2013 Southeastern Challenge Match

Florida Wins Southeastern Challenge Match
Georgia finished second, one point behind Florida 

 

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EATONTON, Ga. – Florida wins the Southeastern Challenge Match after earning 25 total points over the two-day competition at Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee. Georgia finished second with 24 points and Alabama came in third with 14 points.

During the four-ball matches of round one on Saturday morning, Georgia earned four points. John Hopper of Eatonton and Chris Waters of Atlanta beat Brinson Holder and Hunter Bronson of Alabama, 4 and 3. Reigning Georgia Four-Ball champions, Jack Hall of Sea Island and Danny Nelson of Savannah, defeated Alabama's Stan Sherlin and Bo Farlow, 2 and 1. Doug Hanzel of Savannah, the recent USGA Senior Amateur champion, teamed with Bob Royak of Alpharetta to beat Florida's Jimmy Jones and Gordon Marshall, 2 and 1. Georgia's fourth point of the morning session came from David Noll, Jr., of Dalton and Billy Mitchell of Roswell's victory over Dan Debra and Don Whittemore of Florida, 2 and 1.

Round two featured foursome matches and the Peach State registered 5.5 points from five wins and one split. The wins included Chris Hall of Kennesaw and Jeff Belk of Marietta beating Alabama's Tom Jungkind and Del Wood III, 2 and 1; Hanzel and Royak defeating Joey Holley and Emile Vaughan of Alabama, 4 and 3, and Florida's Doug LaCrosse and Rick Woulfe, 3 and 2; Cameron Hooper of Atlanta and Bobby Brent III of Columbus topping Holder and Bronson, 3 and 2; and Noll and Mitchell beating Sherlin and Farlow of Alabama, 4 and 3. Hall and Nelson finished all square with Alabama's Woodie Eubanks and Torrie Coghlin.

Georgia began day two down two points to Florida. After the completion of Sunday's three-ball matches, the Peach State earned 14.5 points. Hanzel defeated Alabama's Vaughan, 5 and 4, to give Georgia its first point of the day. C. Hall beat Jungkind of Alabama, 5 and 4, LaCrosse of Florida, 3 and 2. Royak earned a point with his win over Alabama's Holley, 2 and 1. Belk earned 1.5 points with a win over Marshall of Florida (3 and 2) and an all square finish with Wood of Alabama. Hopper, playing on his home course at Cuscowilla, earned half a point in his match with Alabama's Coghlin. Brent also contributed half a point from his match with Eubanks of Alabama. Waters posted a 1 up victory over Sherlin of Alabama, as did Mitchell with his 3 and 2 win over Michael Smith of Florida. Nelson beat Holder of Alabama, 4 and 2, and split points with Florida's Don Bell. J. Hall recorded two points for Georgia with wins over Matt Gourgeot of Alabama (5 and 4) and Doug Snoap of Florida (6 and 4). Noll also earned two points with his own wins over Farlow of Alabama (3 and 2) and Whittemore of Florida (5 and 4). The last match of the day saw Cameron Hooper of Atlanta split a point with Alabama's Robson Copenhaver.

With Florida successfully defending its title, the all-time record in the Southeastern Challenge Match now stands at Florida 7, Georgia 6, Alabama 1.

This competition features the top male amateurs from Georgia, Florida and Alabama competing over two days. The first day included two rounds: one round of four-ball match play in the morning and one round of foursomes (two against two, playing alternate shot) in the afternoon. The second day will consist of 12 three-ball matches.

 

Total Points:
Florida – 25
Georgia – 24
Alabama - 14

Day Two Points:
Georgia – 14.5
Florida – 13.5
Alabama - 8

Day One Points:
Florida - 11 1/2
Georgia - 9 1/2
Alabama - 6

 

Team Georgia:

Bobby Brent III, Columbus
Jack Hall, Sea Island
Cameron Hooper, Atlanta
John Hopper, Eatonton
Billy Mitchell, Roswell
Danny Nelson, Savannah
David Noll, Jr., Dalton
Chris Waters, Atlanta
Jeff Belk, Marietta (Senior, 50-55)
Bob Royak, Alpharetta (Senior, 50-55)
Chris Hall, Kennesaw (Senior, 55+)
Doug Hanzel, Savannah (Senior, 55+)