The Georgia Bulldogs won their first SEC Championship since 2010, taking the 2016 title at Sea Island Golf Club. Lee McCoy, a senior from Clarkesville, captured the individual title, also the first for the Bulldogs since 2010.
The Bulldogs finished the tournament with a 13-over 853 total, three shots ahead of runner-up Texas A&M. Florida and Arkansas tied for third at 861.
Georgia and Kentucky battled for the lead over the first two rounds, with the teams tied after 18 holes and Kentucky two ahead going to the final day. But the Bulldogs closed with a 5-over 285, the second lowest team score of the final round, while Kentucky shot 302 and fell to seventh place.
Both Georgia and Kentucky shot 3-under 277 in the first round, the only under par team scores for the tournament. McCoy and Peachtree Corners sophomore Zach Healy opened with scores of 68 and junior Greyson Sigg of Augusta added a 69. Valdosta senior Sepp Straka contributed a 72.
The Bulldogs fell two shots behind Kentucky after 36 holes, shooting 11-over 291 in the second round. McCoy matched par at 70 to take the individual lead, while freshman Tye Waller had the second low team score at 72. Also counting was a 75 by Sigg and a 76 by Healy.
McCoy claimed the individual title with a final round 69, giving him a 3-under 207 total, two strokes ahead of the runner-up. Straka recovered from a poor second round to shoot 71, with Sigg matching that score. Waller chipped in with a 74, with Healy’s 76 not counting.
Sigg finished tied for 10th at 215 with Healy T18 at 218. Waller, who shot 221, and Straka both had two of their three rounds count.
The victory was the seventh career title for McCoy, who closed out his victory by holing a 25-footer for birdie on the 54th hole. It was Georgia’s 29th SEC Championship title, six of which have come at sea Island Golf Club. Eight of Georgia’s titles have come under head coach Chris Haack.
Georgia will play in one of six NCAA Regionals May 16-18, with the NCAA Championship set for May 27-June 1 in Eugene, Ore.