(Photo by John Weast)
Led by tournament medalist Davis Thompson, the No. 7-ranked Georgia men’s golf team won the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate on Tuesday for its first victory of the season.
On Squire Creek Country Club’s par-72, 7,070-yard layout, the Bulldogs fired a final-round 6-under 282 for a total of 17-under 847. Georgia came in six shots ahead of Texas State and 11 clear of host Louisiana Tech.
“I could not be prouder of the guys,” said Georgia coach Chris Haack, who notched the 64th tournament title of his career. “We played solid, steady golf all week and reached our goal of winning the tournament. This is a feeling that never gets old, and I’m glad our players get to experience it together. We’re also so happy for Davis. He has been playing really well, so it was good to see him make it to the winner’s circle.”
Thompson, a junior, claimed medalist honors for the second time in his career. He also took the top spot at the NCAA Athens Regional last May. On Tuesday, Thompson posted six birdies and wound up at 4-under 68. That gave him a tournament total of 7-under 209, two clear of Ilari Saulo of Middle Tennessee State, Mac Murphy of Louisiana Tech, and Brent Hamm of Troy.
“I was hitting it good all week,” Thompson said. “It was just a matter of time until I got some putts to drop. I played the par fives well all week (9-under), and I think that really helped me. It just feels nice for the team to win and gain some confidence going into the rest of the fall.”
Sophomore Trent Phillips followed Thompson with a 2-under 70 on Tuesday. Senior Spencer Ralston added a 1-under 71, and senior Calum Masters and freshman Connor Creasy signed for 1-over 73s.
Phillips landed in fifth individually at 4-under 212. Creasy, who was making his collegiate debut, came in 11th at 2-under 214. Ralston claimed 15th at even-par 216. Masters was 30th at 4-over 220.
Competing as an individual, sophomore Will Kahlstorf fired a 3-over 75 on Tuesday to finish 43rd at 7-over 223.
The Bulldogs will return to action Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in the Nike Invitational in Oregon.