Reynolds Plantation Blog

Living on a golf course is the golfer’s ultimate fantasy. What if you created the ultimate golf course by selecting the best holes from some of the most beautiful residential golf courses in the world? That’s the idea behind GolfCourseHome® Magazine’s “Dream 18: Best Residential Golf Holes” in the premier issue of GolfCourseHome® Magazine.

Reynolds Plantation has been selected for one of the coveted spots in the “Dream 18.”  The annual selection of superior residential golf course “dream holes” includes the 18^th hole of The Creek Club at Reynolds Plantation.

The editors construct the Dream 18 by making their selections of the best residential golf holes from the more than 325 golf courses featured on GolfCourseHome.net and the GolfCourseHome® Network. These courses represent more than 5,800 golf holes in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. It is truly a unique collection.

About Reynolds Plantation

Named the “Best of the Best” Golf Community by Robb Report and the community with the “Best Golf” in America by the editors of GOLF Magazine, Reynolds Plantation, located between Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia, is situated along 374 miles of shoreline on Lake Oconee.  Reynolds Plantation features 117 holes of championship golf from designers Bob Cupp, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones and Jim Engh.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Reynolds Golf Academy, as well as the exclusive TaylorMade Kingdom.  The community offers members a variety of dining options, swimming pools, walking trails, four full-service marinas and The Lake Club Wellness Campus with its award-winning Tennis Center.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, a 251-room lakefront resort and spa ranked No. 5 in the “Top 100 Golf Resorts” worldwide by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine.  For more information or real estate inquiries, call 800-800-5250 or visit www.reynoldsplantation.com.

Greensboro, Ga. (May 25, 2010) – He may be running for an office that does not exist, but that has not stopped Charlie King from announcing his candidacy for President of Golf Instruction.

King, the Director of the Reynolds Golf Academy at Reynolds Plantation, created this fictional campaign during this election year to highlight a problem and provide the solution.

“The ‘current administration’ is still doing things the old way, which is trying to force students into a method, or model.  I think it’s time for us to take a complete new direction in golf instruction, and high time for people to stop being frustrated with their game and with themselves,” says King.

An acclaimed teacher, author and 17-year member of the PGA of America, King wrote the “New Rules of Golf Instruction,” the 2009 e-book that led to the development of the New Rules Golf School at Reynolds Golf Academy.  “Our ‘New Rules’ philosophy means we don’t make you look like a golfer, we turn you into a golfer,” King says.  “We focus on essential golf skills that great golfers all have in common.”

Since he is often told that his passion for teaching golf makes him sound like he’s running for office, King figured he might as well get in the race.  Technically, there is no race – which may explain why King is currently running unopposed, and atop all the polls.  No matter.

While King may be innovative in his methods of getting golfers’ attention, he is equally intense in his approach to serious, success-oriented golf instruction.

“I started this campaign for President of Golf Instruction to draw awareness to the need for a different way of teaching and an innovative way of thinking about every golfer’s abilities,” said King, who has been repeatedly ranked as one of the leading golf instructors in the country.

“I want to invite golfers to join the revolution,” King says.  “We are going to have fun with it, of course, but the reality is that I know they will find something that will make a real difference in their golf game.”

Those interested in King’s run for President of Golf Instruction can provide their support and preview his upcoming videos at www.charliekingforpresident.com.

About Reynolds Plantation

Named the “Best of the Best” Golf Community by Robb Report and the community with the “Best Golf” in America by the editors of GOLF Magazine, Reynolds Plantation, located between Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia, is situated along 374 miles of shoreline on Lake Oconee.  Reynolds Plantation features 117 holes of championship golf from designers Bob Cupp, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones and Jim Engh.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Reynolds Golf Academy, as well as the exclusive TaylorMade Kingdom.  The community offers members a variety of dining options, swimming pools, walking trails, four full-service marinas and The Lake Club Wellness Campus with its award-winning Tennis Center.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, a 251-room lakefront resort and spa ranked No. 5 in the “Top 100 Golf Resorts” worldwide by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine.  For more information or real estate inquiries, call 800-800-5250 or visit www.reynoldsplantation.com.

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Greensboro, Ga. (May 18, 2010) – Lake Oconee’s first triathlon will take place this weekend at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation.  ELEVEN Reynolds Plantation is part of a five-year initiative by ELEVEN Global to develop a global circuit of eleven qualifying races and one championship race.  This is the first event in the United States, and the third in the series following Cape Town and Sun City, South Africa.

ELEVEN Reynolds Plantation will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 22 along the shores of the beach area at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge on Lake Oconee.  The race consists of a .96 mile swim, 25 mile bike ride and a 6.2 mile run. Participants may enter as an individual or part of a relay team.

The swim, bike and run portion of the race will start and finish at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge.  The run will take place in the Reynolds Plantation community and on Linger Longer Road.  The bike race will travel through Reynolds Plantation as well as other parts of Greene County including Highway 44, Wrightsville Church Road, Walker Church Road, Meadow Crest Road, Old Eatonton Road, Stagecoach Road and Carey Station Road.  ELEVEN Global Course Marshals and Sheriff’s Deputies will be positioned along the route at major intersections for the safety of both the athletes and motorists.

Saturday’s events will also include a complimentary kid’s aquathlon clinic at 4:00 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge.  The clinic will be conducted by visiting professional triathlete Alun Woodward of Hungary and Atlanta’s own Amy Kloner along with her colleagues at the Sport Factory, one of only five USA Triathlon Certified Performance Centers in the country, located in Roswell, Ga.  They coach athletes of all ages and levels, with particular success developing junior talent.  Everyone is invited to attend, even if you are not participating in the aquathlon.  

The ELEVEN Kid’s Aquathlon at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge will take place Sunday, May 23 beginning at 8:00 a.m.  This event consists of two age group categories: children ages 7-9 will swim one lap in the outdoor pool and children ages 10-14 will swim 200 yards in Lake Oconee.  Following the swim, both groups will run one mile.  Parents are welcome to accompany their children along the race course.

For more information, please visit www.11global.com.

About Reynolds Plantation

Named the “Best of the Best” Golf Community by Robb Report and the community with the “Best Golf” in America by the editors of GOLF Magazine, Reynolds Plantation, located between Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia, is situated along 374 miles of shoreline on Lake Oconee.  Reynolds Plantation features 117 holes of championship golf from designers Bob Cupp, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones and Jim Engh.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Reynolds Golf Academy, as well as the exclusive TaylorMade Kingdom.  The community offers members a variety of dining options, swimming pools, pedestrian trails, four full-service marinas and The Lake Club Wellness Campus with its award-winning Tennis Center.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, a 251-room lakefront resort and spa ranked No. 5 in the “Top 100 Golf Resorts” worldwide by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine.  For more information or real estate inquiries, call 800-800-5250 or visit www.reynoldsplantation.com.

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Greensboro, Ga. (May 11, 2010) - After a 25-year stint at Jekyll Island, Ga., Reynolds Plantation was honored to be the host site of the 2010 Georgia High School Association (GHSA) 5-A State Golf Championship.  Reynolds Plantation is committed to supporting the game of golf at all levels, and high school golf is an important part of this initiative.  A total of 35 teams from across Georgia gathered to compete for the boys’ and girls’ state titles on The Landing and Plantation Courses on May 3.

 The boy’s team from Harrison High School in Peachtree City captured the 5-A state golf championship.  Despite the difficult conditions in the rain, Harrison beat Greenbrier in a one-hole playoff after the teams tied at 8-over 296.  Milton and Norcross tied for third.  Milton’s Patrick Grahek finished as medalist with a score of 4-under-par 68 on The Landing course.

 The Collins Hill girl’s team took home the 5-A state golf title with a score of 14-over 158 for the first golf title in the history of the Gwinnett County school.  Junior Lauren Court was the medalist with a 1-over par 73 on the Plantation course.  Court had a commanding victory, beating the nearest competitor by five strokes.

 The tournament organizers thank BankSouth, Georgia Power and John S. Robinson for their support and sponsorship of the welcome dinner for all the athletes.

Greensboro, Ga. (May 7, 2010) – The Lake Club Tennis Center at Reynolds Plantation is pleased to announce that Peter Burwash International (PBI) professional Joachim Hohnstadt has joined the tennis staff for the summer season.

Hohnstadt, from Goettingen, Germany, is the director of professional training at PBI’s world headquarters in The Woodlands, Texas.  Prior to that he was based at Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt in Austria, Europe’s top tennis camp, for three years.  Until June 2003, he was Tennis Director at the world-renowned Little Dix Bay Hotel on the beautiful Caribbean island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.  He also worked as Tennis Director at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul, Korea, as Director of Sports, Spa & Recreation at the Capitol Club in Bangkok as well as at the Marriott Royal Garden Riverside Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, and at one of Germany’s top-five conference hotels, the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten am Schluchsee.  Hohnstadt is a lifetime member of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), and a professional racquet stringer certified by the United States Racquet Stringers Association (USRSA).

“We are very excited to have Joachim here for our busy season,” said Dave Neuhart, PBI professional and director of tennis at Reynolds Plantation.  “With his expertise and experience he will add an extra special sizzle to an already exciting program planned for this summer. Having visited here many times as director of the PBI training programs, Joachim will be a natural fit for our program with the friendships he has already developed with many members.  We look forward to a great summer season ahead.”

The Lake Club Tennis Center at Reynolds Plantation was named the 2009 Racquet Sports Industry (RSI) Private Facility of the Year and was a 2009 USTA Outstanding Facility Awards Program Winner.  Neuhart was also named the 2009 USTA Georgia Professional of the Year.

Photo caption: Dave Neuhart (left) welcomes PBI professional Joachim Hohnstadt to Reynolds Plantation.

About Reynolds Plantation

Named the “Best of the Best” Golf Community by Robb Report and the community with the “Best Golf” in America by the editors of GOLF Magazine, Reynolds Plantation, located between Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia, is situated along 374 miles of shoreline on Lake Oconee.  Reynolds Plantation features 117 holes of championship golf from designers Bob Cupp, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones and Jim Engh.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Reynolds Golf Academy, as well as the exclusive TaylorMade Kingdom.  The community offers members a variety of dining options, swimming pools, pedestrian trails, four full-service marinas and The Lake Club Wellness Campus with its award-winning Tennis Center.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, a 251-room lakefront resort and spa ranked No. 5 in the “Top 100 Golf Resorts” worldwide by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine.  For more information or real estate inquiries, call 800-800-5250 or visit www.reynoldsplantation.com.

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Greensboro, Ga. (May 4, 2010)  -  The world’s first ANNIKA Boutique opens today at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation on the lobby level.

The upscale specialty shop will feature the ANNIKA Collection golf attire by Cutter & Buck, Callaway golf products and ANNIKA Syrah and Chardonnay.  Specialty items, including a Swedish line of baby clothing, Polarn O. Pyret, worn by Annika’s young daughter, Ava, also will be available.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Annika Sorenstam and further develop her business interests in a retail setting,” said Bob Mauragas, vice president of golf operations.  “The Reynolds Plantation setting and lifestyle mesh well with Annika’s personal tastes and interests.”

After a brilliant 15-year professional career that saw her re-write the record book in women’s golf, Annika stepped away from professional golf at the end of the 2008 season to further pursue the ANNIKA brand of businesses.  She authored her second book, “Golf Annika’s Way,” and partnered with Cutter & Buck to develop the ANNIKA Collection, her very own apparel line.

Annika has a golf course design business with projects under construction around the world.  The ANNIKA Financial Group, LLC was created as a result of Annika’s passion to help other professional athletes protect their wealth while assuring their peace of mind.  In addition, she has her own golf academy near Orlando, Fla., and the ANNIKA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, to teach children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition and offer aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams.

Annika serves as an Ambassador of the United States Golf Association with the goal of making the game of golf more accessible and more relevant to players of all skill levels. Along with Jack Nicklaus, designer of the Great Waters golf course at Reynolds Plantation, she was named a Global Ambassador by the International Golf Federation and successfully advocated to bring golf to the 2016 Olympic Games.

            The ANNIKA Boutique at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation will be open seven days, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is open to the public, as well as to resort guests.

About Reynolds Plantation

Named the “Best of the Best” Golf Community by Robb Report and the community with the “Best Golf” in America by the editors of GOLF Magazine, Reynolds Plantation, located between Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia, is situated along 374 miles of shoreline on Lake Oconee.  Reynolds Plantation features 117 holes of championship golf from designers Bob Cupp, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones and Jim Engh.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Reynolds Golf Academy, as well as the exclusive TaylorMade Kingdom.  The community offers members a variety of dining options, swimming pools, pedestrian trails, four full-service marinas and The Lake Club Wellness Campus with its award-winning Tennis Center.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, a 251-room lakefront resort and spa ranked No. 5 in the “Top 100 Golf Resorts” worldwide by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine.  For more information or real estate inquiries, call 800-800-5250 or visit www.reynoldsplantation.com.

The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, an AAA Five Diamond resort, provides guests legendary Ritz-Carlton service highlighted by gracious southern hospitality. The Lodge has been recognized by Parents magazine as one of the Best Family-Friendly Resorts and Travel + Leisure Family named it one of their Top 50 Family Resorts. The 251-room Lodge is secluded on the lazy shores of Lake Oconee with 99 holes of golf designed by the greatest architects of the game, award-winning Spa with southern-inspired service and exclusive Lodge adventures from fishing for large mouth bass to waterskiing or canoeing. For information or room reservations, please call toll free (800) 241-3333, the resort directly at (706) 467-0600, a travel professional or visit the Web site at www.ritzcarltonlodge.com.

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Greensboro, Ga. (April 27, 2010) – Florida State University head coach Jimbo Fisher and former Noles defensive back Terrell Buckley combined to shoot a seven-under-par 65 to win the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament Tuesday at the Reynolds Plantation resort outside Atlanta.

Buckley holed a 15-foot, right-breaking putt for birdie on 18 to move to -7 and hold off a charging Georgia Tech team down the stretch. The Yellow Jackets finished one back at -6, and two-time defending champion South Carolina finished third at -5.

“We regrouped on the back nine and strung together a few birdies,” FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “Then we made that big putt on 18. It was very competitive out there and just a super event.”

“It’s a lot of fun when you get a chance to get out on the course and compete,” Buckley added. “You want to test your game and we certainly did that today.”

The Seminole team took home $120,000 in scholarship donations for FSU in their winning effort. In total, the Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge contributed $400,000 in scholarship money to the 12 universities that competed. Over the last four years, the event has combined to give more than $1.8 million in scholarship and charitable donations.

“We really had a spectacular day on the golf course today and this incredible group of coaches and celebrities represented their universities in a first-class way,” said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO. “But the privilege was all ours in being able to give so much back to these great schools and great competitors.”

“This was tremendous,” Fisher said, “giving back to kids, giving scholarships and helping further their education, that’s what we’re all in this for. This has really been first-class and we thank the Chick-fil-A Bowl for having us.”      

The Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge featured pairings that included a university head coach and a celebrity or former athlete from the same school competing in a scramble format against other university teams from the ACC and SEC.

The final standings and scholarship winnings were as follows:

Team                                                                          Score                          Winnings       

Florida State      (Jimbo Fisher/Terrell Buckley)               -7                                 $120,000

Georgia Tech    (Paul Johnson/Jon Barry)                       -6                                 $60,000

South Carolina   (Steve Spurrier/Sterling Sharpe)             -5                                 $50,000

North Carolina  (Butch Davis/Natrone Means)               -4                                 $40,000

N.C. State        (Sidney Lowe/Monte Towe)                  -2                                 $30,000

Alabama           (Nick Saban/Steve Sloan)                      +1                                $17,500

Maryland          (Ralph Friedgen/Stan Gelbaugh)             +1                                $17,500

Vanderbilt         (Bobby Johnson/Will Perdue)                 +1                                $17,500

Wake Forest     (Jim Grobe/Billy Packer)                        +1                                $17,500

Ole Miss           (Houston Nutt/Wesley Walls)                 +2                                $10,000

Clemson           (Dabo Swinney/Dwight Clark)               +3                                $10,000

Virginia Tech   (Frank Beamer/Brad Clontz)                   +4                                $10,000

The nation’s premier head coach and celebrity golf event was held Tuesday at the beautiful Reynolds Plantation resort on Lake Oconee outside Atlanta.

In addition to the $400,000 scholarship purse, an additional $135,000 was donated to Chick-fil-A’s WinShape Homes, a long-term foster care program. The Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge is a significant contributor to the Chick-fil-A Bowl’s overall annual charitable and scholarship donations. The Chick-fil-A Bowl leads all bowls in the country in charitable giving, including gifts of more than $5.8 million since 2002.

The tournament was taped by ESPN for broadcast in the fall. The date of the broadcast will be announced this summer.

Past winners:  2009 South Carolina (Spurrier/Sharpe / -12, playoff winners), 2008 South Carolina (Spurrier/Sharpe / -12), 2007 Virginia Tech (Beamer/Dell Curry / -10).

For more information on the event, visit www.Chick-fil-ABowlChallenge.com.

Greensboro, Ga. (April 20, 2010) – The 11global triathlon series will hold its first event in the United States at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation on Saturday, May 22, 2010.  A kid’s aquathlon will take place on Sunday, May 23.

The Olympic-distance race series is part of a five-year initiative to develop a global circuit of eleven qualifying races and one championship race.  ELEVEN Reynolds Plantation is the third in the series, following events in Cape Town and Sun City, South Africa. 

“Our company mission at 11global is to provide an annual international Olympic-distance triathlon series that will culminate in age-group and relay team champions,” said Ryan Landy, 11global series director.  “We strive to recalibrate the Olympic-distance experience and have carefully designed and planned each race.  We selected Reynolds Plantation because of its superb landscape and environmental conditions to deliver the ultimate racing experience.”

“We support a healthy and active lifestyle at Reynolds Plantation through our programming and amenities,” said Rabun Neal, president of Reynolds Plantation.  “I commend all the athletes, including several of our members, who will be competing in the triathlon.”

ELEVEN Reynolds Plantation will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 22 along the shores of The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation on Lake Oconee.  The race consists of a .96 mile swim, 25 mile bike ride and a 6.2 mile run. Participants may enter as an individual or part of a relay team.

11global will host a complimentary kid’s aquathlon clinic on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.  The clinic will be conducted by visiting professional triathlete Alun Woodward of Hungary and Atlanta’s own Amy Kloner along with her colleagues at the Sport Factory, one of only five USA Triathlon Certified Performance Centers in the country, located in Roswell, Ga.  They coach athletes of all ages and levels, with particular success developing junior talent.  These skilled coaches will provide valuable race day tips for a safe and enjoyable experience at the ELEVEN Kid’s Aquathlon.  

The ELEVEN Kid’s Aquathlon at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge will take place Sunday, May 23 beginning at 8:00 a.m.  This event consists of two age group categories: children ages 7-9 will swim one lap in the outdoor pool and children ages 10-14 will swim 200 yards in Lake Oconee.  Following the swim, both groups will run one mile.  Parents are welcome to accompany their children along the race course.

Both events are sanctioned by USA Triathlon (USAT). Prospective participants are invited to visit the event website at http://www.11global.com/ELEVEN-Reynolds-Plantation/Race-Information. Entry fees for the triathlon are $80.00 for individual USAT members and $90.00 for non-members. Relay teams are $135.00. The kid’s aquathlon fees are $20.00 for individuals and $35.00 per relay team. Online registration is currently open at http://www.11global.com/ELEVEN-Reynolds-Plantation/Registration and will close on May 17, 2010.

Photo caption:  Andrea Steyn of South Africa, winner of ELEVEN Cape Town 2010, celebrates her triathlon victory.

About Reynolds Plantation

Named the “Best of the Best” Golf Community by Robb Report and the community with the “Best Golf” in America by the editors of GOLF Magazine, Reynolds Plantation, located between Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia, is situated along 374 miles of shoreline on Lake Oconee.  Reynolds Plantation features 117 holes of championship golf from designers Bob Cupp, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones and Jim Engh.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Reynolds Golf Academy, as well as the exclusive TaylorMade Kingdom.  The community offers members a variety of dining options, swimming pools, pedestrian trails, four full-service marinas and The Lake Club Wellness Campus with its award-winning Tennis Center.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, a 251-room lakefront resort and spa ranked No. 5 in the “Top 100 Golf Resorts” worldwide by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine.  For more information or real estate inquiries, call 800-800-5250 or visit www.reynoldsplantation.com.

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It’s a familiar scene for the first part of April—a golfer approaching the 18th green to a gallery of cheering fans. For Augusta National, it’s an annual rite of spring. At Great Waters golf course, however, it was truly a unique experience.

On April 6, just days before the Masters tournament began an hour east of the Great Waters golf course, Reynolds Plantation members gathered at the newly reopened course to welcome the legendary Jack Nicklaus back to one of his Signature Courses. 

Nicklaus joined members of the Nicklaus Companies for a tour of all 18 holes as wife, Barbara, enjoyed a visit in the Great Waters clubhouse.  After his tour of the course, which included a number of handmade signs from residents to “Welcome Back Jack,” the Golden Bear greeted close to 500 people who had gathered between the 18^th green and the clubhouse to celebrate the opening of the golf course with the designer himself.

“This golf course is beautiful,” said Nicklaus.  “I spent a lot of time here on this course when we started designing it 20 years ago.  It has been a while since I have been back, but when you return you are reminded how pretty it is here.”

“It is rewarding to see the number of people who are enjoying the fruits of our work,” added Nicklaus. “Of course, there are a lot of fruits of other people’s work here, too. You have got Cupp courses, a Fazio course and designs from others.  You have a lot of golf, a lot of great weather, and a great lake to enjoy. You’ve got all the elements here.”

The speech concluded with Nicklaus entertaining the crowd with a ceremonial “first putt” on the MiniVerde practice green, using a limited-edition replica of the putter he used to win his sixth Green Jacket at the 1986 Masters. The putter was signed and presented to Bob Mauragas, vice president of golf at Reynolds Plantation, as a keepsake for the community. Nicklaus then signed autographs, spoke to the children as well as media in attendance, and visited with a number of guests who were thrilled at the opportunity to speak with the golf legend.

Afterward, Nicklaus departed for yet another event–a Masters press conference in Augusta, Ga., where hundreds of media awaited him to discuss his first-time role as the Honorary Starter for the Masters Tournament. The Golden Bear joined Arnold Palmer on the first tee Thursday morning for the ceremonial swing to christen the opening round of the 2010 Masters. Nicklaus became the eighth golfer in history to take part in one of the great traditions in the history of the Masters and the game. But for that moment at Reynolds Plantation, a blessing of the course and ceremonial putt combined to make for an event that guests would cherish forever.

Greensboro, Ga. (March 30, 2010) – The No. 1-ranked Oklahoma State men’s golf team lived up to its billing, as did Alabama sophomore Bud Cauley, as they captured the team and individual titles of the 5^th annual Linger Longer Invitational at The Landing at Reynolds Plantation.

Cauley, who opened the 54-hole tournament with an electrifying 8-under-par 64, finished just as strong, playing the final five holes 3-under, including a key eagle on the par-5 14^th hole, for a 67.  That gave the all-American from Jacksonville, Fla., a total of 204, a career-low for 54 holes and a six-shot victory.

Oklahoma State teammates Kevin Tway, a junior from Edmond, Okla., and Sean Einhaus, a freshman from Germany, were second and third, respectively, at 210 and 214.  Tway also closed with a 67.

“When he is on – and he was at this tournament – he is really hard to beat,” Alabama coach Jay Seawell said of Cauley, who went 3-0-1 last summer in the Walker Cup and in the 2008 U.S. Amateur Championship knocked off Ricky Fowler, who at the time ranked No. 1 in the amateur world rankings.   “He came out and almost put it away on the first day,” Seawell said, “and then, as always, he finished strong.”

Leading by three shots going into the final round, Cauley saw Tway (in the group ahead of him) play the first six holes 6-under to pull within two shots.  Later, again up by three with five holes to play, Cauley’s eagle on the 14^th put him back up by five, as he wrapped up his third collegiate win and the second this spring.  Cauley also climbed to No. 2 in the national rankings, behind Georgia’s Russell Henley, who finished tied for 10^th.

Like Cauley, the Cowboys led from wire-to-wire, holding off a final-round charge by Alabama to win by only two strokes overall, with a total of 865 (best 4 of 5 scoring).  As the Crimson Tide shot 283, 5-under-par for the final round, Oklahoma State closed with a solid, 2-under-par 286.  Texas A&M placed third at 874, with Georgia Tech and defending champion Georgia tied for fourth at 879.

Co-hosted by Kennesaw State and Mercer University, the Linger Longer Invitational featured six of the nation’s top-25 ranked teams competing over three days on the first golf course built on Georgia’s Lake Oconee.  The Bob Cupp design, a par 72 set up to 7,005 yards for the tournament, played to a scoring average of 76.19 for 54 holes.

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About Reynolds Plantation

Named the “Best of the Best” Golf Community by Robb Report and the community with the “Best Golf” in America by the editors of GOLF Magazine, Reynolds Plantation, located between Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia, is situated along 374 miles of shoreline on Lake Oconee.  Reynolds Plantation features 117 holes of championship golf from designers Bob Cupp, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones and Jim Engh.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Reynolds Golf Academy, as well as the exclusive TaylorMade Kingdom.  The community offers members a variety of dining options, swimming pools, pedestrian trails, four full-service marinas and The Lake Club Wellness Campus with its award-winning Tennis Center.  Reynolds Plantation is also home to The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, a 251-room lakefront resort and spa ranked No. 5 in the “Top 100 Golf Resorts” worldwide by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine.  For more information or real estate inquiries, call 800-800-5250 or visit www.reynoldsplantation.com.