GEORGIAPGA.COM GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM «« FEBRUARY 2012 Bulldog duo begin PGA Tour careers English, Harman ace Q-school test for the Bulldogs was bittersweet, as he in his second profes - By Mike Blum lost in the decisive match against sional start, and placed he University of Georgia Augusta State’s Patrick Reed in the third in Miami two contingent on the PGA Tour NCAA Championship finals. weeks later. for 2012 more than doubled A few months later, English again “The Nationwide Tour T after outstanding efforts by found himself on the losing side in a was awesome for me,” four former Bulldogs in the finals of team competition, competing for the English said. “It gave me Q-school. U.S. against Great Britain/Ireland in the some experience.” Brendon Todd and Kevin Kisner , Walker Cup. From an individual stand - Enjoying success in his teammates on Georgia’s 2005 NCAA point, English put together a string of brief stay on the tour Championship team, regained their impressive efforts that included a victory “gave me a lot of confi - status on the tour by placing among the on the Nationwide Tour as an amateur. dence. It showed me I top 25 finishers. “It’s been an unbelievable year,” could play out here.” They will be joined by Harris English said from Los Angeles as he was English also has fond A English and Brian Harman , who are preparing to board a plane for Hawaii memories of his years in R T S I rookies this season. and his first ever PGA Tour start. “A lot Athens, and said he was “sad O O K L English made his PGA Tour debut in of great things have happened.” to leave” after his four years A Hawaii last month, while Harman was Prior to turning pro after the Walker there. The main disappoint - making his fifth PGA Tour start, the Cup, English won the Southern ment was the Bulldogs’ loss lish first three as an amateur. Amateur, reached the semifinals of the to Augusta State in the Harris Eng While it took Harman a few years USGA Public Links Championship and NCAA title match. after graduating from Georgia to make it won one of the Nationwide Tour’s pre - “We were so close to win - to the PGA Tour, English went straight mier events in Columbus, Ohio. ning,” English observed. “That from Athens to golf’s major leagues fol - English joined the Nationwide Tour was a tough loss.” “That was the most nervous I have lowing a whirlwind six months that after the Walker Cup and immediately The NCAA title match and the ever been,” English said of his first ever culminated with his strong showing in demonstrated that his victory as an ama - Walker Cup gave English a taste of appearance in the finals of qualifying. the finals of qualifying. teur was not a fluke. He lost in a playoff defeat along with the success he enjoyed The length of the event (six rounds) English enjoyed a very successful in Texas to Danny Lee , the highest as an individual, and helped prepare him career at UGA, but his final appearance ranked player on the Nationwide Tour, for the challenge of Q-school. [ See English, page 6 ] Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter @GolfFOREGeorgia 2 GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM FEBRUARY 2012 Seagram's Guide to Golf. Club Selection is Critical. Seagram's Signature Cocktail: Fuzzy Greyhound IT'S GOOD TO BE YOU. www.seagramsmixers.com ©2011 The Coca-Cola Company and LDI (Cayman) Ltd. “Seagram’s” and Seagram’s Crest design are registered trademarks of LDI (Cayman), Ltd. and used under license by The Coca-Cola Company. 2012 FEBRUARY GOLFFOREGEORGIA.COM 3 Instruction Fore You 3021 Kalah Place, Marietta, GA 30067 770-933-04GA • 770-953-6638 fax golfforegeorgia.com • [email protected] Please send all press releases to: [email protected] PUBLISHER Get Prepared for College Golf Golf Media, Inc. • John Barrett EDITOR Mike Blum By Chris Cartwright recruiting. The internet allows them to find your big schools. UGA, Georgia Tech, SOCIAL MEDIA / CREATIVE SERVICES PGA Assistant Professional follow a player’s progress without watching Georgia State, and Kennesaw State all fall HYPDMedia, Inc./Ellen Marsau/Catalina Montana West Pines Golf Club a single shot.YouTube allows coaches to see into this classification. Division Two is home JUNIOR & COLLEGE SERVICES swings of potential recruits without even to such schools as West Georgia, Clayton Kaitlin Looby, Coordinator Some people say that college is the best contacting them. Checking out a recruit’s State, Columbus State and Georgia CONTRIBUTORS four, five or six years of your life, however Facebook page can even give coaches a College and State University. Division Three Chris Cartwright • Robert Matre Steve Dinberg • Al Kooistra long it may take you to complete. All kid - glimpse at a player’s life off of the links. schools in the state of Georgia include MARKETING & ADVERTISING ding aside, adding collegiate golf to those So if coaches are not going to come after Piedmont College, Oglethorpe University John Barrett • Kelley Moore • Anna-Fiona Cooke already exciting years can create memories your child, it may be necessary for your and Berry College. • Rick Holt • Corporate Sales that will stay with your child forever. More child to go after them. The first step in this If a school you are researching is not affil - ART DIRECTOR and more colleges and univer - process is determining which iated with the NCAA, it is most likely a Lori Montgomery sities are adding golf to their schools your child should member of the National Association of GEORGIA SECTION , athletic offerings, which target. When I was exploring Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The NAIA PGA OF AMERICA OFFICERS means there are more and my options for college golf, has no subdivisions so often it has a wide President more scholarship opportuni - my PGA Professional told me range of talent levels. Some NAIA schools Patrick Richardson, PGA • [email protected] ties out there. Determining to go where you can play right are above or on par with Division 2 pro - Vice President the appropriate school for away. This is probably the best grams and some are equal to or below Brian Stubbs, PGA • [email protected] your child to attend can be advice you can keep in mind Division 3 programs. Some of the NAIA pro - Secretary harder than one may realize throughout this whole grams in Georgia include Reinhardt Mark Mongell, PGA without the proper knowl - process. Your child is pas - University, Savannah College of Art and [email protected] edge and guidance. sionate about playing golf, not passionate Design, Shorter College and Truett- Honorary President Jim Arendt, PGA • [email protected] Collegiate golf may be growing, but that about sitting at home while the rest of McConnell College. Rules for recruiting and does not necessarily mean that there are team is away at a golf tournament. Do not scholarships vary between these divisions CHAPTER PRESIDENTS more coaches out there. Golf programs are be caught up in trying to land a roster spot and classifications. Do some research and Central Chapter President often headed up by only one coach, with at the most prestigious school, but rather you can know what you might be able to Jarred Reneau, PGA • [email protected] larger programs lucky enough to have a try to secure a roster spot at a school your expect in terms of scholarship offers for East Chapter President Steve Godley , PGA • [email protected] head coach and an assistant coach. Many child can contribute to right away. You only your child. North Chapter President coaches that were once men’s or women’s have four years of eligibility, do not spend a A solid resume´ is a good place to start in Ted Fort , PGA • [email protected] coaches are now heading up both teams at year or two of it riding the pine. terms of contacting a coach. Coaches are that given school. With less time to meet The demand for female golfers is higher much more inclined to respond to an e- AT - LARGE DIRECTORS these responsibilities, something has got to than ever in college golf. Every year mail or letter if they know that the potential Daryl Batey, PGA [email protected] give. At many schools, time spent on women’s golf teams have open roster spots recruit is in fact good enough to contribute Roger Cherico, PGA recruiting is declining. and extra scholarship money available that to their program. Open inquires without a [email protected] The simple math of it is there are too goes unused. Getting your daughter resume´ might not get a response. John Crumbley, PGA many junior golf tournaments and coaches involved with her high school program this However, a resume´ is just one of the first [email protected] Jeff Dunovant, PGA do not have enough time to see enough of year can lay the foundation for a pros - stepping-stones in the recruiting process. [email protected] them. Coaches are changing how they do perous college golf career. PGA Professionals can often help in the col - John Godwin, PGA Sit down with your son or daughter and lege golf exploratory phase as well. Golfers [email protected] do an accurate assessment of his or her are a close-knit community and most of Scott Mahr, PGA [email protected] talent, abilities and potential. Next, your local pros probably played college Michael Raymond, PGA INSIDE THIS ISSUE research school in your area, or beyond, golf somewhere. Use these connections to [email protected] and determine some potential schools that aid your search.