EATONTON, Ga. — The No. 10-ranked Georgia men’s golf team won the Linger Longer Invitational on Tuesday by four shots over Vanderbilt.
Playing Great Waters Golf Course’s par-72, 7,436-yard layout, the Bulldogs fired a final-round 8-under 280 to wind up at 28-under 836 for the tournament. The Commodores finished at 24-under 840, followed by Florida at 14-under 850.
Senior Trent Phillips paced the Bulldogs in the third round as he posted a 6-under 66. Phillips placed seven birdies on his card and punctuated the round with a 25-foot eagle putt and an animated fist pump on the par-5, 543-yard 18th.
“Things were tight with Vanderbilt, and I knew that putt could be big for our team,” Phillips said. “That’s why the emotion came out of me. I love being a part of this program so much, and I want to do whatever I can to help us win. This is great momentum for us heading down the stretch.”
Freshmen Buck Brumlow and Maxwell Ford each recorded 1-under 71s, while juniors Nicolas Cassidy and Ben van Wyk both posted even-par 72s.
Phillips came in second at 10-under 206 as medalist honors went to Clemson’s Jacob Bridgeman at 16-under 200. Van Wyk had a third-place showing at 8-under 208, followed by Ford in fourth at 7-under 209, Cassidy in 19th at 2-under 214, and Brumlow at 9-over 225.
“I could not be happier for these guys,” said Coach Chris Haack, who picked up his 67th career victory on Tuesday. “They all put in the work, and they have great vision for where they want to go collectively and individually. To get a hard-fought win like this is a shot in the arm for these players. It will give us even more confidence as we work toward the postseason.”
Playing as individuals, senior Eli Scott and junior Connor Creasy each signed for 1-under 71s, while senior Will Kahlstorf had a 5-over 77 and redshirt freshman JT Herman had a 6-over 78. Scott ended the tournament at even-par 216, followed by Creasy at 6-over 222, Kahlstorf at 10-over 226, and Herman at 22-over 238.
The Bulldogs will wrap up the regular season April 3-5 in the Calusa Cup in Naples, Fla.