University of Georgia Athletics
Swafford, Bulldogs Stand Eighth At NCAA Championship
May 29, 2008 | Men's Golf
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. --- As Georgia's Hudson Swafford found out, the rough can get you one way or another.
Swafford helped the Bulldogs grab eighth place after one round of the NCAA Championship Wednesday on the Kampen Course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex. At 15-over 303, the Bulldogs are six shots behind co-leaders Southern Cal and UCLA at 297.
Swafford fired a 1-over-par 73 in the opening round with two distinct nine-hole efforts. Moreover, Swafford had to hike the 7,450-yard course wearing a brace on his right ankle after aggravating an old injury stepping in a hole - hidden by the rough, no less - in Monday's practice round.
Georgia opened on the back nine Wednesday and Swafford registered four birdies and a bogey to turn at 3-under. But on the front nine, he had to sign for five bogeys, including one on each of the last two holes, and only one birdie. Swafford stands seventh in the individual race, four behind UCLA's Kevin Chappell at 3-under 69.
"That is one of the toughest golf courses I have ever played," Swafford said. "It's just a grind out there. That rough is nasty. You have to try not to overpower your drives and make sure you hit a target in the fairway. That's what I did for the most part when I was 3-under. That's what we've all got to do as we go forward."
Russell Henley, the NCAA East Regional co-medalist, followed Swafford at 2-over 74 and he is in 10th place. Adam Mitchell and Brian Harman each carded a 6-over 78 to stand 70th. Harris English had the Bulldogs' non-counting score of 14-over 86 and he is 148th.
To a man, the Bulldogs had more success on their opening holes on the back nine. Georgia's counting score there was 2-over, compared with 13-over on the front nine. The Bulldogs had to count five bogeys and one double bogey on the finishing holes of Nos. 7-9.
"The golf course was obviously playing really tough," Georgia coach Chris Haack said. "If you don't hit it in the fairway, that's like a half-stroke penalty. And if you miss the green, that's like another half a stroke. The good news is we survived the first day and we're not too far behind. We are very much in the hunt."
Added Swafford, "We've got a good, deep team. We struggled some today, but we're capable of coming back with some low numbers. You definitely can't count us out of it."
The Bulldogs will tee off at 7 a.m. on Thursday in the second round. Live scoring and tournament information can be found at golfstat.com and purduesports.com.
Swafford helped the Bulldogs grab eighth place after one round of the NCAA Championship Wednesday on the Kampen Course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex. At 15-over 303, the Bulldogs are six shots behind co-leaders Southern Cal and UCLA at 297.
Swafford fired a 1-over-par 73 in the opening round with two distinct nine-hole efforts. Moreover, Swafford had to hike the 7,450-yard course wearing a brace on his right ankle after aggravating an old injury stepping in a hole - hidden by the rough, no less - in Monday's practice round.
Georgia opened on the back nine Wednesday and Swafford registered four birdies and a bogey to turn at 3-under. But on the front nine, he had to sign for five bogeys, including one on each of the last two holes, and only one birdie. Swafford stands seventh in the individual race, four behind UCLA's Kevin Chappell at 3-under 69.
"That is one of the toughest golf courses I have ever played," Swafford said. "It's just a grind out there. That rough is nasty. You have to try not to overpower your drives and make sure you hit a target in the fairway. That's what I did for the most part when I was 3-under. That's what we've all got to do as we go forward."
Russell Henley, the NCAA East Regional co-medalist, followed Swafford at 2-over 74 and he is in 10th place. Adam Mitchell and Brian Harman each carded a 6-over 78 to stand 70th. Harris English had the Bulldogs' non-counting score of 14-over 86 and he is 148th.
To a man, the Bulldogs had more success on their opening holes on the back nine. Georgia's counting score there was 2-over, compared with 13-over on the front nine. The Bulldogs had to count five bogeys and one double bogey on the finishing holes of Nos. 7-9.
"The golf course was obviously playing really tough," Georgia coach Chris Haack said. "If you don't hit it in the fairway, that's like a half-stroke penalty. And if you miss the green, that's like another half a stroke. The good news is we survived the first day and we're not too far behind. We are very much in the hunt."
Added Swafford, "We've got a good, deep team. We struggled some today, but we're capable of coming back with some low numbers. You definitely can't count us out of it."
The Bulldogs will tee off at 7 a.m. on Thursday in the second round. Live scoring and tournament information can be found at golfstat.com and purduesports.com.
Georgia Men's Golf SEC Championship - Quarterfinals - Postmatch Interview - Coach Haack
Saturday, April 26
Georgia Men's Golf SEC Championship - Round 3 - Video Recap
Friday, April 25
Georgia Men's Golf SEC Championship - Round 2 Video Recap
Thursday, April 24
Georgia Men's Golf SEC Championship - Round 1 Video Recap
Wednesday, April 23