Post by tutu on Sept 21, 2011 7:31:06 GMT
After losing three All-Americans to graduation in the spring after finishing runner-up cheap golf clubsat the NCAA Championships, there were naturally a number of questions and holes to fill in the starting lineup this season.
So far, so good, as men¡¯s golf coach Chris Haack¡¯s No. 15-ranked squad placed second overall at the 18th Annual Adams Cup.
The Bulldogs, who were led by junior Bryden Macpherson and freshman Nicholas Reach, finished second to defending Adams Cup champions Central Florida. Central Florida put together a phenomenal final round to ensure a nine-shot victory and become the tournament¡¯s first ever back-to-back champions. For the Bulldogs, they hopePing G20 Driver to use the early tournament experience as a source of momentum when they return to Athens to continue with the rest of their fall schedule.
¡°I thought it was good that we got ourselves in the hunt and got ourselves in a position with a chance to win ¡ª even though we didn¡¯t win we got to keep getting ourselves in those positions and give ourselves more chances and we¡¯ll learn from those situations,¡± coach Chris Haack told the Red & Black.
Bryden Macpherson, one of two lone starters returning from last season, won the British Amateur this summer, and appears to be stepping nicely into the top spot for the Dogs after finishing as the tournament¡¯s individualPing G20 Irons runner-up at 10-under 206. This is the second consecutive top-five finish for MacPherson, who entered the final round tied for the lead but was derailed by Central Florida¡¯s Ricardo Gouveia¡¯s final-round 5-under 67.
¡°I played really well, I had two stretches of holes both at the closing end of the third and the final round which could have been better but you know everything is shoulda, coulda, woulda,¡± Macpherson said. ¡°So it could have been a lot better but there¡¯s no point dwelling on what alreadyPing G15 Driver happened ¡ª But no I¡¯m happy with how I played for sure.¡±
Coming off a season in which the team finished as the national runner-up, the young Georgia squad is looking to rebuild around a new core as four-year stalwarts Russell Henley, Hudson Swafford, and Harris English moved on to the professional ranks. The Bulldogs got a solid third-place finish from Macpherson in their opener at the Carpet Capital Ping G15 ironsCollegiate two weeks ago, but the Bulldogs¡¯ youth showed promise but struggled to produce four consistent scores each day and finished in seventh. Haack, who is starting two freshman ¡ª Reach and Sepp Straka ¡ª and sophomore Michael Cromie, believes his young players took another step forward this week.