Georgia Golfer Russell Henley Becomes Second Amateur to Win Nationwide Tour Event

Former Georgia golfer Bubba Watson gets his fair share of credit around here---maybe more than his fair share, in fact---but, as NCT noted, another Bulldog linkster deserves some recognition, as well.

Georgia senior Russell Henley won the Stadion Classic on his home course in Athens, carding a 12-under-par 272 to finish two strokes in front of runner-up Troy Kelly. The victory makes Henley just the second amateur ever to win a tournament on the Nationwide Tour since its inception in 1990. Although Henley will receive his University of Georgia degree in housing and consumer economics on Friday, his amateur status at the time of the competition rendered him ineligible to claim the prize money for finishing first. The winner’s share would have come to $99,000.

Despite the lost windfall, Henley called it "a dream come true" that he was able to take full advantage of the sponsor’s exemption he received for being the Georgia golfer who carded the lowest individual score over the course of the Bulldogs’ season by winning the tourney. Said Henley’s coach, Chris Haack: "We could not be prouder of Russell."

Footage from Henley’s three-under final round is available here.

Go ‘Dawgs!