The Dogwood: Auburn's Michael Johnson leads loaded field

By Rory Sharrock

ATLANTA - When it comes to pageantry and prestige in golf, few states rival Georgia for its long-standing luster of excellence on the links.

In the pro game, Augusta National serves as hallowed ground with ‘a tradition unlike any other’. For amateurs, one of the sport’s crown-jewel events, The Dogwood Invitational, convenes in Atlanta, claiming residence at Druid Hills Golf Club.

This week, all eyes on the amateur circuit will be focused on this marquee tournament. The action gets underway with qualifying play on Monday. First-round action tees off on Wednesday and runs daily with the champion being crowned following Saturday’s final round.

Since its inception in 1941, The Dogwood Invitational has stood firm as a centerpiece for top-ranked amateurs from across the globe seeking to test their skills amidst a picturesque backdrop with a challenging course layout and pin location.

“The Dogwood Invitational’s field has a history of representing the best of the best amateur players,” said Edward Toledano, tournament chairman of The Dogwood Invitational. “Each year, we find the competition increases, upping the players’ talent as well as their playing ability. Golfers like these make The Dogwood a key amateur tournament to play in and contribute to a long tradition of championship golf.”

This year’s tournament features 83 players from 14 states with foreign representation from Australia and New Zealand. Leading the charge is defending champion, Michael Johnson. The senior from Auburn University established a new record with his performance last year, shooting 8- under in the final round and an overall total of 28-under. The previous record score was 23-under set by Andrew Buckle in 2002.

In addition to Johnson, the field is highlighted by six other competitors who are listed on Golf Week/AmateurGolf.com’s top-100 player rankings: Seth Reeves (Georgia Tech), Chase Koepka (University of South Florida), Anders Albertson (Georgia Tech), Billy Kennerly (Clemson University) and Davin White (Georgia State).

Recent Memorial Amateur champion Cameron Champ (incoming freshman at Texas A&M), Christopher Petefish (Georgia Tech freshman), and UNC’s Bailey Patrick should also contend following their recent hot play.

Competitors at The Dogwood Invitational will play 72 holes of stroke play stretching out to 6,850 yards with a 54-hole cut to low 40 and ties for the final round. For more information on the tournament, visit thedogwood.co m.