for 2nd at 212 with scores of 71-70- rounds in the tournament. Kennesaw Scott Wolfes scored his second indi- Southern, which built a sizeable 12- 71. Hayden Anderson shot 72-69-74 to was led by Peder Hermansson, who was vidual title this Fall, sharing medalist stroke lead after the first day of play and tie for 6th at 215, with McDonough 6th at 215, with Columbus sophomore honors at 9-under 207 with scores of 66- held on for a 7-stroke margin of victory junior Will Evans 10th at 218, con- Jimmy Beck T19 at 221. 71-70. Teammate Charlie Martin was over the Panthers. tributing a 70 in the opening round and Harbin, a senior, tied for 14th and 6th 4th at 212 (73-70-69) and Hayden The Eagles last won a tournament in a 72 the final day. in the Gamecocks’ first two Fall events, Anderson was T10 at 217. Will Evans 2011, taking the Southern Conference Also chipping in with two counting with the latter his best career showing contributed a final round 68. title. The team’s most recent win in a full scores each were sophomores Charlie prior to his victory. Harbin led by three Evans tied for 13th at even par 216 as field regular season event was in a tourna- Martin of Lagrange (70-74 the first day) shots after an opening 66 that included the Eagles closed out their Fall season by ment hosted by Frances Marion in 2010. and Alpharetta’s Matt Mierzejewski, seven birdies, and backed it up with con- placing 7th in Hawaii with a 6-over “It’s been a while,” veteran Georgia who shot 73 in each of the last two secutive scores of 72 to take medalist 870 total. Southern coach Larry Mays said after the rounds. honors by two strokes over a trio of victory. “We’ve got a lot of young kids. “I think we’ve got the talent,” Mays players, including U.S. Amateur cham- Bulldogs capture We played three sophomores and two said. “We’re the red-headed stepchild in pion Steven Fox of Chattanooga. juniors. the state, and it was good to pop the big “It feels great. This has been a long Brickyard event “Last year we got a lot of experience dog.” time coming,” Harbin said after his vic- Prior to its disappointing finish at with these kids. I think we’re a team on Wolfes and Martin give the Eagles “a tory. “The course played really difficult Berkeley Hills, Georgia turned in a the rise and we’ll only get better.” real good one-two punch,” Mays says, and the scores reflected that.” second strong showing of the Fall season, Georgia Southern finished the 54-hole with Wolfes notching finishes of 1st, 9th Harbin conquered the always testy winning the Brickyard Collegiate at event with a 7-over 859 total at Berkeley and 2nd in the team’s first three Fall Berkeley Hills greens in the opening Macon’s Brickyard at Riverside course. Hills, which played to a par of 71 for the starts. There is also plenty of competition round, and followed it up with two The Bulldogs shot 16-under 848, tournament. (The par-5 10th was played for the 3, 4 and 5 spots. steady rounds, although he admitted that opening and closing with scores of 280. as a par 4.) Georgia State was 2nd at 866 “We left four at home who have been “birdies were hard to come by.” Georgia led by seven shots after the first with Mercer taking 3rd at 874. playing good,” Mays said. “We have a lot It was the third straight strong tourna- round and by 12 after 36 holes, finishing Georgia was 6th at 888, behind of depth and that’s what you need to ment showing for Harbin, who led his 14 ahead of runner-up . Chattanooga (881) and Winthrop (885). have a really successful program.” team in all three events. Three Georgia golfers finished sixth or Kennesaw State, which has enjoyed Georgia State was led by Damon “I’ve played really solid this Fall. better, led by sophomore Nicholas some success the last few years, tied Stephenson, who shot 69 in the first Hopefully I can continue this all year.” Reach, who was 3rd at 209 (68-72-69). for 7th at 889 with South Carolina, round and closed with a 68 to take 5th at Freshman Lee McCoy of Clarkesville which was led by medalist Dykes Harbin 213. Sophomore Davin White of was 4th at 210 (71-71-68) and Albany of Augusta. Griffin, junior Grant Cagle of

16 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM FALL 2012 Bulldogs, Jackets win events in state

OETMATREROBERT

Emilie Burger ENSWSTATE KENNESAW

score of 289, and expended its lead to 12 with a tourna- ment low 282. The Owls closed with a 289, the only sub-300 score the final day. Kennesaw golfers fin- ished 1-2-3, with Jimmy Beck taking medalist Ollie Schniederjans honors at 209. Beck shot 72-65-72, with his Jimmy Beck second round score the

senior T.J. Mitchell tied for 6th at 212 lowest of the tourna- (70-69-73). PGA GEORGIA ment by three strokes Valdosta sophomore Sam Straka, Tech trailed UCLA by two shots with and one of only two rounds competing as an individual for the only two players from each team left on below 70. Bulldogs, shared medalist honors with the course. After three-putting the 17th in the tournament at 217, tying for Duluth’s Ben Greene was 2nd at 215 Georgia State freshman Jonathan Grey for bogey, Seth Reeves birdied the par-5 7th. Bo Andrews, competing as an indi- (71-72-72), with Calhoun’s Sam Curtis at 8-under 208, closing with scores of 18th to pull Tech within one. vidual, tied for 9th at 218, with Duluth’s 3rd at 219. Evans’ Austin Vick was 8th 69-64. Straka’s 64 included nine birdies Ollie Schniederjans managed to save Reeves and freshman Shun Yat Hak, also at 223. and an eagle. par at the 17th after his tee shot ended competing as an individual, T13 at 219. Sophomore Ollie Schniederjans of up inside the hazard line on the par 3. At “I knew I needed birdie to tie and Lady Bulldogs Powder Springs led Georgia Tech, closing the 18th, Schniederjans rifled a 5-iron eagle to win,” Schniederjans said after his with a 67 to finish 5th at 211. from 220 yards to within three feet of the clutch finish. “Knowing that and with all 5th in home event Woodstock sophomore Anders cup and holed the putt for an eagle, those people out there watching, that The Georgia women’s team placed 5th Albertson tied for 14th at 215. giving the Jackets a one-stroke victory. was the coolest hole I’ve ever played.” in the Liz Murphey NCAA Preview at Mercer was 6th at 872 led by James Schniederjans also birdied the 18th in Georgia Tech coach Bruce Heppler the UGA golf course, which will host Beale (T8, 213) and Hans Reimers the NCAA Preview the previous month was not feeling particularly positive the NCAA women’s championship (T14, 215). Augusta State was 7th at at Capital City Club’s Crabapple midway through the final round. next May. 876, with Evans’ Cody Shafer tying for Course to lift Tech into a tie for first “We just could not make a birdie to Georgia finished the tournament at 19th at 217. Georgia State tied for 11th with . save our lives, and at one point we were 887, 11 strokes behind ’s at 887, with Davin White T22 at 218. Georgia Tech finished the USCC with six or seven shots down. You just start to winning total. Alabama was 2nd at 880, The Panthers closed out the Fall with a a 10-over 874 total, one shot ahead of figure it’s not going to happen. with Southern Cal and Auburn tied for tie for 8th in Greensboro, N.C. the Bruins. Southern Cal was 3rd in the “But we hung and hung, and I guess 3rd at 883. Auburn led by five shots after Augusta State tied for 11th in its next tightly bunched field at 879, followed by they made some mistakes to come back a 18 holes and by seven after 36. start in the Isleworth Invitational in Virginia (4th, 880), Stanford (5th, 881), little bit. Ollie hit it to a foot on 16 and Mary Maggio of was medalist at , which was won by NCAA Clemson and Duke (T6, 882) and Anders made a birdie somewhere in there 213, followed by UNC’s Casey Grice at Preview co-champion Cal. The Jaguars Washington (8th, 883). Stanford’s (No. 15) to get us close again. 214. Emilie Burger of Hoschton was shot 904, 36 behind Cal’s winning total. Patrick Rodgers was medalist at 7-under “Seth three-putted 17 after hitting a low for Georgia, tying for 10th at 217 Alpharetta’s Derek Chang led Augusta, 209, winning by four shots over a trio of great shot, but put that disappointment after a final round 71. tying for 6th at 218. runners-up. aside and stepped up at 18.” The Lady Bulldogs were 11th in their The Jaguars tied for 9th in their final The Jackets trailed Southern Cal by Tech closed out its Fall schedule with a season finale in an event hosted by Fall start in Dallas. two shots after an opening score of 291. win, a co-championship and a 2nd Stanford. Burger and Manuela Carbajo Schniederjans and Reeves led the team place finish after stumbling in its Re led Georgia, tying for 12th at 216. with scores of 70 and 71, followed by season opener in the Carpet Capital at Tech takes USCC Jonesboro’s Mariah Stackhouse tied Anders Albertson at 74 and Acworth The Farm. for 9th to lead Stanford to a 3rd place freshman Michael Hines at 76. on Ollie’s eagle finish behind Southern Cal. It was the Tech again shot 291 in the second One year after squandering a lead late second straight top 10 finish for the round, with Richy Werenski shooting Kennesaw romps in the final round of the U.S. Collegiate freshman. 69 and Hines 71. Albertson shot 75, Championship, Georgia Tech pulled off in Pinetree tourney Georgia will host the NCAA Women's with Reeves bogeying five of his last six a successful comeback in the recent event Championship May 21-24, just a few holes to match Schniederjans’ 76. Host Kennesaw State won the inaugural at Golf Club of Georgia. days after the UGA course is the site of Going into the final round, Tech Pinetree Intercollegiate at Pinetree The Yellow Jackets fell to 4th last year the NCAA men's regionals (May 16-18). trailed UCLA by two and edged the CC, the Owls’ home course. Kennesaw after leading eventual champion UCLA That tournament will be played just two Bruins 292-295 led by Schniederjans’ 71 shot 4-under 860 in the 54-hole event by seven shots with nine holes to play. weeks after the Web.com Tour visits and a 72 by Reeves. Hines and Albertson to finish 24 ahead of runner-up Ball This time, Tech came from eight behind Athens for the Stadion Classic at UGA both contributed scores for the third State and 42 in front of third place to win the event for the second time in (May 2-5). straight round with scores of 74 and 75. Tech. three years. Schniederjans was low for the Jackets Kennesaw led by five after an opening

2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 17 Murchison, White, Blanks in Q-school finals

Tour experience, missed by one shot at Dunlap, Compton, Reed, Silvers also advance 280. Also failing to advance was Nationwide Tour veteran Josh Broadaway of Albany, ex-UGA golfer By Mike Blum White was tied for 59th after an Reed earned $303,000 in 12 PGA Tour Adam Mitchell and Dawsonville’s Jamie opening 73, but rebounded with scores starts, most as a Monday qualifier. Bowen. Broadaway will have limited total of 13 players with of 65-64-66 to easily advance in his first Also advancing were Kevin Kisner and status next year after finishing 81st on the Georgia ties advanced to the attempt. Murchison, an assistant at Richard Scott, both members of money list. finals of PGA Tour quali- Towne Lake Hills who qualified for this Georgia’s 2005 NCAA championship Recent Georgia Tech golfer Chesson fying, joining seven players year’s PGA Championship, shot 67-66- team. Kisner, who has played on the PGA Hadley and Bryden Macpherson, who fromA the state who were exempt into the 66 the last three days for a 15-under Tour the last two seasons, was 3rd at 275, left Georgia’s team earlier this year, both last of the three stages. 269 total. with St. Simons resident Scott advancing advanced in California. Hadley tied for on the number at 281, tying for 18th with 8th at 7-under 281, with Macpherson,

PGA James White a birdie on the 72nd hole. Scott was 53rd the 2011 British Amateur champion, T13 on the Web.com money list and is exempt at 282. Ex-Georgia Tech golfer David for 2013. Dragoo failed to advance. Failing to advance was Nationwide Seven Georgians were exempt into the Tour veteran John Kimbell of Lafayette finals. Augusta’s Vaughn Taylor and Scott and Dalton’s Matt Hughes. Brown, Alpharetta’s Heath Slocum and Savannah’s Mark Silvers, who has Atlanta’s Brendon Todd, a teammate of enjoyed back-to-back standout seasons on Kisner and Scott on the 2005 UGA team, the Peach State and NGA (formerly all finished between 126 and 150 on the Hooters) Tours, tied for 10th at 10-under PGA Tour money list. 278 in Brooksville, Fla., to advance. Todd, last year’s Q-school medalist, was Silvers was tied for 54th after a 73, but 150th with $474,295, just $165 ahead of shot 67 the next two days to move into the player at 151. Taylor (139) is back at the top 10. Q-school for a second straight year after GEORGIA TECH ATHLETICS / Decatur’s Jamie Arnold missed by one finishing 42nd in 2010. Slocum (142) has shot at 282 despite shooting a 67 in the been exempt since 2002 with four wins, Bill Murchison

SAM MORGAN final round with six birdies on his last 10 but struggled through his poorest season holes. Web.com Tour player Reid this year. Brown was 148 as a rookie, just The finals were scheduled for Nov. 28- St. Simons resident Michael Sims, who Edstrom, a former Norcross resident, $4,600 ahead of No. 151. Dec. 3 at PGA West in LaQuinta, Calif., has played on the Nationwide (now missed by three at 283. Edstrom was 70th Nationwide Tour rookie Hudson with approximately 170 players com- Web.com) Tour, tied for 11th at 272 on the money list and will have non- Swafford, a 2011 UGA graduate, was peting for at least 25 spots on the 2013 highlighted by a third round 63. exempt status for 2013. among the top 25 almost the entire season PGA Tour. Failing to advance were former Also failing to advance was NGA Tour after winning the Stadion Classic at UGA, This was the last time players will be Columbus State golfer Andrew player David Skinns of Suwanee and but dropped out late, finishing 27th. able to go from Q-school to the PGA Georgiou, ex-Georgia Southern star PGA Tour veteran Ryuji Imada, a Swafford ended up $2,725 out of the Tour. Beginning in 2013, the Web.com Aron Price and Fayetteville mini-tour member of Georgia’s 1999 NCAA cham- top 25. Tour will be the only path to the PGA player Wade Binfield. pionship team. Imada has played eight Veteran Nationwide/PGA Tour player Tour, with the top finishers from Tour veteran Scott Dunlap of Duluth years on the PGA Tour with two wins, Paul Claxton also fell out of the top 25 Q-school earning spots on the Web.com was 2nd in Dallas at 19-under 269, one including the final tournament at TPC late, finishing 32nd. Claxton, an ex- Tour. behind the medalist with four scores of 68 Sugarloaf, and will have limited status as a Bulldog and St. Simons resident, has There were six second stage qualifiers, or better. Dunlap split his time between past champion. He was 182nd on the played 14 years on the Nationwide Tour and golfers with Georgia ties advanced the PGA and Web.com Tours this season, money list. and four on the PGA Tour. from all six. playing well on both late in the season Ex-Bulldog Erik Compton advanced Augusta’s Scott Parel was 35th on the Three Georgians notched top-5 after a slow start. from a qualifier at the Hombre in Panama Web.com money list and will again shoot finishes in a qualifier in Plantation, Fla. Henrik Norlander, a member of the City, tying for 8th at 8-under 276, closing for a PGA Tour berth after missing by Kris Blanks, who has played the last 2010 and ‘11 Augusta State national with scores of 66-69. Compton was 165th one shot last year. four seasons on the PGA Tour, tied for championship teams, shot 67 the final day in earnings in his rookie season on the The top 25 and ties earn PGA Tour 3rd along with recent Georgia Tech to tie for 12th at 275 and advance. PGA Tour. cards for 2013, with approximately the standout James White of Acworth. Former Georgia Tech golfer Matt Sandersville’s David Robinson, a mini- Georgia PGA member Bill Murchison Weibring, who has played on the PGA tour veteran with limited Nationwide [ See Q-school, page 20 ] tied for 5th in his first Q-school and Web.com Tours, and Web.com appearance. member Will Wilcox of Clayton State, Blanks, a Warner Robins native and failed to advance. Weibring was 44th on former assistant pro at The Landings in the Web.com money list this season and is 4 Bulldogs advance Former Georgia golfers Savannah, shot 16-under 268 after exempt for 2013, while Wilcox (73rd) opening with a 63. He finished the year will be near the top of the tour’s non- Kevin Kisner, Richard Scott, Erik Compton and 161 on the money list with earnings of exempt list. Bryden Macpherson joined fellow ex-Bulldogs $390,000, not playing after mid-July due , Norlander’s Augusta Brendon Todd, Paul Claxton and Hudson to an injury. He will have a limited med- State teammate, shared medalist honors in ical extension for next season if he fails to a qualifier in Houston, finishing at 14- Swafford in the finals of Q-school finish in the top 25 at finals. under 274 with four rounds in the 60s.

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2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 19 and earning status on the 2004 and Ben Kohles) who were Web.com Henley Bolli Nationwide Tour. rookies this year. [ Continued from page 8 ] [ Continued from page 10 ] It only took a few months for Bolli to Henley says he does not plan to alter capture his first title on the tour, pressure. That was really cool.” his style of play for the PGA Tour. status, is the only other member of winning in Chattanooga, and he has When he found himself in a similar “The reason I got there is what I’m that team still playing above the mini- added three more victories in his six situation three weeks later, Henley came doing,” Henley says. He finished his first tour level. years on what is now the Web.com Tour. through again with a huge putt on the season on the Web.com Tour 6th in both Bolli spent several years on the Bolli has earned more than $1.4 mil- final hole and a flawless par on the first total driving and ball striking, was Hooters Tour, winning three times, lion in his six seasons on that tour, playoff hole for another win. around 40th in both putting stats and and won the 2003 Georgia Open at ranking 4th on the career money list Henley had bogeyed the 17th hole to 16th in scoring despite his slow start Settindown Creek, shortly before behind three players who have at least 10 drop out of a tie for the lead, and “I’ve never been a big technical reaching the finals of Q-school years each on the tour. thought he was two behind the leader swing guy.” until he reached the 18th green and real- Although he had his 2013 PGA Tour ized he was only one back. locked up after his win in Charlotte in “You’ve got to embrace it,” Henley said late September, more than a month later of the pressure he faced on the 30-foot Henley said. “It hasn’t hit me yet. It won’t birdie putt to force a playoff. “I enjoy until I get there and I hear them getting those butterflies. When the heat announcing my name on the first tee “ is on, you rely on your concentration and Henley is looking forward to several hyper-focus. stops on the early season West Coast “You’ve really got to enjoy those swing, especially Pebble Beach, where he moments. That’s what you play for.” played so well in the 2010 U.S. Open. The next time Henley plays will be in “That will be awesome,” says Henley, Hawaii in January as a PGA Tour who is also eagerly anticipating tourna- PGA GEORGIA member. He will be part of a young and ments at Torrey Pines in San Diego and impressive rookie crop on the PGA Tour Riviera in Los Angeles. Winning Georgia PGA Peters Cup team that includes Ringgold’s Luke List and a “And playing the first one in Hawaii pair of two-time winners (Luke Guthrie will be cool.” cooled off after his torrid start and did Peters Cup not make a birdie on the back nine. [ Continued from page 14 ] Dixon (PGA) def. Sweeney 6&5: Dixon jumped out to a 5-up lead after seven 15 and 16 and pars at 17 and 18 to win holes and did not make a bogey during the last four holes and the match. the match. Sweeney’s only win came at Koch (PGA) def. Brent 4&3: Koch won the 12th, where he carded his lone birdie. five of six holes beginning at the sixth – Jones (GSGA) def. Lee 1-up: Only three with birdies – to go from 1-down three holes were halved and the lead to 3-up. repeatedly changed hands, with neither Noll (GSGA) def. Potts 2&1: After a player able to take a 2-up lead. Lee birdie at the 14th gave him the lead for squared the match with his sixth birdie the first time since the opening hole, Noll of the day at the demanding 17th, but hit his second to the par-5 15th within a lost the 18th and the match to Jones, few feet for a clinching eagle. who had four birdies on his card. Trively (PGA) halved with Mitchell: Murchison (PGA) def. Russell 4&3: Trively shot 3-under 32 on the front nine Murchison birdied four of the first eight and was 2-down, as Mitchell carded five holes to take a 4-up lead, with the last birdies for a 30. Birdies at 10, 12 and 13 seven holes halved with pars. Russell gave Trively a 1-up lead, and he regained played steadily (one birdie, one bogey), his slim advantage with his seventh but steady wasn’t enough against birdie of the day at the 16th before run- Murchison, who was 4-under when the ning into trouble at the 17th. Mitchell match ended.

Q-school [ Continued from page 18 ] For results from next 50 finishers exempt on the the first stage Web.com Tour next year. The remainder of Q-school and of the players have non-exempt Web.com status, but only those who a wrap-up of finish close to the score for exempt status the finals, visit will have a chance to play a reasonable golfforegeorgia.com schedule.

20 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM FALL 2012 2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 21 hooked two shots. But I’m a slow learner SPECIAL COURSE REVIEW and his advice didn’t quite take at first. The next hole, number 12, struck us as having Myrtle Beach a lot going on, including a huge waste area outlined with railroad ties, a lake to the right, greenside swales and bunkers, and more. By fifteen, our first par five of the day, the Willbrook Plantation: course began to really express its personality – a solid, dependable, good-looking com- panion without much flash and no trickery. It brought to mind a well-crafted piece of A Smooth Confluence of Golf and History furniture that you could settle into com- fortably for a four-hour spell. It wasn’t until signs posted along the route of our golf a history lesson, so you’ll be glad to know Fagan bounced a long, straight drive off the In September, a merry band of golf journey. They point out the sites of slave that 18 well-crafted and eminently walk- cart path and through the fairway, and Jim writers known as the Golf Road Warriors cabins and a slave cemetery, the original able golf holes await. Frank hit the same tree twice off the tee– descended on Myrtle Beach for a week road leading to the plantation house The Golf Road Warriors started our once with a draw and then with a fade– that of fun, sun and golf. They included through lines of trees, mounds built by morning round on the back nine as the we realized that the best drive on this hole is Bob Fagan, who’s played over 2,600 slaves in the 1700s to mark the separation sun rose and the day warmed and the dew just left of that tree and over the fairway golf courses around the world; David between different plantations, and more. burned off the Bermuda grass. And that’s bunkers guarding the corner. Beyond there Gould, former LINKS Magazine editor; Every golf course, every piece of land, worth noting, as players like me, accus- a creek awaits, which you might cross on Jim Frank, former executive editor of every destination you visit has a story to tomed to playing on bent grass and rye your second shot if your first is any good, or GOLF Magazine and Jeff Wallach, tell, and one of the best things we can get grass will face a period of adjustment– in otherwise might call for a layup. The hole current Executive Editor of The A Position. out of a round of golf is to also learn the my case about fourteen holes before I fig- plays 572 yards from the back tee Willbrook Plantation Golf Club in story of the beautiful place we’re lucky ured out: 1) dont miss the fairways; 2: if and would certainly be played better particular caught Wallach’s eye. enough to be spending the day in. So you do miss, watch where your ball goes as during subsequent rounds – or so we Kudos to National Golf Management for it will dive into the Bermuda faster than told ourselves. by Jeff Wallach understanding this aspect of our game and Flipper dives for a kippered snack; 3) take Number eighteen presented the first also our desire to play it in locations far more club and swing like you mean it to drive with any real pucker factor – a long rom the very first hole at and wide, and have some connection get the ball out; and 4) pay attention to the scythe of a dogleg right where the tee shot Willbrook Plantation, just across beyond the few good shots we might hit grain on the greens, and if you don’t know must avoid sand to the left and an over- the street from our lodgings at (and today it was very few)! what this means you shouldn’t be playing hanging tree to the right. My low-running the Litchfield Beach and Golf Another thing we loved about golf in South Carolina! draw – a pure accident – proved to be the ResortF in Myrtle Beach, we found exactly Willbrook Plantation was head profes- The back nine commences with a wide, perfect shot here. The hole narrows toward the kind of thing that the Golf Road sional Kevin McGuire, who greeted us welcoming fairway that set the theme for the green, making a straight second shot Warriors most appreciate in a golf course: heartily from behind the counter, where our day. In general the tee shots here don’t necessary to really even have a third shot, a good story to accompany our round. I’m he’d set a sign welcoming the golf road require too much prestidigitation or even or at least one that can be aimed anywhere not talking about the kind of story where warriors. It seems so simple and so deep thinking, for that matter– hit it near the pin. Jesus and Moses meet on the first tee, or obvious, that the professional behind the toward the striped 150-yard poles but also The front side (our back nine today) what one of your friends did on the four- desk should be glad to see you when you pay attention to angles to greens and give opens well and ramps up at number two, teenth hole: I mean that the course itself show up to play his golf course, but we are yourself a good “leave.” On number ten, a with water all along the right side from tee understands that traveling golfers are not constantly amazed at the indifference we tree to the right of the putting surface to green and steep-faced bunkers nya-nya- just golfers, but travelers, and we appre- experience at even very good courses. really defines the entire hole, which is to nyaing on the left. Play toward the water ciate feeling like we’ve not just been to Kevin gives pros everywhere a good name. say that balls hit to the right side of the to have the best look at the green. Number another solid golf layout, but that there’s Later in the day we saw him behind the fairway may not have a clear path to the six is one of the best holes on the front– some background or context to give our grill working with the lunch crew, fighting green. The water to the right really never 383 yards with water, water everywhere, experience real depth. with the computerized cash register, and comes into play– and if four warriors all and more bridges in site than at the den- The very logo of the plantation includes taking care of about twelve other things missed it, you probably will, too. From the tist’s office. Hit your tee shot to what is “est 1798,” which certainly caught my simultaneously the way old-school pros at left side, which runs long and open toward essentially an island fairway, which just attention knowing that there weren’t any small, charming courses in Scotland may two greenside bunkers you’ll have a shot happens to precede an excellent par-three golf courses in South Carolina back then. also turn out to be the bartender, locker over those hazards to reach the green. island green on the next hole– at 147 yards What they mean is that the plantation room attendant, caddie master, and more. Fellow warrior Bob Fagan, who seemed just pure fun. itself was founded just over two decades But despite what a great golf pro he disappointed by his 75 today, gave me the The round was enhanced by great after the founding of our country. And seems to be, you probably won’t be headed sound advice of opening my clubface service and efficiency from the moment throughout a thoroughly enjoyable round to Willbrook merely to spend the day when hitting out of the rough here and it we stepped into the shop until our final we stopped to consider a series of historical appreciating Kevin McGuire, or purely for made sense as I’d already hooded and encounter with the beverage cart.

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2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 23 Atlanta and McGladrey – A Perfect Fit

By Bill Carpenter employees nationwide and more than Youth Day activities, in particular – is services to many of these types of organ- 32,000 professionals across something I look forward to year after izations. Our team knows the unique tlanta is unique. It the globe through our inter- year.” challenges private clubs face as they is one of only two national network. Davis Love III, member of Team react to changes in government regula- cities in the world Known as “the city not too McGladrey, host of The McGladrey tions, tax laws, operational that is home to busy to care,” Atlanta, like its Classic and Sea Island resident, echoes advancements and member expecta- twoA Nobel Peace Prize win- Southeast counterparts, has a McGladrey’s focus on the community tions, and they understand membership ners. It’s the ninth largest city history of “taking care of its on his Foundation website which says models, food and beverage operations, in the country. It has one of own,” which aligns with that The McGladrey Classic has a posi- golf course maintenance and other rele- the busiest airports in the McGladrey’s history of giving tive economic impact on Georgia’s vant national and regional issues. world. It offers dozens of pri- back to the communities entire Golden Isles community, but that While private clubs are a focus for vate and public golf courses. And it’s a where our employees live and work. In the real winners are the individuals McGladrey in the Southeast, we serve haven for business. From Fortune 500 2011, more than 2,100 McGladrey served by Special Olympics and the many other industries, including companies to small upstarts, many com- employees and clients participated in Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast banking/financial institutions, con- panies call Atlanta 135 volunteer initia- Georgia. “Giving back to the commu- struction, consumer products, home. McGladrey tives across the nity is an integral component of the education, financial services, food and LLP, the nation’s country through the PGA TOUR,” says Davis. “It is a beverage, government entities, health leading provider of firm’s Volunteer Day pleasure to continue that tradition here care, manufacturing and wholesale assurance, tax and consulting services – 250 of those employees and 29 of in Georgia through The McGladrey distribution, not-for-profit, real estate focused on the middle market, is proud those activities were here in the Classic.” and private equity groups, just to name to be among those. Southeast, where employees volun- While the charitable component is a few. As the title sponsor of The teered on behalf of the Boys and Girls one of the most compelling aspects of Atlanta is, indeed, unique. Its symbol, McGladrey Classic, a PGA TOUR Club of America, Salvation Army, Toys professional golf, the values of the game the Phoenix, appropriately represents event, McGladrey has an affinity for the for Tots and other worthy organiza- – respect, integrity, teamwork, excel- the strength and beauty of the city. And great State of Georgia, and for the tions. This year, more than 2,500 lence and stewardship – are values McGladrey is proud to be a part of the Southeast as a whole. We just wrapped McGladrey employees and clients par- shared by McGladrey. And the region’s evolving history. Our Atlanta up the third annual McGladrey Classic ticipated in 190 volunteer activities. In caddie/player relationship is illustrative office is already helping more than 100 at beautiful Sea Island, Georgia in the Southeast, more than 500 of the relationship McGladrey has with middle market companies meet their October, and are already looking for- McGladrey employees participated in its clients – in Atlanta and around the business goals by providing proactive, ward to returning next November (Nov. 45 volunteer activities. Here in Atlanta, globe. Our goal is to truly understand customized assurance, tax and con- 4 – 10, 2013), when clients and poten- they supported the Atlanta Food Bank, our clients – their needs, aspirations and sulting services. We’re ready to help tial clients will once again be welcomed MedShare International and other challenges – and then to use that deep others in the Southeast and in Atlanta by the Southern hospitality for which organizations. level of understanding to provide them succeed, as well. the Southeast is so well known. But it doesn’t stop there. The high- with the best possible service to help The game of golf is a great place to light of The McGladrey Classic each ensure their success. Only by truly build the McGladrey brand because we year is Youth Day, which includes a understanding their “game” can we Bill Carpenter is McGladrey’s Atlanta know that many of our executive-level friendly competition in the form of a do that. office leader. The firm’s Atlanta office clients and potential clients enjoy putting contest which teams local McGladrey’s ties to golf and to the is located at 1230 Peachtree Street, playing and watching the game. The Special Olympics athletes and Boys and Southeast go even further. Atlanta, and NE, Suite 1700. Mr. Carpenter can be McGladrey Classic gives us a platform Girls Clubs representatives with PGA the Southeast region of the United reached by phone at 404.751.9115 or by for connecting with that important TOUR professionals and McGladrey States as a whole, is home to many pri- email at [email protected]. audience, and provides an opportunity leaders, with the winning children vate clubs, including golf clubs, country You can learn more about McGladrey at to contribute to the state of Georgia by taking home trophies and a sense of clubs, city clubs and others. Our private www.mcgladrey.com. attracting visitors and by supporting pride in their achievements. clubs practice based in Florida provides local charitable organizations. The 2011 McGladrey Classic raised McGladrey has been serving clients in $300,000 for national and Georgia- Georgia for nearly 20 years, and opened based charitable organizations, its Peachtree Street office in 2009, doubling the $150,000 raised during enhancing services provided by our the inaugural 2010 event. While we do other Southeast offices in Florida, not yet have figures from the 2012 tour- North Carolina, , Virginia nament, we look forward to, once and Washington, D.C. The addition of again, giving back to national and our Atlanta office was an easy decision. Georgia-based nonprofits this year as a The Atlanta market is a natural fit for a result of our involvement in the game of professional services firm such as golf. As McGladrey’s Southeast McGladrey, which is focused on being Regional Managing Partner Bill the first-choice provider for thriving Gorman says, “The most rewarding and growing middle market businesses. aspect of our golf platform is the oppor- McGladrey clients in Atlanta – like tunity it provides us to give back to McGladrey’s clients across the country – those in need, and to make a positive have access to the knowledge and expe- contribution to the Georgia economy. rience of the firm’s more than 6,500 The McGladrey Classic – and the Davis Love

24 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM FALL 2012 Respect, integrity, teamwork, excellence and stewardship. McGladrey displays its core value of stewardship by supporting organizations such as the Davis Love III Foundation that benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Georgia and the Special Olympics. Working closely with our Georgia clients, we hope to give back even more to the Atlanta community as we expand our resources and relationships in the area. We will continue to build our understanding of our clients’ needs and the organizations that make Atlanta a great place to live and work.

Experience the power of being understood by calling us at 404.751.9100, visiting our website at McGladrey.com or learning more about the organizations we support.

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2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 25 A TRULYTRUULLYY UNIQUEUNIQUUE Play18.com offers GOLF golfers convenient online tee times

he online tee time market has a new player in Georgia, and this time the service comes directly from the golf coursesT themselves. DAILLYY FEE MONDAAYY -THURSDAAYY The Georgia Golf Course Owners Not all the courses participating on Association (GGCOA) has created a new the Play 18 web site are GGCOA (Book YYoour TTeee Times Now) web site – Play 18.com – that will members, but Brown says the hope of facilitate golfers getting tee times at the organization is that the courses will PRIVVAAATTE MEMBERS ALL WEEK courses around the state, while enabling be encouraged to join the GGCOA after the courses to have more of a say in discovering the benefits of membership. EXCLUSIVELLYY PRIVVAAATTE FRIDAAYY - SUNDAAYY the process. Some of the participating courses offer The concept is being implemented by loyalty rewards to golfers who make Matt Brown, the GGCOA’s new return visits, and Brown says the site is “a Executive Director. The Play 18 concept work in progress. We’re adding more retains the customer service of third courses and features every day. party tee time sites, but Brown “The courses have been very says it “allows the golf course owners pleased with the technology. It’s all and operators to control their pricing been positive.” and inventory, and still take care With the site still in its early stages, of consumers.” Brown points out that the participating Golfers who have become accustomed courses “are mostly in the Atlanta area. to booking their tee times online We have a few around the state, through third party sites will enjoy including all the state park courses and the same services on the Play 18 site, Affiniti’s courses outside Atlanta.” with a more direct connection to the The list of the participating courses golf courses. can be found on the Play18.com ad on “Consumers want choices and they page 27, with most of the top courses in like discount golf,” Brown says. The Play the metro area included, along with sev- 18 web site, which was launched in June, eral of the state’s most prominent provides golfers with an array of partici- facilities and two from the Hilton pating courses and available tee times, Head area. MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL! along with information on the courses. Brown says he is working to get more No Initiation FeeFee Brown says “about 30 to 40 percent” courses from outside Atlanta on the list. of tee times are now booked on line, with “When you start something new, it (Memberships available: Play 18 also offering opportunities for takes a while to catch on.” Families, Adults, Seniors, apps from mobile devices thanks to a Juniors and Corporations) recent launch.

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2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 27 PGA Chip Shots GSGA Skinner third CC, were Larry Vaughn of Greensboro and Mel Mendenhall of Columbus. Tying for in Senior PNC 4th at 211 were Bill Blalock and Mark Georgia PGA member Sonny Skinner Baxter of Atlanta, and Bill Evans and Jim notched his third straight top 10 finish Lester of Columbus. in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship, tying for 3rd recently Sonny Skinner Coble reaches semis in Virginia. Skinner, the head pro at River Pointe in in Women’s Mid-Am Albany, finished the tournament with a Griffin GC head pro Charlie King won Augusta’s Laura Coble reached the semi- 2-over 290 total, three strokes behind Jim the Lee-Weir Classic at Canongate GC, finals of the recent U.S. Women’s Woodward, who eagled the final hole to posting a 135 total to edge Skinner by one Mid-Amateur Championship in San win by one stroke. stroke. Elkins and Detmer tied for 3rd at Antonio, losing to Meghan Stasi, who After opening with back-to-back scores 138, with Burk 5th at 140. went on to win the event for a fourth time. of 71, Skinner fell back with a 77 in the third Coble won four matches in the tourna- round, and began the final day five strokes Weinhart 20th ment, none of which went to the 18th hole, behind Woodward. Skinner pulled even David Noll and was all square with Stasi after seven with Woodward early in the final round, in national event holes. But the combination of three birdies and remained close to the lead the rest of Georgia PGA 7-time Player of the Year Scott Weeks 2&1 in his next match. by Stasi and three bogeys by Coble the day, while several other contenders fell Tim Weinhart tied for 20th in the recent He reached the finals with a 2&1 win in enabled Stasi to win the last six holes and off the pace. PGA Assistants Championship, played at the semis over stroke play medalist take the match 6&5. Mike Miles birdied four of the last six the PGC GC in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Brandon Nelson. After tying for 26th in stroke play quali- holes to move past Skinner, who made two Weinhart finished with a 1-over 289 total fying, Coble won the 16th and 17th holes of late bogeys before a closing birdie at 18. with scores of 73-70-70-76. He was 4-under her opening match for a 3&1 victory. She Miles had the lead until Woodward’s eagle Cartersville CC after 10 holes during the third round and was 4-up after six holes in the second on the par-5 18th. among the leaders, but did not round against the No. 6 seed and won 2&1, Skinner qualified for the 2013 Senior defends team title make another birdie over his final 26 and followed with a 2&1 victory in the PGA Championship, which will be played at Cartersville CC won the GSGA Team holes. Weinhart is part of the Nuclear third round. Bellerive in St. Louis. Skinner competed in Championship for a second straight year at Golf teaching program based at the Coble coasted to a 5&4 decision in the the event last year, tying for 44th after an the Georgia Club, edging TPC Sugarloaf by Standard Club. quarterfinals, breaking the match open opening round 77. Skinner closed with one stroke. Also making the cut was Frederica GC with three straight birdies on the front nine. under-par scores of 70-69-70 to finish at The Cartersville CC team finished with a assistant Hank Smith, who tied for 39th at Also qualifying for match play were 2-over 286. 16-under 344 total in the two-day event. 295. Brandon Lovelady (Flat Creek) and Marietta’s Brenda Pictor and Atlanta Joining Skinner in St. Louis next May will Each team consisted of four players, with David Potts (CC of the South) both failed native Wendi Patterson Golden, who now be Augusta CC head professional Tommy two best-ball matches making up the first to make the cut. lives in south Florida. Pictor won her Brannen, who shot a final round 70 for a day score and the low three individual opening match 4&2 before falling 3-down 300 total to tie for 33rd. The top 35 quali- scores of the four comprising the second after three holes in the second round and fied. Brannen had five birdies in his final Noll captures 4th day total. losing 2&1 to the No. 4 seed. Pictor reached round on a day when only two players Cartersville’s two teams shot 62 (Jayce the quarterfinals of the 2012 U.S. Senior broke 70. Match Play title Stepp-Chase Jones) and 63 (Chris Hall- Women’s Amateur and also qualified for Also qualifying for the PGA Senior PNC Dalton’s David Noll won the Atlanta Cres Dodd) in best ball to give the club a the U.S. Women’s Amateur this year. but failing to make the cut were Georgia Amateur Match Play Championship for the 6-stroke lead at 125 after the first day of Golden won her first two matches PGA members Craig Stevens, Danny fourth time, taking the recent event at play. Dobb’s 71 was the low score the next 3&1 and 2&1 before losing 3&2 in the Elkins, Willie Smith, Russ Davis, Roger Rivermont CC. day, with Cartersville posting a 219 total. third round. Mack, John Godwin and Phil Taylor. Noll defeated Atlanta’s Tripp H’Doubler TPC Sugarloaf shot 131 the first day with Senior Tour Championship: Shortly on the 19th hole in the championship scores of 65 (Doc Holliday-Reece Whitley) after competing in the Senior PGA PNC, match. Noll was 2-up with five holes to play, and 66 (Bob Stonikas-Greg Howe). A 69 Hanzel make semis Skinner won the Georgia PGA Senior but H’Doubler won holes 14 and 15 before by Stonikas led Sugarloaf to a 214 total Division Tour Championship, with the losing the 16th when he hit his second shot in singles. in U.S. Senior Am event played in difficult weather conditions out of bounds on the par 4. St. Ives (135-212) and Berkeley Hills (132- Savannah’s Doug Hanzel reached the at the Legends at Chateau Elan. The match went to extra holes when Noll 215) tied for 3rd at 347, with Valdosta CC semifinals of the U.S. Senior Amateur Skinner finished with a 153 total, two hit his approach in the water on the par-4 5th at 348 (137-211) and Indian Hills 6th at Championship in New Jersey, concluding shots ahead of Elkins. Bob Burk was 3rd at 18th, but Noll won the first hole to quickly 350 (131-219). Valdosta’s Hiland Sanders his busy and successful season in 155, followed by Davis at 156 and the trio of end the playoff. was low in singles the second day at 67. USGA events. Phil Wagoner, Jeff Gotham and amateur Noll, who was seeded 3rd in the 32- Senior 4-Ball: The team of Don Marsh Hanzel is believed to be the first player to Donny Phillips at 157. player field, won his opening match 2&1 of Johns Creek and Larry Clark of qualify for match play in the U.S. Amateur, Burk, the head pro at Stone Creek in over Danny Whigham, and coasted to Kingsland won the GSGA Senior 4-Ball Mid-Amateur and Senior Amateur, and also Valdosta, shot 145 to won a Senior Division victories in the next three rounds, Championship for the fourth time, winning was the low amateur in the U.S. Senior tournament at Doublegate CC in Albany. including a 5&3 win over Billy Mitchell in the recent event by three strokes with a Open. He made it to the second round of Bill Robinson was 2nd at 146, followed by the semifinals. 207 total. Glenn Herrell at 147 and Wyatt Detmer H’Doubler won his first match 4&2 over Placing 2nd at 210 in the tournament, at 149. No. 4 seed Greg Hamilton and got past played at CC of Columbus and Green Island [ See Chip Shots, page 30 ]

28 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM FALL 2012 2012 Georgia PGA Player of the Year Points Standings 1. Craig Stevens, Brookstone . . 6,647.5 16. Michael Parrott, Brookfield . . . . . 2,262.75 2. Sonny Skinner, River Pointe...... 5,997.5 17. Kevin Gibbs, Oak Mountain . . . . . 2,194.33 3. David Potts, CC of the South...... 5,795.2 18. Jason Bruce, Golf Tec-Duluth . . . . 2,136.25 4. Tim Weinhart, Standard Club. . . . 5.637.75 19. Brian Puterbaugh, Hooch...... 1,974 5. Bill Murchison, Towne Lake Hills . . 5,107.5 20. Wayne Leal, Dick’s Sorting Goods . . . 1,940 6. Brian Dixon, Fox Creek...... 5,073.75 21. Eric Reeves, Healy Point ...... 1,920 7. Winston Trively, Crooked Oak. . . . 4,080.25 22. James Mason, Orchard ...... 1,862.5 8. Stephen Keppler, Marietta...... 4,071.25 23. Kevin Roman, Cherokee ...... 1,847.5 9. Matthew Evans, Rivermont ...... 3,466 24. Jeff Frasier, Chicopee Woods ...... 1,814 10. Greg Lee, Chicopee Woods ...... 3,173 25. Russ Davis, Cherokee ...... 1,802.5 11. Shawn Koch, CC of the South ...... 2,740 26. Chip Zimmerman, Cherokee . . . . 1,788.75 12. Jeff Hull, UGA ...... 2,597.5 27. Kyle Owen, Dunwoody CC ...... 1,687.5 13. Brian Corn, Peachtree ...... 2,406.5 28. Ted Fort, Marietta Golf Center...... 1,677 14. Rodger Hogan, Chattahoochee . . . 2,398.5 29. Tommy Brannen, Augusta CC. . . . 1,675.25 15. Danny Elkins, GA Golf Center . . . . . 2,289.5 30. Clark Spratlin, Currahee ...... 1,662.5

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2012 FALL GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 29 PGA PGA Golf FORE Juniors

Lee, Deems take 12-13 at 151, four behind the winner. Mary Ellen Shuman of St. Simons was Coosa CC titles the girls winner with scores of 75-70—145, followed by Janet Mao of Johns Creek at Buford’s S.M. Lee won the boys overall 149 and Katie Dalton of Vidalia and Ji Eun title in a Georgia PGA Junior Tour event at Baek of Newnan at 150. Kayley Marschke Coosa CC in Rome, shooting a pair of 74s of Suwanee won the 12-14 age group at 75- S.M. Lee Hannah Mae Deems for a 148 total. 74-149, three ahead of Lauren Lightfritz Lee, who was 1st in the 14-15 age group, of Suwanee. finished two strokes ahead of 16-18 winner five ahead of Augusta’s Joey Lawrence S.C., shooting 71-73—144 to finish one in At Callaway Gardens, Fendt shot 69-74— Jonathan Hsu of Atlanta. Adam Davis of and Jared O’Kelley. S.M. Lee was the 11-14 front. Katie Plummer of Buford shot 157 to 143 and won a three-way playoff over Rome and Andrew Bourg of Peachtree winner at 147, three ahead of Dunagan. finish 2nd in the girls division, one behind Cody Solomon of Norcross and Ryan City tied for 2nd in the 16-18 division at In the girls division Gracie Henderson the winner. Najim of Johns Creek. Charlie Flowers of 151, while Marcus Bird of Dunwoody and of Norcross shot a second round 68 for a State Parks Tour: Winners of a Georgia Columbus and Shea Sylvester of Roswell Robert Shaw of Cumming tied for 2nd in 153 total to win the 15-18 age group by State Parks Junior Tour event at Highland tied for 4th at 145. 14-15 at 153. nine strokes, with Kim the 11-14 winner Walk were: Salil Ghamande of Evans was the 14-15 In the 11-13 age group, Nicolas Cassidy at 156. Boys 12-13: Cody Eunice, Waycross, 165; winner at 144 (70-74), one ahead of Fisk. of Alpharetta shot 158 to finish two ahead In Taylors, S.C., Lim shot 75-72—147 to 14-15: Jeremy Wood, Loganville, 157; 16- Brady Keram of Canton won the 12-13 age of Andrew Lafferty of Milton. win the girls division by 14. S.M. Bae was 18: Clint Shaw, Lavonia, 148; Girls 12-13: group by three with scores of 67-75—142. Hannah Mae Deems of Fayetteville was 2nd in boys 11-14 at 69-73—142, one Haley Grable, Bogart, 168; 14-15: In girls 15-19, Baek was 3rd at 145, two the girls winner with scores of 76-73—149, behind the winner. Josh Crews of Albany McKenzie Hedrick, Bishop, 178; 16-18: behind the winner. Mao and Sydney eight ahead of Dallas Vaughn of was the boys 15-18 winner in Mt. Pleasant, Katie Jane Phillips, Hull, 180. Needham of Villa Rica tied for 4th at 147. Cartersville. Alissa Yang of Norcross shot Lightfritz was the 12-14 winner with scores 166 to win the 11-14 division by one over of 71-76—147, with Christina Yang of Claire Roop of Canton. Suwanee 2nd at 154. At Glen Arven in Thomasville, Mercer Chip Shots Fricke takes title Patel captures Clark of Columbus shot 70-73—143 to win [ Continued from page 28 ] the boys division, with Jared O’Kelley of in eGolf event Kinderlou event Canton tying for 2nd at 144. Chandler was the U.S. Am before losing to eventual Covington’s Jonathan Fricke won a Ajay Patel of Hahira carded scores of 72 the 14-15 winner at 147, with Albany’s champion Steven Fox. recent tournament on the eGolf Tour, and 71 for a 1-under 143 total and a 4-shot Tyler Hanson and Atlanta’s Hunter It took Hanzel 21 holes to take his played at Forest Oaks in Greensboro, N.C., victory over Brett Ammons of Bremer tying for 2nd at 149. opening match. He squared the match former host of that city’s long-time PGA McDonough in a Georgia PGA Junior Tour Kayla Jones of Alpharetta was the girls with an eagle on the 17th hole, then Tour event. event at Kinderlou Forest in Valdosta. winner with scores of 70-75—145, 10 birdied the third extra hole. He followed Fricke shot 67-70-65 for a 14-under 202 August Beisel of Savannah was 3rd in the ahead of Shuman. Christina Yang was the with a 3&2 win over the No. 7 seed in the total and a 4-stroke margin of victory. 16-18 division at 151. 12-14 winner by three with a 156 total. second round before taking his next two Fricke had birdied three of his final four Spencer Jordan of Statesboro shot matches 4&3 and 3&1. He lost 2&1 in the holes the last day to pull away from the 74-76—150 to win by eight over Bobby Fort wins twice semis to Curtis Skinner, who was defeated field after holing out on a par 4 for eagle Hogan of Norcross in 14-15, and Phil in the title match by former champion earlier in the round. He earned $8,000 for Jones of Alpharetta won the 11-13 age on Hurricane Tour Paul Simson. his victory. group at 77-75—152, with Ben Carr of Previously, Fricke placed 2nd in an NGA States Fort of Evans placed 1st in the boys Columbus 2nd at 156. Tour Q-school prep event at Callaway 11-14 division in a pair of recent Hurricane Brandt tops McLuen Megan Carter of Blackshear was the Gardens, closing with a 54 for a 19-under Junior Golf Tour events in Georgia, one at girls winner with scores of 78-84—162. 197 total, one stroke behind the winner. Jekyll Island GC and the other at the UGA in Peach State playoff Savannah’s Tim O’Neal placed 3rd in a course. Jimmy Brandt won a playoff over late-season event on the eGolf Tour, fin- Fisk fires 66 Fort shot 68-71—139 at Jekyll Island’s Forsyth’s Jay McLuen to win the Peach ishing with a 203 total for 54 holes, three Oleander course to win by seven over State Tour Championship at the Georgia strokes behind the winner. Towne Lake Hills to win at UGA Hunter Dunagan of Martinez, and shot 73- Club, wrapping up the 2012 money title. assistant Bill Murchison shot a second Steven Fisk of Stockbridge shot a final 70—143 in Athens to finish three ahead of Brandt, a former Auburn golfer and round 66 and tied for 22nd at 211. round 66 for a 6-under 136 total to win the Dunagan. Nationwide Tour member, shot a final

boys 14-15 and overall titles in a Jason Mendel of Norcross was the 15-18 round 65 for a 19-under 269 total, coming PGA GEORGIA Southeastern Junior Golf Tour event at the winner at UGA, winning a playoff over Will from six strokes back after 54 holes. UGA course. Duma of Atlanta after both shot 146. Bella McLuen, who opened the tournament with Nathan Mallonee of Lexington shot 73- Skinner of Cumming was the UGA girls a 64, shot 67 the final day. He finished 67—140 to win the 16-19 age group and winner at 76-71—147, with Bailey Tardy of second on the final money list behind take 2nd overall. David Mackey of Bogart Norcross 2nd at 151 and Diane Lim of Brandt, who earned $6,000 for his victory. was 2nd in 14-15 at 141 and Will Chandler Norcross 3rd at 152. Min Ji Kim of Savannah’s Mark Silvers and Duluth’s of Atlanta 3rd at 143. In the 16-19 division, Cumming shot 156 and easily won the Eddie Lee both shot 67 the final day and Pep Brown of Gainesville was 2nd at 143 11-14 age group. tied for 3rd at 270. with Jake Fendt of Suwanee 3rd at 144. Shea Sylvester won the boys 15-18 Jonathan Thomas Hogan of St. Simons was 2nd in division at Chateau Elan with a 148 total, Fricke

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