The addition of a Symetra Tour event may be a signal that the LPGA is close to returning to Atlanta.
The Symetra Tour, a developmental circuit similar to the PGA Tour’s Web.com Tour, will hold an event later this spring at Atlanta National Golf Club in Roswell. The Gosling’s Dark ‘n Stormy Classic will be a 54-hole event on May 19-21. A field of 144 players will pursue a purse of $100,000, with first place paying $15,000.
Among the players who got their start on the Symetra Tour are Inbee Park and Lorena Ochoa, who both went on to be ranked No. 1 in the world. There are currently five Georgians competing on the circuit.
The Atlanta area has hosted an LPGA Legends event the last three years, but hasn’t been the site of an LPGA event since 2006. The last Symetra Tour event in Georgia was the 2012 Vidalia Championship.
Browne to return to Sugarloaf?: Olin Browne has been battling through some back issues this spring, but he plans to return and defend his title at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic next month at TPC Sugarloaf.
“It’s a silly nick of an injury,” Browne said. “It’s starting to feel good and I’m about to kick it in gear and work on my putting and chipping.”
Browne has played only twice this season. He tied for 11th at the season opener in Hawaii and tied for 30th at the Allianz Championship in Boca Raton, Fla., where he suffered his injury during the last round.
But a paucity of events in the early portion of the Champions Tour schedule means Browne has missed only two tournaments.
“I’ve always been very vocal about the way our schedule is set up early in the year, but this year it has worked to my advantage,” he said.
Browne was planning to compete at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic the first week in April and be ready for Sugarloaf on April 15-17.
The Mitsubishi Classic just missed getting John Daly in the field. His 50th birthday is April 28 and he will make his senior debut at the Insperity Invitational.
McCoy wows at Innisbrook: University of Georgia senior Lee McCoy made the most of his sponsor's exemption at the Valspar Championship. He played the final round with Jordan Spieth, shot 66 and finished fourth.
Then McCoy jumped in his car to drive back to Athens in time to join his team for the Southern Intercollegiate at Athens Country Club. McCoy shot 3-under 141 and tied for seventh, four shots behind teammate and medalist Greyson Sigg, and helped the Bulldogs win their second straight tournament.
“Being in contention with the No. 1 player in the world was something that never crossed my mind,” McCoy said. “It’s really incredible to see a guy in his position have so much class. At the end of the day, I’m still just a little college scrub just playing out here with these guys, trying to fit in. But he had nothing but great things to say and treated me like I belonged out here and it was pretty cool.”
Etc.: Oglethorpe moved up to No. 2 in the NCAA Division III rankings, with Berry College at No. 5 and LaGrange No. 16. Georgia Southwestern (No. 13) and West Georgia (No. 15) are ranked in NCAA Division II. … Georgia freshman Bailey Tardy was recognized with a resolution by the Georgia House of Representatives for making the Curtis Cup team.
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