Golf to Play Host to Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern Golf will play host to its first tournament of the 2008-09 season next Monday-Tuesday (Oct. 6-7). Thirteen teams will compete in the Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate, held at the Savannah Quarters Country Club.

On Monday the teams will play 36 holes and finish with another 18 on Tuesday morning. Last year the Eagles tied with Winthrop for the team title and won the playoff, shooting an 8-under 856. This year the Intercollegiate will take place at a different course, one that Eagles’ head coach Larry Mays says could have big numbers waiting for the golfers.

“Savannah Quarters is a course where the big number is out there. Water really comes into play on 14 of the 18 holes. You can make double bogeys really quick,” said Mays. “The key is to keep it in the short grass but also know when to take your medicine if you take a bad shot. You can put yourself in position for a birdie, but if you get too aggressive you can easily find yourself in trouble.”

There will be several familiar teams in the field as six of the 11 Southern Conference programs (including Georgia Southern) will compete. Mays thinks this will benefit the team in several aspects.

“This is a good chance for our guys to play against others in the SoCon. We will see most of them now three times this year, and other coaches can stack their players against ours for all-conference voting,” stated Mays. “Other teams in the league said they wanted to see us more so this should be a great opportunity.

“I like playing host to a tournament. It gives us another chance to play close to home and on a course we are familiar with. It’s also easier on our academics where we will get home at dinnertime on Tuesday instead of late at night,” said Mays. “Fans in Savannah can come out and watch, and I hope our fans in Statesboro will make the trip over as well. In college golf there are not a lot of chances to play in front of the home crowd, so I hope we can get a good turnout.”

Mays stated that all nine golfers will have an opportunity to play in the tournament, however, only the top five will officially compete with the team.

“We will play with the same four: Jordan Johnstun (Evans/LaGrange), Drew Lethem (Camdenton, MO/Olathe East), Spencer Fulford (Rocky Mount, N.C./Southwest Edgecomb) and Logan Blondell (Lakeland, FL/Lakeland), then have a qualifier (this week) for the remaining spot. The Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate gives all our players a chance to compete in the same conditions and show what they can do in a tournament setting.”

Johnstun leads the Eagles with a 72.5 stroke average through eight rounds. Fulford (73.13), Blondell (73.17) and Lethem (73.38) are all less than one stroke behind Johnstun for the team lead.

Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate
Savannah Quarters Country Club

Dates: October 6-7

Course Architect: Greg Norman

Yardage: 7016

Par: 72

Rating: 73.7

Slope: 133

Participating Teams:

Georgia Southern (Host), Armstrong State, Davidson, Elon, Francis Marion, Furman, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Old Dominion, Samford, Troy, Winthrop, Western Carolina

Category: Golf

Published on Wednesday, 01 October 2008 00:03