University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
SEC Championship
Bulldogs Stand Second At SEC Championship
April 20, 2012 | Men's Golf
April 20, 2012
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. --- Getting a boost from the lower part of the lineup on Friday, the 25th-ranked Georgia men's golf team finished the first round of the SEC Championship in second place.
Playing Sea Island Golf Club's Seaside Course, the Bulldogs fired a 7-under 273 and are just one shot out of first place. Alabama has the team lead at 8-under 272.
The Bulldogs' Nos. 3-5 golfers carried the banner on Friday. Junior T.J. Mitchell shot a first-round 3-under 67, while sophomores Keith Mitchell and Brian Carter each added 2-under 68s. T.J. Mitchell is second individually, two shots behind Alabama's Bobby Wyatt, while Keith Mitchell and Carter are in seventh.
"With the heightened expectations of the conference championship, it was good to see those guys do something really positive and get moving in the right direction," Georgia coach Chris Haack said. "The guys played well and they got us in it. All you want on the first day is to put yourself into contention."
The Bulldogs also counted an even-par 70 from freshman Nicholas Reach. Sophomore Joey Garber had Georgia's non-counting score of 3-over 73.
"All us came out today trying to get off to a good start," said T.J. Mitchell, the only Bulldog to have played in the SEC Championship before Friday. "Luckily, we were able to. We had some really good rounds. It was just a great way to start the tournament."
The Bulldogs will return to the Seaside Course on Saturday for the second round. The SEC Championship will conclude on Sunday.
"We just have to go out and play our game and not worry about anybody else," Haack said. "We'll add them up at the end and hope we're still in the hunt. It's three days, and we've got to go out and take care of our own business."
Live results and tee times from the SEC Championship can be found at golfstat.com and secsports.com. The Bulldogs are slated to tee off in 10-minute increments from 8:50 to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.
