KAWAGOE, Japan — Former Georgia golfer Sepp Straka finished tied for 10th in the Olympics on Sunday at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
Representing Austria and with twin brother and fellow Bulldog Sam on the bag, Straka carded rounds of 63-71-68-68 for a total of 14-under 270 — four shots out of first, three in back of second, and just one shy of the seven-player playoff to determine third.
The medals went to Xander Schauffele of the United States, Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia, and C.T. Pan of Chinese Taipei.
Straka’s first-round 8-under 63 matched the Olympics record shot by Marcus Fraser of Australia at the 2016 Games. The mark was eclipsed by Sabbatini as he posted a final-round 61.
Straka was the second Bulldog to qualify for the Olympics. Bubba Watson played for the United States in the Rio Games in 2016.
The Strakas were born in Vienna and played for the Austrian National Team, including a second-place squad finish in the 2011 European Boys Team Championship in the Czech Republic. After the family relocated to Valdosta, Ga., the Strakas competed for the Bulldogs between 2012 and 2016.
Sepp Straka claimed the 2018 Web.com Tour’s KC Golf Classic and became the first Austrian-born player to earn a PGA Tour card by finishing third on the money list. Straka has seven top-10 and 16 top-25 efforts in his PGA Tour career. He came in fifth in the Vivint Houston Open, ninth in the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, and 10th in the Travelers Championship earlier this season.