2007-08 AUBURN URN MEN'S GOLF 2007-08 Auburn Tigers...1 2007-08 Schedule...2 2007-08 Team Photo/Roster... 3 Coaching Staff f... 4 Head Coach Mike Griffi n...4-5 Asst. Coach Ryan Cabbage...6 2007-08 Auburn Tigers...7 2007 SEC Champion Patton Kizzire...7 Rosson Anderson...8 Nils Bjorling...8 Jamie Bowen...9 Brent Cooper... 10 Jonathan Fly... 11 Cory Gilmer... 11 Steven Groover... 12 Patton Kizzire... 13-14 Cole Moreland... 15 Jay Moseley... 16-17 Glenn Northcutt... 18-19 Gordon Strother... 20 Keith White... 21 Fall 2007 Recap... 22 Southeastern Conference... 23 2007-08 Tournament Information... 24 2006-07 Season Review... 25 2006 Season-in-Review... 25 2006-07 Tournament Results... 26-27 2006-07 Statistics... 28-29 Auburn Golf History... 30 AU in the NCAA Championship... 30 AU in the NCAA Regionals... 31-32 AU in the SEC Championship... 33 2002 SEC Champions... 34 Auburn Tournament History... 35 Billy Hitchcock Intercollegiate... 36-37 Aloha!... 38 Year-by-Year Results... 39-41 Team Tournament Victories... 42 Record Book... 43-44 All-Americans... 45 All-Time Honors... 46 Auburn Greats... 47 Tigers in the Pros... 48-50 All-Time Lettermen... 51-52 Auburn University... 53 Auburn Golf Teaching Facility... 53 Home Courses... 54-55 Auburn Athletics... 56-57 President Jay Gogue... 58 Athletic Director Jay Jacobs... 59 Auburn Named Top Spot For Golf... 60 2007-08 Auburn University Men s Golf Quick Facts Auburn University Location Auburn, Ala. Founded April 1, 1856 Enrollment 23,547 President Dr. Jay Gogue Athletic Director Jay Jacobs Conference Southeastern Colors Burnt Orange and Navy Blue Nickname Tigers Home Courses Auburn University Club (Par 72) Grand National Lake Course (Par 72) Grand National Links Course (Par 72) Saugahatchee Country Club (Par 72) Auburn Links (Par 72) Farm Links (Par 72) Moore s Mill Golf Course (Par 72) Indian Pines Golf Course (Par 72) Coaching Staff Head Coach Mike Griffin (24th Season) Troy State ('70) Record at Auburn 2806-1648-63 (.630) Assistant Coach Ryan Cabbage (Ninth Season) Auburn ('98) Team Information 2006-07 SEC Finish 3rd 2006-07 East Regional Finish T-2nd 2006-07 NCAA Finish 30th Top Returners Glenn Northcutt, Patton Kizzire Key Losses Andrew Medley Lettermen Returning/Lost 6/1 Media Relations Media Relations Office (334) 844-9800 FAX (334) 844-9807 Gary Thorne, Golf Contact (334) 663-6650 Thorne Email Address thorngw@auburn.edu AU Men s Golf on the Web www.auburntigers.com 2007-08 Auburn Tigers Cover Seniors Gordon Strother, Jamie Bowen, Steven Groover, Jay Mosely and Patton Kizzire. Credits The 2007-08 Auburn Men's Golf Media Guide is published by Auburn Media Relations Offi ce, a division of the Auburn Athletic Department. The media guide was written, designed and edited by Gary Thorne with assistance from Chuck Gallina and Ben Beaty on Adobe InDesign. Special thanks to Mike Griffi n, Ryan Cabbage and Kirk Sampson for their editorial contributions. Photographs by Mike Griffi n and Todd Van Emst. Covers designed by Tyler Trout. Note to the Media Auburn Media Relations considers its work with the media top priority. Part of that commitment is the publication of this media guide and the continuing distribution of tournament notes and releases. Should a request arise, please do not hesitate to contact us. We appreciate your interest in Auburn golf and look forward to an outstanding season.
2007-08 SCHEDULE Date Tournament/Site Location Sept. 14-16 Carpet Capital Collegiate Dalton, Ga. The Farm Golf Club (4th of 18) Sept. 24-25 Shoal Creek Invitational Birmingham, Ala. Shoal Creek Golf Club (3rd of 12) Oct. 8-9 The Jerry Pate Invitational Birmingham, Ala. Old Overton Golf Club (4th of 12) Oct. 12-14 Bank Of Tennessee Ridges Intercollegiate Johnson City, Tenn. The Ridges Golf Club (8th of 15) Feb. 20-22 The John Burns Intercollegiate Wahiawa, Hawaii Leilehua Golf Course March 2-4 The Seminole Intercollegiate Tallahassee, Fla. Golden Eagle Country Club March 14-16 The E-Z-GO Schenkel Invitational Statesboro, Ga. Forest Heights Country Club March 23-25 The Hootie at Bulls Bay Charleston, S.C. Bulls Bay Golf Club April 7-8 The Morris Wiliiams Intercollegiate Austin, Texas The University of Texas Golf Club April 18-20 SEC Championship Sea Island, Ga. Sea Island Golf Club May 15-17 NCAA Regionals TBA May 28-31 NCAA Championship West Lafayette, Ind. The Kampen Course
2007-08 TEAM PHOTO/ROSTER 2007-08 Auburn Tigers Front Row (L to R): Rosson Anderson, Cole Moreland, Glenn Northcutt, Steven Groover, Jay Moseley, Brent Cooper, Keith, White, Cory Gilmer and Head Coach Mike Griffi n. Back Row (L to R): Assistant Coach Ryan Cabbage, Jonathan Fly, Gordon Strother, Jamie Bowen, Nils Bjorling, Jake Nolen and Patton Kizzire. 2007-08 AUBURN MEN'S GOLF ROSTER Name Year Exp. Hometown Last School Rosson Anderson Freshman HS Birmingham, Ala. Briarwood Christian Nils Bjorling Senior SQ Borlange, Sweden Midland CC Jamie Bowen Senior 1L Dawsonville, Ga. Central Ala. CC Brent Cooper Sophomore SQ Valley Head, Ala. Fort Payne Jonathan Fly Freshman HS Memphis, Tenn. ECS Cory Gilmer Freshman HS Birmingham, Ala. Hoover Steven Groover Senior 1L Birmingham, Ala Hoover Patton Kizzire Senior 3L Tuscaloosa, Ala. Northridge Cole Moreland Sophomore SQ Austin, Texas Westlake Jay Moseley Senior 2L Bainbridge, Ga. Bainbridge Glenn Northcutt Junior 2L Dothan, Ala. Houston Academy Gordon Strother Senior 1L St. Simons Island, Ga. UT-Chattanooga Keith White Junior SQ Huntsville, Ala. Grissom Head Coach: Mike Griffi n (Troy State 70) 24th Year at Auburn Assistant Coach: Ryan Cabbage (Auburn 98) Ninth Year at Auburn
COACHING STAFF Mike Griffi n is as much a part of Auburn Athletics as Toomer's Corner, Jordan-Hare Stadium and Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum are to this town and athletic program. Griffi n enters his 24th year on the Plains as the head men s golf coach, and since his tenure began at Auburn in 1984, progress has been the constant goal. He has brought success to the sport of golf at Auburn University. Griffi n has led the Tigers to 18 NCAA Regional appearances in the last 19 years and to the NCAA Championships 15 times out of 22 years, a percentage not matched by any other coach in school history. The coaching career for the 34-year veteran began at his alma mater, Troy State. After graduating as one of the greatest golfers in Trojan history, Griffi n played on the mini-tour, but returned to Troy State after two years and took over the program. As an amateur, Griffi n amassed 30 amateur tournament wins as well as claiming the 1968 and 1969 Alabama Collegiate Conference Championship. He graduated from Troy State in 1970 with a degree in education. In only 11 seasons at Troy State, Griffi n accumulated 1,581 wins, seven Gulf South Conference Championships and led the Trojans to the NCAA Division II Championships nine-straight years, fi nishing lower than fourth place only once. He was also honored as the conference s Coach of the Year nine times and won the National Championship in 1976, 1977 and 1984. Griffi n coached 32 All-Americans while at Troy State. In 1985, Griffi n moved to the Plains and took the Tigers to two tournament victories and a berth in the NCAA Championships, where they fi nished 18th. He was awarded the District III South Coach of the Year in his fi rst season, but that was only the beginning for Griffi n and the Tigers. In his second year, he took Auburn back to the NCAA Championship and fi nished 22nd. In 1990, Griffi n led the team to a first-place fi nish in the NCAA East Regional. In perhaps one of the best performances in Auburn golf history, Jimmy Green won individual honors while leading his team to Auburn s fi rst-ever regional title. Over his 34-year career, Griffi n has defeated 4,387 teams, an incredible achievement. Although he strives for success on the golf course, he also encourages his players to perform well in the classroom. During his tenure at Auburn, Griffi n has had 24 Academic All-SEC choices. Griffi n has been named the NCAA Coach of the Year for Region III South fi ve times: 1984-85, 93-94, 94-95 and 96-97. In 1995, he was also named the SEC Coach of the Year. That same year he coached Iain Steel, who went on to earn All-America honors and was named the SEC Player of the Year. Griffi n has also coached Auburn s only NCAA individual champion, Chip Spratlin in 1996 and one of the most decorated Tigers in history in Lee Williams. Williams was a two-time Walker Cup member, a two-time All-American, a two-time Academic All- American, a three-time All-SEC selection and a NCAA Hall of Fame inductee in 2000 Four-time SEC Coach of the Year in 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002 Led Tigers to 15 NCAA Championship appearances SEC Champions in 2002 Eight-time runner-up at the SEC Championship Has a (2806-1648-63,.630)record in 23 years at Auburn Has defeated 4,267 teams in his 33-year career Coached 10 All-Americans, 1 NCAA Champion, 1 SEC Player of the Year, 3 SEC Individual Champions, 24 All-SEC selections, 24 SEC Academic Honor Roll selections and 3 SEC Freshman of the Years Led Auburn to 28 tournament titles Won 3 Div. II National Championships at Troy State in 1976, 1977, 1984 Nine-time Conference Coach-of-the-Year at Troy State member of the United States World Amateur Team. Griffi n is a four-time SEC Coach of the Year selection, being named in 1995, 1997, 2001 and 2002. In 2000, Griffi n was inducted into the GCAA Hall of Fame. Griffi n led the Tigers to a third-place fi nish in the SEC Championship in 2001 and a runner-up fi nish in 2000. In 1994, Griffi n led the Tigers to a tie with Tennessee for second time in the SEC Championship. That same year, Grand National s Lake
COACHING STAFF Course in Opelika, was the site of the NCAA East Regional, in which the Tigers fi nished ninth on their home course to advance to the NCAA Championship. In 2002, the Tigers captured the SEC Championship, the fi rst under Griffi n. The following year (2003) the Tigers won three tournaments (Palencia Invitational, Rehling Invitational and the AU Mulit-Match) and finished second in the SEC and ranked 14th in the country. Despite a winning percentage of.384 for the 2004 season, the Tigers advanced the NCAA Championship where they tied for 21st. In 2006-07, Griffi n guided the Tigers to their seventh-straight NCAA Regional appearance and 13th appearance in 14 years. The Tigers have also appeared in the NCAA Championships for 15 times during Griffin s tenure. While at Auburn, Griffi n has led the Tigers to 30 tournament titles. He also played an instrumental role in bringing the 2000 NCAA Men s Golf Championship to Grand National s Lake Course. This was the first ever NCAA Championship in men s golf hosted by Auburn University and the state of Alabama. There is no better coach than Mike Griffi n to lead Auburn Golf. He has turned Auburn into one of the top golf programs in the country. Mike and Joyce Griffin MIKE GRIFFIN YEAR-BY-YEAR Year Schools Record Pct. SEC National 1973-74 Troy State 51-97-1.346 5th 1974-75 Troy State 109-43-3.713 1st 7th 1975-76 Troy State 144-24-4.849 1st 1st 1976-77 Troy State 205-24-0.895 2nd 1st 1977-78 Troy State 107-69-3.606 2nd 2nd 1978-79 Troy State 189-90-6.674 2nd 4th 1979-80 Troy State 175-59-0.748 1st 4th 1980-81 Troy State 195-75-3.720 1st 3rd 1981-82 Troy State 135-69-0.662 1st 4th 1982-83 Troy State 133-38-2.775 1st 2nd 1983-84 Troy State 138-54-0.719 1st 1st 1984-85 Auburn 166-69-1.706 5th 18th, NCAA Championship 1985-86 Auburn 143-55-2.720 4th 22nd, NCAA Championship 1986-87 Auburn 87-90-4.492 6th 1987-88 Auburn 102-57-7.636 t-3rd 1988-89 Auburn 115-97-6.541 5th t-29th, NCAA Championship 1989-90 Auburn 136-89-1.604 5th t-25th, NCAA Championship 1990-91 Auburn 107-70-1.604 2nd 13th, NCAA East Regional 1991-92 Auburn 125-52-1.705 2nd 13th, NCAAEast Regional 1992-93 Auburn 155-71-6.681 5th 17th, NCAA Championship 1993-94 Auburn 150-49-2.751 2nd 7th, NCAA Championship 1994-95 Auburn 137-62-7.682 2nd t-16th, NCAA Championship 1995-96 Auburn 107-58-2.647 7th t-13th, NCAA East Regional 1996-97 Auburn 159-50-2.758 2nd t-16th, NCAA Championship 1997-98 Auburn 146-54-4.725 6th 10th, NCAA Championship 1998-99 Auburn 55-92-2.371 6th 1999-00 Auburn 137-59-1.698 2nd 14th, NCAA Championship 2000-01 Auburn 99-75-5.580 3rd 13th, NCAA East Regional 2001-02 Auburn 134-69-2.659 1st t-28th, NCAA Championship 2002-03 Auburn 132-70-0.653 2nd t-8th, NCAA Championship 2003-04 Auburn 75-121-3.384 3rd t-21st, NCAA Championship 2004-05 Auburn 119-53-0.692 2nd 13th, NCAA West Regional 2005-06 Auburn 100-91-1.523 5th t-19th, NCAA Championship 2006-07 Auburn 120-95-3.558 t-3rd 30th, NCAA Championship Troy State Totals (11 years)... 1581-642-22....714 Auburn Totals (23 years)... 2806-1648-63....630 Career Totals (34 years)... 4387-2290-85....657
COACHING STAFF In his ninth season at Auburn, Ryan Cabbage has helped turn the Auburn golf program into one of the premier programs in the country. The Tigers have reached the NCAA Championships in every season Cabbage has assisted Head Coach Mike Griffi n. As a former Tiger golfer, Cabbage brings experience and knowledge of golf to Auburn. A native of Rutledge, Tenn., Cabbage played his first two years at Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tenn., where he was the 1995 National Junior College Individual Champion. Cabbage lettered at Auburn from 1996-98 and competed in the 1997 NCAA Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Ill. "I think the fact that Ryan has been a part of our program not only as a coach for seven years, but also as a player for three years, adds more to the understanding of Auburn and the Auburn community," head coach Mike Griffi n said. "He has been with me for a long time, so we are on the same wavelength. He brings some different things to the program that really enhances it." Before coming back to the Plains Cabbage spent a year with the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour in Opelika, Ala., as a tournament director. In 2004, Cabbage was runnerup for the Assistant Coach of the Year, which is presented by TaylorMade-Adidas Golf. He currently serves as the Assistant Coach Representative on the Golf Coaches Association of America National Advisory Board. Cabbage is married to the former Jennifer Falkner of Marietta, Ga. They are the proud parents of three boys, twins Carson Sawyer and Maddox Falkner, born Feb. 16, 2004; and Davis Ryan, born Dec. 19, 2005. He is a 1998 Auburn University graduate with a B.A. in Communications. Ryan and Jennifer Cabbage with sons, Maddox, Carson and Davis. CABBAGE CHIP SHOTS Full name: Ryan Willis Cabbage Born: October 8, 1975 Family: Married to the former Jennifer Falkner. Parents of three boys, twins Carson Sawyer and Maddox Falkner, born Feb. 16, 2004; and Davis Ryan, born Dec. 19, 2005. Playing Experience: Two-year letterwinner at Auburn University (1996-98); two-year letterwinner at Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tenn.; 1995 National Junior College Individual Champion Coaching Experience: Ninth-year as an assistant at Auburn (1999-2008); Runner-up for the Assistant Coach of the Year in 2004; Southeastern Junior Golf Tour tournament director in 1999; Auburn has reached the NCAA Championships every year Cabbage was on staff. Cabbage with 2007 SEC Champion Patton Kizzire.