Georgia golf always seems to play better when they’re on St. Simons Island, and after Day 1 of the 2022 Men’s SEC Championship — the success continues. With 29 conference titles, including head coach Chris Haack‘s eight — the Dawgs are SEC kings.
The Dawgs sit in second place with a 4-under 276. Vanderbilt paced the league as the Commodores shot a 7-under 273.
While the Dawgs are three shots off the lead, shooting a 276 on the Sea Island Golf Club par-70 Seaside Course, it’s a win. Seaside is the toughest course as it and the Plantation Course host the RSM Classic every November.
It’s a perfect challenge for these college golfers because it’s a championship-level track and gives the best professional golfers problems. This conference championship isn’t a joke, and the track they play it on is top-notch.
Georgia golf sits in a great spot after Day 1 of the Men’s SEC Championship.
The SEC will be in St. Simons for the rest of the week as the event is in stroke play followed by match play on the weekend. After three rounds, the individual winner will get crowned, and the top eight teams advance.
Rounding out the top five after Day 1 is LSU in third with a 3-under 277, Texas A&M in fourth with a 1-under 279 and Florida in fifth with a +2 282. Georgia is just one of four teams in red numbers and holds a 10-shot lead over the eighth-place teams.
A lot could happen in the next two days, but if the Dawgs continue to put the gas pedal down, it’ll likely be the Dawgs and Dores fighting for the crown.
Senior Trent Phillips is still on a hot streak as he paced the Dawgs with a 3-under 67. He is one shot off the lead that Gamecock golfer Ryan Hall holds.
Phillips made five birdies on the round with three in the final back nine holes. That set of nine holes is one of the toughest tests as the wind off the sea can be detrimental for golfers. He handled it like a pro and showed off his experience.
Ben van Wyk and Maxwell Ford recorded a 2-under 68, which puts them tied eighth in the individual race. Nicolas Cassidy shot a 3-over 73, which counts as Georgia’s four scores for the overall team score.
And we're off! #GoDawgs
— Georgia Golf (@UGAGolf) April 20, 2022
📸 Leslie White pic.twitter.com/AsDcuyrCDT
Today, the Dawgs needed a strong round out of Phillips because he is the only player with SEC experience. He delivered and needs to take advantage of an intense round moving forward. Phillips could mess up and win this thing as hot as he has been on the golf course.
Day 2 will be a big moment for him, but it could be a good week for him if Phillips can play off the momentum from the first round. Georgia has a solid chance to win another SEC Championship because this golf squad has extremely good chemistry.
That chemistry is key during this week because they have to stay within themselves and build off each other. Georgia is talented and can make it happen, but tomorrow will be the biggest test.
The Dawgs go off in the final wave on Thursday morning, with tee times ranging from 9:40-10:20 a.m. Georgia will play with LSU and Vanderbilt, so the top three will battle it out to see who holds the lead heading into the final round of stroke play.