Josh Butler
Sports Writer
jobutler@valdosta.edu
The Nationwide PGA Tour came to Valdosta, Ga. this past week for the South Georgia Classic.  Kinderlou Forest played host to the event for the third straight year, with two years remaining on the contract.  This year there were a number of Valdosta State volunteers who fulfilled a number of jobs.  Tamika Booker, forward for the women’s basketball team, as well as her teammates, carried signs to let the gallery know the golfers score as they walked the course.
“[I] did not know much about golf but I found my favorite golfer,” Booker said.
Tamika was referring to Kevin Kisner, who played golf at the University of Georgia, because she walked with him on Sunday as he played his way into tie for 20th place.  Girls from the volleyball team worked the admissions tent.  Head football coach David Dean, band director Eric Bradshaw, and a representative from The Spectator acted as walking scorers, and walked the course with the golfers, entering the scores into Palm Pilots that sent the scores to the leader boards as well as the PGA Tour’s website.
Adam Davis, volunteer coordinator for the South Georgia Classic, was extremely grateful for the help that was provided by Valdosta State.
“I know that it is the work done by the volunteers that allow the tournament to be such a huge success,” Davis said.
Head coach Purvis for the VSU golf team had his hands full on Thursday and Friday of the tournament following Valdosta State University senior Brent Witcher.  Witcher gave back to the community by playing great golf, and nearly making the weekend cut.  The senior drew quite a large crowd that followed him around as he played with Patrick Nagle and Clark Spratlin.  Witcher and Spratlin missed the cut which was set at -1.  Witcher was able to keep his caddie bib for the memory, but those that watched him could see who his days in the professional golf tournaments are far from over.
Garth Mulroy won the tournament at -13 despite posting a double bogey on the 72nd hole to win by won.  Mulroy took home the $112,500 that was guaranteed for the winner.