News, Events & Announcements

On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, I had the opportunity to attend the 53rd annual Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic at the University of Georgia Golf Course. As one of the oldest women’s collegiate golf tournaments in the country, the event has been a cornerstone of UGA’s athletics for over four decades.

It is named in honor of former UGA Golf Coach Liz Murphey, a leader in the evolution of women’s intercollegiate athletics. Murphey joined the UGA staff in 1967 and spent nearly 20 years cultivating the Lady Bulldogs into a national powerhouse. From 1978 to 1986, her teams earned an impressive 21 team titles and 18 individual titles.

As a golf newbie, this was the first golf tournament I had ever attended, and it gave me the chance to learn a lot more about the sport and its unique structure. I discovered that college tournaments like this one typically span a total of 54 holes of play. On Tuesday, the players played 36 holes, 18 in the morning and 18 in the afternoon.

After the first 18 holes on Tuesday, players broke for lunch before heading back out for the second round, which was a detail I hadn’t realized was part of tournament logistics. The event uses a shotgun start, which means all groups begin playing at the same time but from different holes on the course. On Wednesday, the players returned for the final 18 holes.

Compared to other sporting events I have attended, this tournament felt noticeably calm. I was not surrounded by the usual screaming and cheering or loud reactions when a player made a great move. Instead, the atmosphere was peaceful, and spectators were respectful to the players. Everyone, including myself, although sometimes hard for me, remained quiet during the player’s backswing. Fans were also careful to avoid restricted areas like the tee boxes.

As I was riding in a golf cart from hole to hole, I kept wondering why the players were all walking. I soon learned that players are required to walk the course. There are various reasons for this, like players building endurance and stamina, but it also protects the grass from wear and tear. Walking ultimately minimizes the damage rather than having multiple golf carts driving on the grass.

Additionally, players have the option to either use rolling push carts for their bags or carry them. This is another decision that ties into improving strength training and stamina.

As a result of attending the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic, I gained a new appreciation for golf due to the athleticism and discipline required for the sport. This year, the Georgia Southern women’s golf team claimed the title, with our Dawgs coming in second.

Nora Anderson, student manager at the UGA Golf Course, stated, “The Liz Murphey is an incredible event. Getting to see so many female golfers compete is so inspiring, and I look forward to it every year.”

The UGA Golf Course is proud to honor Liz Murphey’s legacy through this long-standing and meaningful tournament. As the event continues year after year, it not only celebrates her impact but also empowers women to break new ground in collegiate athletics, whether as an athlete or coach.