HUTCHINSON, Kansas – In its third round, Georgia played more to its capacity at the NCAA golf championships, but it appeared that it wouldn't be enough.
The sixth-seeded Bulldogs shot a 3-under 277 at Prairie Dunes Country Club in a round begun Sunday and completed Monday morning. Georgia had played its first two rounds to a combined 13 over. Lee McCoy (3-under 67) and Keith Mitchell (2-under 68) led Georgia in the final round.
“We knew we had to go low today, so I just tried to do everything I could to make as many birdies as I could and try to help them out,” Mitchell said.
“At least we came out and played better today, so at least that leaves us a little bit better taste in your mouth, but at the same time, you come out here to win,” coach Chris Haack said. “You don’t come out here to get moral victories. We’ve just got to get better.”
The Bulldogs were in a tie for 17th at 10 over as the top half of the field began their third rounds Monday afternoon. They would need nine of the 15 teams to fall below them to be one of the eight teams to have a chance to advance to match play.
“Now, we’re having to depend on weather,” Haack said. “Hopefully the wind blows like crazy.”
The Bulldogs rued their 36 holes Saturday, necessitated by the rain delays on the tournament’s opening day Friday. Georgia played the first round in 6 over and couldn’t recover.
The day “felt like one round and it really was two, so we didn’t play great the first round and it just kind of carried over to the second round.”
Joey Garber was Georgia’s top finisher, tied for 61st at 3 over as the top 15 teams began play Monday afternoon.
