Playing on the University of Georgia Golf Course certainly paid dividends for the Bulldogs.
Georgia won its home-course regional in Athens on Wednesday, finishing 8-under, seven shots clear of runner up Duke.
Vanderbilt was third at 1-over par, while SMU (+16) and Liberty (+18), rounded out the top five.
“Really proud of their resiliency everyday,” Georgia coach Chris Haack. “We got off to bad starts each day and battled back so loved seeing a ‘don’t quit’ attitude.”
SMU, ranked 44th in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, is the third-lowest ranked team to advance.
“Today I think they really played for one another,” said Mustangs’ coach Jason Enloe.
LIVE BLOG: NCAA men’s regional action
SCORES: Pullman | Stanford | Athens
SCORES: Louisville | Austin | Myrtle Beach
Georgia’s Davis Thompson took home medalist honors. He shot a final-round 67 to finish 8-under and win by two strokes over Will Gordon of Vanderbilt. Georgia’s Spencer Ralston was third at 4-under. Western Kentucky’s Billy Tom Sargent defeated Nevada’s Stephen Osborne on the third playoff hole to advance to the NCAAs. Sargent was the highest finishing individual not on a team that is advancing.
This will be Georgia’s 22nd trip to the NCAAs.
The NCAA Div. I Men’s Golf Championships will be May 24-29 at The Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Ark.
