2002 Team Championship

Lanier Golf Club Wins Third-Straight Georgia Team Championship

CLARKESVILLE, Ga. - Two-time defending champion Lanier Golf Club in Cumming finished with a nine-under 351 to score a two-stroke victory at the Georgia Team Championship, which was played at The Orchard Golf and Country Club, October 26-27. Finishing second was Macon's Idle Hour Club, with first-round leader Ansley Golf Club's Settindown Creek in Roswell dropping back to third at 355.

The Lanier team started two back of the lead after the opening four-ball round but broke away from their challengers with an even-par performance in the best three of four individual stroke play format. Sealing the win for Lanier were three-time returning team members Jay Childs of Kennesaw and Jeff Belk of Marietta, who had the only sub-70 rounds of the day, shooting 68 and 69 respectively. Roberto Castro of Alpharetta turned in a seven-over 79, while 2001 team member Spencer Sappington of Alpharetta carded an 80.

Idle Hour Club turned in three solid rounds to move up to second from a four-way tie for third. Steve Welsh (71), Allen Peake (72) and Coleman Tidwell (74) combined for a one-over 217. Ansley-Settindown dropped back with a final-round, six-over par 222. Past Atlanta Amateur Champions Rocky Costa and Robbie Dew shot 71 and 77 respectively, with Dan Barkley turning in a 74.

Finishing tied for fourth at 356 were Stonebridge Golf Club in Rome and Cartersville Country Club. Stonebridge was led by recent Georgia Public Links runner-up Brent Sizemore of Calhoun, who contributed a two-under 70. Former Augusta State golfer Jayce Stepp, who finished tied for third at the Georgia Amateur, gave Cartersville an edge with a 70, as well. Sixth place went to St. Ives Country Club in Duluth at 357, with Marietta Country Club finishing tied for seventh after moving up with a final-round, one-under 215 for a two-day total of 358. Also at 358 were Crooked Creek Golf Club in Alpharetta and Healy Point Country Club in Macon.

The Georgia Team Championship began in 1927 as an award presented to the GSGA member club with the two members with the lowest 36-hole scores in the Georgia Amateur Championship. In the mid 1980s, a separate competition began with clubs playing one another in matches at an agreed upon site. Since 1993, the championship has been played in its current format and at a time and place determined by the GSGA. Lanier has won the event five of the last six times it was played.

Entries were open to male amateur golfers who are Georgia residents and members of a GSGA Member Club. A Club official had to recognize the team, and entries were accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Final Results

1 Lanier GC 135 216 351
Jeff Belk 69
Spencer Sappington 80
Roberto Castro 79
Jay Childs 68

 

2 Idle Hour Club 136 217 353
Steve Welsh 71
Keith Holmes 77
Allen Peake 72
Coleman Tidwell 74

 

3 Ansley/Settindown 133 222 355
Dan Barkley 74
Brandon Farley 78
Robbie Dew 77
Rocky Costa 71

 

4 Stonebridge GC 137 219 356
Ronnie Cargle 85
Brent Sizemore 70
Martin Ball 77
Ladell Norton 72

 

4 Cartersville CC 138 218 356
Scott Davenport 77
Chad Branton 73
Jayce Stepp 70
Ricky Wilson 75

 

6 St. Ives CC 136 221 357
Jay Pyne 77
Cort Martin 73
Scott Cunningham 75
Rod Reed 73

 

7 Marietta CC 143 215 358
Randy Donahoo 71
Alex Mackey 73
Larry Clark 73
Hicks Malonson 71

 

7 Crooked Creek GC 142 216 358
Erik Martin 75
Michael Riley 70
Drew Sylvester 86
Michael Chambers 71

 

7 Healy Point CC 136 222 358
Gay McMichael 78
Lee Gerdes 74
Jim Stuart 74
Phil Hardin 74

 

10 Pinetree CC 136 227 363
Scott Madley 81
Rob Nichols 80
John Guzman 74
Mark Strickland 73

 

10 CC of Columbus 138 225 363
Mat Mize 75
Trip Reynolds 75
Neill Hatcher 76
Bart Middlebrooks 75

 

12 East Lake GC 141 223 364
Bill Blalock 76
Don Russell 75
Mike O'Donnell 72
Mark Baxter 82

 

13 Berkeley Hills CC 140 228 368
Jorge Cora NC
Hector Cora 75
Matt Burnt 75
Paul Sorel 78

 

13 Reynolds Plantation 140 228 368
Phil Herring 76
Mark Blanton 77
Ron Waeghe 79
Mike Sprouts 75

 

15 Atlanta CC 140 229 369
Mike Brown 80
Craig Inman 78
Joe Shirley 77
Ken Shelton 74

 

16 Athens CC 143 228 371
Brooks Woodruff 79
Doug Stiles 72
Joe Peters 77
Doug Henson 79

 

17 Horseshoe Bend CC 148 224 372
Jack Dalrymple 76
Jay Sanders 78
Mitch Whitley 71
Don Heilman 77

 

18 Canterbury GC 142 231 373
Bob Finkey 78
Mark Fitch 77
Hershel Lanier 81
Chris Hall 76

 

18 Cherokee T & CC 142 231 373
Bob Young 75
David Nix 78
Dick Van Leuvan 78
Bill Ghiridini 78

 

18 Eagle's Landing CC 149 224 373
Jim Fisher 75
Gary Nickles 76
T.J. Washburn 73
Tom Ellis 79

 

21 Orchard G & CC 144 236 380
Steve Gimbert 84
Michael Gordy 74
Stan Whaittington 83
Scott Pitts 79

 

22 Rivermont G & CC 148 233 381
John Martina 83
Don Marsh 70
Bob Graham 80
Doug Busz 84

 

23 Sunset Hills CC 140 242 382
Paul Simpson 76
Tim Oliver 80
Trace Thompson 91
Thomas Thompson 86

 

24 Doublegate CC 154 237 391
Spencer Davis NC
Mike Cooper 74
Bubba Burt 84
Ed Hudson 79

 

24 Barrington Hall GC 151 240 391
Chris Crusey NC
Wade Turner 79
Keith Harper 77
Doug Wilson 84

 

26 CC of Roswell 150 244 394
Bob Bertran 81
Kevin Dorman 82
Billy Hatton 86
Scott Northey 81

 

27 Olde Atlanta Club 149 246 395
Kyle Griner 81
Dick Martin 85
Brandt Ruckert 83
Terrell Courie 82

 

28 Milledgeville CC 150 246 396
Randy Beasley 82
Jim Baker 81
Frank Peirman 87
Ron Hobbs 83

 

29 Forsyth CC 152 249 401
Rick Schulz 89
Kurt Ham 94
Lee Smith 87
Chuck Dorsett 73

 

30 North Fulton GC DQ 
Dorsey Gray
Brendan Hayes
George Sigeti
Mike Keaveny