The 2018-19 season came to an end on Sunday for the No. 14-ranked Georgia men’s golf team with a 24th-place finish in the NCAA Championships at Blessings Golf Club.
On the par-72, 7,550-yard layout on Sunday, the Bulldogs posted a 23-over 311 for a 54-hole total of 47-over 911. Oklahoma State set the team standard at 12-under 852, followed by Texas and Stanford both at 13-over 877. To qualify for the final round of stroke play, Georgia needed to finish in the top 15. Following Monday’s stroke play loop, the low eight schools will advance to match play.
“We tried to preach to them all week that every shot is precious and getting to the next cut and to match play comes down to a handful shots by each player each day,” Georgia head coach Chris Haack said. “Hopefully the lesson got across on how valuable every shot is. Hopefully next year they’ll remember this and grind even harder. … We’re all hurting a little right now, but once that goes away, we’ll all look back on this season with fond memories. We won three tournaments, we had two medalists, and we challenged for even more titles. This is a special group, and they should be proud of all they accomplished.”
Sophomore Davis Thompson led the Bulldogs on Sunday as he carded a 3-over 75. Freshman Trent Phillips added a 5-over 77, followed by junior Spencer Ralston at 7-over 79, and junior Trevor Phillips at 8-over 80. Freshman Will Kahlstorf had the Bulldogs’ non-counting score of 9-over 81.
Trent Phillips ended the day 29th at 5-over 221 and is tied with South Carolina’s Will Miles and UNLV’s Justin Kim for the ninth and final spot for individuals not on advancing teams. Phillips, Miles, and Kim will have a sudden-death playoff for the chance to play another 18 holes starting at 10:15 a.m. EDT Monday.
Thompson landed in 53rd at 8-over 224, followed by Ralston in 83rd at 12-over 228, Trevor Phillips in 143rd at 24-over 240, and Kahlstorf in 146th at 26-over 242. Oklahoma State teammates Matthew Wolff and Austin Eckroat are 1-2 in the individual standings at 7-under 209 and 5-under 211, respectively.
“We played a golf course that demands a lot,” Ralston said. “We knew we had to go out there and fight for every shot. No one played their best today; we all kind of struggled. This was the first time any of us have made it to the national championship, so it was a learning experience for us.”