Former, current and even incoming freshmen members of the Alabama men’s golf team have been enjoying broad success this summer in tournaments far and wide.
Former Alabama great Bud Cauley, who decided to forego his senior year to play at the professional level, has steadily improved in each of his showings in his short professional career. Teeing it up at the U.S. Open for his first tournament as a professional, Cauley kept his nerves at bay and managed his way to a tie for 63rd place. He had a dramatic rise up the leaderboard the week following the U.S. Open when he garnered a tie for 24th place in the Travelers Championship.
On top of making all the cuts, Cauley posted the best finish of his short professional career this past weekend in the Viking Classic. After shooting in the 60s all four days and finishing at 20-under-par, only two shots back from the winner, Cauley vaulted his way near the top of the leaderboard to finish tied for fourth place, winning $149,000.
Rising sophomore Bobby Wyatt finished in second place in the 2011 Dogwood Invitational earlier this month. He shot all four rounds in the 60s, including his low score of 65 in the final round, and finished only two strokes behind the winner.
Talented incoming freshmen Justin Thomas and Tom Lovelady added to Alabama’s impressive showing by finishing in 10th and tied for 17th, respectively. Cory Whitsett and Lee Knox ended the final round tied for 20th and tied for 25th, giving Alabama five golfers who finished inside the top 25 for the tournament.
Bobby Wyatt followed his strong showing in the Dogwood Invitational very well when he finished in second place in the Southern Amateur Championship this month. Once again, he shot his best round of the tournament on the last day, shooting a final round 66.
Rising senior and team leader Hunter Hamrick finished in solid form, notching an 8th place finish in the Southern Amateur, and incoming freshman Justin Thomas landed a 22nd place finish, giving the Crimson Tide four golfers who finished inside the top 25 for the tournament.
