Fredrik Qvicker	- Download MP3-

Georgia golf coach Chris Haack kicked back on the front porch of the Council Fire clubhouse and chatted with two of his players as if he were still in college himself.

He jokingly said Hudson Swafford is laid-back, slow and meanders down the fairway.

Swafford is in second place individually after 36 holes in the NCAA East Regional.

Haack said Swafford’s teammate Russell Henley is antsy, by contrast, and the coach made fun of Henley’s black socks.

Henley is in third place.

Haack could take the afternoon to relax because his top-seeded Bulldogs are ahead by a lot. Georgia shot 13 under par Friday and owns a commanding lead of 19 shots while sitting at 32 under in the 27-team regional.

“We try to stay loose, just play, and figure it out when it’s over,” Haack said. “They don’t need me telling them anything. I just leave them alone and let them play.”

Staff Photo by Angela Lewis-- Georgia's Hudson Swafford reacts to a putt on the 6th green in the NCAA Mens' East Regional Golf Tournament at Council FIre on Friday.

The Bulldogs have taken the drama out of the team competition with their lead over second-place Augusta State.

If college golf were to enact a mercy rule, now would be the time. Three Georgia golfers are in the top 16, and all five are in the top 25.

Swafford and Henley each shot 68 on Friday. Former McCallie golfer Adam Mitchell shot 70 and former Baylor golfer Harris English shot 65.

“Trying to catch guys on my team makes me better,” Swafford said. “And if I’m beating guys on my team, I’m playing pretty well.”

Behind Augusta State at 13 under, Auburn and UC-Irvine are tied for third at 10 under. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is tied for eighth at 5 under in the Mocs’ attempt to finish in the top 10 and move on to the NCAA Championship event in two weeks.

“It’s not a comfortable position, but it sure beats 17th or whatever it was last year,” UTC coach Mark Guhne said. “Things aren’t urgent, but it’s coming up on the last day.”

The leaders will tee off first this morning on the par-71 course.

UAB junior Zach Sucher tied the course record with a 62 on Friday and owns the individual lead at 11 under. Swafford trails by two, Henley trails by three and Western Carolina’s Matt Cook trails by four shots with three others.

“The excitement will be watching all of these guys try to win it individually,” Haack said. “It’s not like any of them are going out there to relax and coast.

“They all want to win, and they’re playing for All-American honors of some sort.”

The Mocs are tied with Charlotte. Michigan State and Middle Tennessee State are one stroke back. Duke is four shots behind UTC and the 49ers, and East Tennessee State is five back.

Sophomore Derek Rende had the Mocs’ best round of the day, a 3-under 68, which puts him at 140 for the tournament.

“I feel like I’m starting to hit it better and putt better,” said Rende, who spent Saturday evening at the Lookouts’ game with teammates. “I can’t complain that much with a 68.

“As a team, we didn’t play great, but we didn’t play bad.”

Jonathan Hodge shot 71 and is at 141 along with Fredrik Qvicker, who shot 70. J.T. Clendenin rebounded Friday with a 72.

“We have played two decent rounds, but we need to go shoot something pretty special and take care of business,” Guhne said. “We haven’t done that yet. It’s time.”

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