South Georgia Classic on the Nationwide Tour culminates on a surprise note – Golf news
Last week’s South Georgia Classic at the Nationwide Tour culminated with Monday’s qualifier, Ted Potter Jr., sneaking past the tour’s top money leader, Mathew Goggin, to record his first win on the tour. Potter has qualified to play on the tour with his
stunning 66 at the Monday qualifier at Glen Arven Country Club in Thomasville, Ga. and continued with his rampage in the $625,000 event with an amazing 16-under, 272, setting a new tournament record. The 27-year-old American finished three strokes ahead of
Goggin.
"I was more nervous after I finished the round," said Potter, the fifth left-handed golfer to win on Tour. “I was fine most of the day. I was just trying to draw back on my past experiences and focus on every shot. I don't know how to describe it. I was
nervous and happy."
Potter has participated on the tour in 2004, 2007 and 2010 and his best result on the tour came in Chattanooga Classic in 2010 where he finished tied for 11th. In his 55 appearances in the tour sanctioned events, he missed the cut at all the 24
tournaments he played in 2004. In 2007 and 2010 he made only six cuts among his 31 appearances. Potter recorded a stretch of 35 holes without a bogey and carded five birdies in his final round. The young golfer now has the official tour card to participate
in the upcoming events.
Celebrated hall of famer and former Baseball pitcher, John Smoltz, witnessed the worst times of his golfing career in the South Georgia Classic. Participating on sponsor’s exemption, Smoltz had charted out ambitious plans for his bid for the title but his
hopes and dreams fizzled out with embarrassing opening rounds of 84 and 87 and missed the cut with a mammoth 27 strokes. The 43-year-old celebrated pitcher, although dejected, vowed to stage a comeback in the future events as his desire for the sport is still
burning.
“Never in a million years did I think I could shoot two rounds like that, but it happened. Everyone has their opinions, but I think for me this is going to be an incredible learning experience of what not to do and how to do a little bit more with my golf
game. I've got a lot of work to do, but it was an opportunity and I don't regret it at all.”
Smoltz was not the only player on the tour who did not make the cut. Some of the celebrated golfers on the tour including Brendan Pappas, number two on the money list and Bubba Dickerson, number five on the money list also failed to make the cut.
Kinderlou Golf and Country Club continued to provide an excellent venue for the event which has been held in continuation since 2007. The tournament is presented by First State Bank and Trust Co. and the event also donates major chunks of its earnings to
charities including the South Georgia Medical Centre and The Hospital Authorities of Valdosta and Lowndes County.
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