Carter Collins’ life is encompassed by golf.
A 2001 graduate of Claxton High, Collins works fervently for Larry Mays and the Georgia Southern golf program, then with what little time is left works on improving his own game from his home base at the pristine Bennett-Ramsey center just outside of town.
He’s done just enough of the latter to qualify for today’s Georgia Amateur Championship at the Idle Hour Club in Macon.
Of the 156 contestants at this weekend’s event, Collins is the only on from the Statesboro area.
“This community is so supportive of its golf,” he said. “I’ve become friends with a lot of people around here support — not just my game — but everyone else’s around here. You go up (to the tournament) with such a sense of support. There’s just so much support — I really don’t feel like I’m carrying the weight of the community.”
When Collins heard this year’s tournament would be held at Idle Hour, he jumped at the chance to qualify. Playing his college golf at Georgia College and State University, Idle Hour is a course he knows back to front.
“When (the Georgia State Golf Association) announced a few years back that this year’s State Am would be at Idle Hour — I really circled it on my calendar. About three weeks ago they had a qualifying at Idle Hour, I shot a 73, they give a certain amount of spots and I got one of those spots.”
Collins will tee off at 12:10 p.m. today, a spot he said he favors. Any positive momentum will be easy to continue when his Friday round starts at 8:10 a.m.
“You get anxious — because you always want to do well,” he said. “I’m sure about a little more nervous when I tee off on the first tee.”
“This is the deepest field we have in amateur golf. It’s the best tournament, always hosted by a great course under tournament conditions. Anytime you have that deep of field — all you want to do is give yourself a chance to win,” Collins continued, before taking a deep breath. “But I feel like if I play my game, if I play well I’ll give myself that chance and hopefully take advantage of it.”
Collins has played one Amateur before, erasing his finish at the 2004 event in Athens from memory. He’ll join future Eagle Coleman Calhoun of Vidalia in the tourney field.
After this weekend, Collins said it’s back to work.
“Right now my concentration is to be the assistant golf coach at Georgia Southern,” he said, quite robotically. “As far as future aspirations, I’m just trying to do a good job here and take it from there.”
Statesboro’s Hill finding low numbers
Statesboro High’s Walker Hill has also been busy this summer. Playing on the Southeast Junior Golf Tour and the GSGA Golf Tour, Hill finished fourth at The Durham Lakes Invitational in Atlanta on June 9 and 10.
A week later, Hill played into the final rounds of the Georgia State Junior Amateur at the Augusta Country Club. Recently, Hill finished fourth at the Grey Stone Junior Classic in Nashville, Tenn., and in the top ten in a GSGA tournament at the University Course in Athens.
Hill has qualified to play at the TPC at Sawgrass in Jacksonville, Fla., shooting a 73 and winning the GSGA Sectional at Forest Heights. He’ll finish out the summer participating in The Lookout Mountain Invitational in Chattanooga, Tenn., and The SJGT Championship at The Georgia Club.
Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
A 2001 graduate of Claxton High, Collins works fervently for Larry Mays and the Georgia Southern golf program, then with what little time is left works on improving his own game from his home base at the pristine Bennett-Ramsey center just outside of town.
He’s done just enough of the latter to qualify for today’s Georgia Amateur Championship at the Idle Hour Club in Macon.
Of the 156 contestants at this weekend’s event, Collins is the only on from the Statesboro area.
“This community is so supportive of its golf,” he said. “I’ve become friends with a lot of people around here support — not just my game — but everyone else’s around here. You go up (to the tournament) with such a sense of support. There’s just so much support — I really don’t feel like I’m carrying the weight of the community.”
When Collins heard this year’s tournament would be held at Idle Hour, he jumped at the chance to qualify. Playing his college golf at Georgia College and State University, Idle Hour is a course he knows back to front.
“When (the Georgia State Golf Association) announced a few years back that this year’s State Am would be at Idle Hour — I really circled it on my calendar. About three weeks ago they had a qualifying at Idle Hour, I shot a 73, they give a certain amount of spots and I got one of those spots.”
Collins will tee off at 12:10 p.m. today, a spot he said he favors. Any positive momentum will be easy to continue when his Friday round starts at 8:10 a.m.
“You get anxious — because you always want to do well,” he said. “I’m sure about a little more nervous when I tee off on the first tee.”
“This is the deepest field we have in amateur golf. It’s the best tournament, always hosted by a great course under tournament conditions. Anytime you have that deep of field — all you want to do is give yourself a chance to win,” Collins continued, before taking a deep breath. “But I feel like if I play my game, if I play well I’ll give myself that chance and hopefully take advantage of it.”
Collins has played one Amateur before, erasing his finish at the 2004 event in Athens from memory. He’ll join future Eagle Coleman Calhoun of Vidalia in the tourney field.
After this weekend, Collins said it’s back to work.
“Right now my concentration is to be the assistant golf coach at Georgia Southern,” he said, quite robotically. “As far as future aspirations, I’m just trying to do a good job here and take it from there.”
Statesboro’s Hill finding low numbers
Statesboro High’s Walker Hill has also been busy this summer. Playing on the Southeast Junior Golf Tour and the GSGA Golf Tour, Hill finished fourth at The Durham Lakes Invitational in Atlanta on June 9 and 10.
A week later, Hill played into the final rounds of the Georgia State Junior Amateur at the Augusta Country Club. Recently, Hill finished fourth at the Grey Stone Junior Classic in Nashville, Tenn., and in the top ten in a GSGA tournament at the University Course in Athens.
Hill has qualified to play at the TPC at Sawgrass in Jacksonville, Fla., shooting a 73 and winning the GSGA Sectional at Forest Heights. He’ll finish out the summer participating in The Lookout Mountain Invitational in Chattanooga, Tenn., and The SJGT Championship at The Georgia Club.
Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
