Henley, Bulldogs top SEC field

Following a day full of victories, Georgia head men’s golf coach Chris Haack had something simple to say.

“This is one of the most special teams we’ve had.”

Haack issued that statement Sunday after the Bulldogs won the SEC championship in St. Simons, with Macon’s Russell Henley claiming medalist honors.

“This is a feeling that never gets old,” said Haack, clutching the SEC trophy. “This team has had its struggles this year, but they have grown up and they have grown together. I could not be prouder of this group. No matter what happens the rest of the way, this team will always have a special place in my heart.”

Playing on Sea Island’s Seaside Course, the Bulldogs finished at 4-over-par 844 for a five-shot victory over Florida and Mississippi. The SEC title was the 28th in program history and the seventh in Haack’s 14-year tenure. Georgia has dominated the decade, claiming six titles.

Henley, a junior, became the 15th SEC medalist in school history, but he had to work overtime to do it. Henley and South Carolina’s George Bryan IV finished 72 holes tied at 6-under 204. To break the tie, Henley and Bryan returned to No. 18. After each made par, they played No. 18 again. This time, Henley sunk a 10-foot birdie putt to clinch the victory.

“I told him going out there the second time, ‘I’ve walked 20 holes with you (Sunday), so you better end it here because I’m not sure I can keep going,’” Haack said with a laugh. “Russell played so well (Sunday). He kept us in it the whole time. Being out there with him today was so much fun.”

Henley, who won with former SEC champs and ex-Bulldogs David Boyd (1962) and Bryant Odom (2001) looking on, said having the pressure of the team competition off his back helped him when he played the extra two holes.

“The main thing was I wanted our team to win, and we’d already done that,” Henley said. “So, after that, I was pretty relaxed. I was already so happy about the team, so being the medalist was just icing on the cake.”

Henley shot his second straight 3-under 67 on Sunday to lead the Bulldogs to a final round 4-over 284. Junior Harris English added a 1-under 69, followed by freshman Bryden Macpherson at 1-over 71, redshirt freshman T.J. Mitchell at 7-over 77 and junior Rob Bennett at 9-over 79.

Macpherson finished eighth at 1-under 209, and English was 10th at even-par 210. Mitchell wound up at 12-over 222, and Bennett finished at 17-over 227.

Afterward, the Bulldogs to a man were talking about how happy they were to win the conference title considering they had been 10th and 12th in events earlier this season.

“I think we’ve all come together right now,” English said. “We always felt like we could play with the best teams in the country, and now we’re finally doing it. We’re all on the same page. There’s not one person who puts himself above the team. We’re all doing this for Georgia.”