VALDOSTA —
VALDOSTA — The field is set, and this morning, the sixth annual South Georgia Classic officially tees off at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club.
Tournament play begins at 7:15 a.m. this morning, with players teeing off from hole Nos. 1 and 10. The morning wave of tee times ends at 9:15, with the afternoon wave of tee times ranging from 12:25 p.m. until 2:25 p.m.
The 156 players in this year’s field will play for a purse of $625,000, with the winner receiving a check for $112,500, following Sunday’s final round.
Fourteen participants for this year’s Classic qualified through events that were played Monday in Thomasville and Albany. Last year’s winner, Ted Potter Jr., qualified for the South Georgia Classic after playing in the event at Thomasville’s Glen Arven Golf Club.
Three previous Classic winners are in this year’s field. The inaugural Classic winner John Kimbell tees off at 1:35 p.m. today, 2010 winner Ewan Porter plays at 2:05 p.m., while 2008 winner Bryan DeCorso tees off at 9:05 a.m.
Some of the top players on the Nationwide Tour can be seen with various tee times for today and Friday. Andres Gonzales, who sits atop the Tour’s money list, tees off at 12:35 p.m. today from the first tee, while Alex Aragon, who won the TPC Stonebrae two weeks ago in Hayward, Calif., tees off at 1:25 p.m. from the first tee.
Valdosta State alumnus Brent Witcher tees off at 2:05 p.m. today and 8:55 a.m. Friday; he will tee off from hole No. 1 today and No. 10 Friday.
Phillip Pettitt Jr., who won Monday’s pro-am, will tee off from the No. 10 tee today at 12:45 p.m., while Paul Haley II, who is currently second on the Tour in money earned this year, begins the afternoon tee times from the No. 10 tee with a 12:25 start time.
After strong wind gusts on Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday provided a relief for the players as conditions improved. Conditions will be favorable through the weekend. Today and Friday’s high will be 89 degrees, while Saturday and Sunday will feature temperatures in the low 90’s. Saturday provides the greatest chance of rain, although it is just a 20 percent chance.
Wednesday concluded the final day of practice for the players, and many participated in the final pro-am of the week. Valdosta State head men’s basketball coach Mike Helfer, head women’s volleyball coach Sia Poyer, band director Eric Bradshaw and former VSU golf coach Miles Hannon won the pro-am with a score of 49. Their pro was Monday's champion, Phillip Pettitt Jr.
Fans attending this weekend’s action are asked to park along Highway 84 and take the shuttle into the course. Fans are also asked to abide by the proper golf etiquette and to not ask for autographs during a players’ round.
For up-to-date scoring during all four rounds, follow the Times sports department on Twitter at @vdtsports and @ed_hooper.
Local News
South Ga. Classic begins today
VSU members win Wednesday pro-am
- Local News
-
-
Lowndes County facing budget woes
In a brief meeting Tuesday evening, Lowndes County Commissioners and a small audience reviewed a power point presentation compiled by Finance director Stephanie Black, which shows a rather bleak picture for this fiscal year.
-
Celebrating Juneteenth
Some find it hard to look US slavery in its eyes when glancing back on history, but the Juneteeth committee reminded Valdostans how a people persevered through the barbaric institution as they held the city's 21st annual Juneteenth celebration at Mathis City Auditorium on Tuesday evening.
-
Child drowns in family pool
Emergency workers raced a two-year-old child to South Georgia Medical Center from a Pearl Davis Road residence Monday evening in response to a reported drowning, but the toddler did not respond to resuscitation efforts, according to reports from the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office.
-
Easter Seals benefit Thursday
Easter Seals Southern Georgia will be hosting “Sweet Charity: Desserts for a Cause” Thursday at Mathis Auditorium. The event will be from 7 to 9 p.m. and will include several local restaurants serving dessert as well as a silent auction.
-
Dollar General robbed at gunpoint
A customer and two employees were unharmed during a Sunday evening robbery as two masked men demanded cash from registers and the business’ safe as the Dollar General on Bemiss Road prepared to close at around 11:30 p.m., according to reports from the Valdosta Police Department.
-
Overpass work causes detours
All vehicles which are not making a delivery in the immediate vicinity of the new overpass will have to find alternate routes immediately.
-
Crossing guard keeping kids safe
Meet Merita Williams, crossing guard.
-
Juneteenth’s coming
Held in just as high a regard as the celebration of our country’s independence to many, the county’s annual Juneteenth dinner returns this Tuesday at 7 p.m. for its 21st year and will offer citizens of all races with a central point to celebrate human rights.
-
A soldier called preacher
In Vietnam, Wesley Harrell spread the Lord’s word among his fellow soldiers. He spoke of God often though few seemed to listen until they encountered war’s sudden death.
-
History on the move
In the right hands, a divided house can again mount a sound foundation and settle into a new era, as proved on Saturday when the 100 Black Men of Valdosta unveiled a transplanted house that’ll likely serve as their headquarters at its Martin Luther King Jr. Drive location.
- More Local News Headlines
-



