Tide golfers to defend title at The Farm
By Christopher McKay, The Crimson White
(CSTV U-WIRE) TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The No. 2-ranked Alabama men's golf team travels to Dalton, Ga., this weekend to defend its title at the 19th Annual Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic.
Last year the Tide shredded the 18- and 54-hole course records at The Farm en route to its first victory of the 2006 season. Alabama head coach Jay Seawell returns to the 18-team tournament with four of the five golfers from last season's winning squad.
PING All-American Michael Thompson headlines a veteran group of Crimson Tide golfers intent on improving upon last year's fourth place finish in the NCAA championship. Thompson, a senior from Tucson, Ariz., led Alabama last season with a 71.89 stroke average in 12 tournaments.
In late August, Thompson finished second in the 2007 U.S. Amateur. Thompson finished tied for sixth at last year's Carpet Capital and in a tie for third last week's TOPY Cup in Japan.
"If we are going to be successful [Michael Thompson] needs to play well," Seawell said.
Georgia native Mark Harrell is entering the 40th tournament of his career for the Tide. The 6-foot senior tamed a treacherous Oakmont course at the 2007 U.S. Open Championship and recorded the lowest score of any amateur in the field. Later in the summer, he finished first in the stroke play at the U.S. Amateur Public Links.
Gator Todd finished 9th last year at the Carpet Capital. The son of former Tide quarterback Richard Todd returns for his senior season with high expectations.
"In my mind we are the best team in the country," Todd said. "We've got a really good team this year, and I think we can do some really good things if we stay patient and take it one step at a time."
Todd's 64 in last year's first round of the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate was the second lowest round in school history.
Junior Matthew Swan will make his first tournament appearance of the season. The Montgomery native and three-time junior state champion boasts a career stroke average of 73, second on the team to Thompson. At last year's Carpet Capital, Swan's double eagle on the par 5, 12th hole helped deliver the championship for the Tide.
Rounding out the Tide's five man team is senior Matt Hughes. A native of Dalton, Hughes' experience on The Farm course gives him what Seawell said he believes is a considerable advantage.
"The Farm is a very local knowledge golf course," Seawell said. "First time players really struggle there so I do believe [experience] is a huge asset for us this week."
The par 72, 7,012-yard course is nestled along a ridge in the Appalachian Mountains 95 miles north of Atlanta. The Farm is draped with thick deep green bentgrass which players say allows for a "true roll" on the putting greens. Properly navigating the greens will be a priority for the Tide this week.
