GGGA alumnus and Georgia freshman Nicholas Reach just narrowly missed out on claiming his first collegiate title Sunday in a truly exciting and dramatic four-hole playoff at the Linger Longer Invitational.
Reach, who was a student in the Full-Time Junior Program at GGGA and graduated last spring, birdied the final two holes of regulation to force a playoff with Alabama’s Cory Whitsett.
Both golfers then birdied No. 18 on the first three holes of the playoff to force a fourth time through No. 18. Reach then birdied No. 18 again, but an eagle by Whitsett gave Whitsett the individual title.
Reach took second individually at 8-under 208 with rounds of 71-69-68 for his third straight top 10 finish in March. He finished seventh last week at the Furman Intercollegiate and tied for seventh at the USF Invitational at the beginning of the month.
The Bulldogs, ranked No. 26 by Golfweek, finished second as a team as they finished the 54-hole event at 12-under 852.
Reach had a huge summer entering his freshman campaign and was likewise named to Golfweek’s Top 10 freshman for 2011 list.
Before entering Georgia, Reach had a runner-up finish at the Palmetto Amateur and put on a dazzling performance at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley where he won by eight shots as he finished the event at 20-under-par (62-66-68).
