University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs' Scott Leading At SEC Championship
April 15, 2005 | Men's Golf
April 15, 2005
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SEA ISLAND, Ga. ­­-- The first of the five Georgia golfers, Richard Scott is leading the 2005 Southeastern Conference Championships largely because of the way he played the first five holes.
Scott was Georgia's "leadoff man" at the SECs on Friday, and to use baseball vernacular, he reached base every time. The junior from Canada fired a 2-under 68 despite blustery conditions at the Sea Island Golf Club's Seaside Course and he holds a one-shot lead over Kentucky's John Holmes.
The opening five holes were the key, Scott said. He played the first five holes to even par; by comparison, his four Georgia teammates combined to play them at 25-over.
"The first five holes were playing as hard as I've seen, and I made pars on all of them," Scott said. "They were good pars, too, because I had to make a couple of putts. That's what got me going real well."
The rest of the Bulldogs, however, were unable to follow Scott's pace. Georgia finished the first round at 22-over 302, and it finds itself in seventh place and trailing Kentucky by 12 shots.
"The golf course won today," Georgia coach Chris Haack said. "It was calm when we got here at 8 a.m., but the wind was steady after that all day long. The good part is we didn't play our best but we're still in it. On this golf course, anything can happen. The good thing is we've got two more days."
"There are 54 holes in this tournament, and there are so many shots," Scott said. "You can't say anybody is out of it. There are a lot of holes left to be played."
After the first round, Scott was quick to credit Georgia assistant coach Jim Douglas, who walked all 18 holes with him.
"He didn't let the conditions bother me," Scott said. "He gave me good targets and helped keep me focused all day."
Scott birdied Nos. 8, 10 and 12, and didn't have a bogey until the final hole.
"Richard struck the ball well today, and I was just along for the ride," Douglas said. "All I did was listen to him talk and help keep him confident in the decisions that he made and in his shot selection. He deserves all the credit for his round."
"Richard played outstanding," Haack said. "He always hits the ball pretty well. The frustrating thing for him is that he doesn't always get a lot out of it. Today, he got something out of it."
Senior David Denham followed Scott among the Georgia individuals at 5-over 75 and he is tied for 21st. Sophomore Brendon Todd, the 2004 SEC medalist, fired an 8-over 78, and sophomore Chris Kirk rounded out the Bulldogs' tally at 11-over 81. Junior Kevin Kisner had the Bulldogs' non-counting loop at 20-over 90.
The 54-hole tournament will continue on Saturday and will conclude on Sunday. Live scoring is available through www.golfstatlive.com.
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