University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Golfers Ready To Tee It Up
September 05, 2012 | Men's Golf
ATHENS, Ga. --- The Georgia men's golf team will open the fall portion of its 2012-13 schedule this weekend in the 24th annual Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic.
The 19th-ranked Bulldogs will join 14 other teams, including five from the SEC, at The Farm Golf Club in Rocky Face, Ga. (near Dalton).
Chris Haack will begin his 17th year as Georgia's head coach with a lineup of senior T.J. Mitchell, juniors Joey Garber and Keith Mitchell, sophomore Nicholas Reach and freshman Lee McCoy. The Bulldogs return all of their players from last season, and McCoy is the only newcomer.
Keith Mitchell earned All-America honors and led the team in scoring average a year ago, and he was joined by T.J. Mitchell, Garber and Reach at the 2012 NCAAs. McCoy, a high school state champion from Habersham Central, will be making his collegiate debut.
"I really think we can be contenders," said T.J. Mitchell, the lone senior on the Bulldogs' roster. "I know everyone always says that, but we need to set our goals high. We've got depth in the lineup and we've got experience in the lineup. I think the sky's the limit for us."
"They all came a long way last year and they got better each week," Haack said. "That makes this year even more exciting. We don't lose anyone, they're all back, and they've got that year under their belts. I believe last year's experience will kick in and they'll be even more confident and it could be a great year. I really like this team a lot. These guys get along great, and they work hard every day. They want to get better and they want to succeed."
Also playing in the Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic are host Georgia Tech, Clemson, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Alabama, LSU, Auburn, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Middle Tennessee State, Kennesaw State, North Florida and Chattanooga. Led by No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Texas -- the 2012 NCAA runner-up and champion, respectively -- the field includes seven teams from the Golf World/Nike Coaches Preseason Poll.
Live scoring can be found at golfstat.com and additional information can be found at thefarmgolfclub.org.
The Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic is the first of eight tournaments inside the state walls for the Bulldogs this year, including the SEC Championship at Sea Island in April and the NCAA Championship in Alpharetta in late May and early June. All four fall tournaments will be inside the state.
"I'm excited about our schedule," Haack said. "It means so much to our guys to look in the gallery and see someone with a 'G' on their shirt or their cap. This schedule will give our fans several opportunities to come out and see us play."
