MACON, Ga. – It was a day of firsts on Tuesday at the inaugural Brickyard Collegiate Championship.

The third-ranked Georgia men’s golf team won its first tournament of the season and freshman Harris English won for the first time on the collegiate level. Moreover, it was the first win in Coach Chris Haack’s career with a medalist who was not in the playing lineup.

English claimed the individual title at 12-under-par 204 – the sixth-best score in school history – including a final-round 4-under 68 on Tuesday. English had failed to make it into Georgia’s five-man lineup based on six qualifying rounds, so he had to enter as an individual.

As a team, the Bulldogs posted a total of 33-under 831 – the third-best figure in school history – including a final-round 8-under 280. Georgia won the team title by eight shots over Clemson.

“I think it shows just how deep our team is,” said English, a freshman from Thomasville. “We had five guys finish in the top 10 in this tournament. People may not realize it, but we have some of the best players in the country. Our qualifying rounds are very competitive. I was 2-over in six rounds of qualifying and didn’t make it. We’re so deep it’s unbelievable. You have to work hard and play hard every day or somebody will pass you by.”

Joked Haack, “It’s a good thing we won because everybody would have been calling me an idiot for not having him in the lineup.”

It’s actually hard to argue with the group that Haack did play. Junior Brian Harman placed second at 11-under 205, freshman and Macon native Russell Henley was third at 10-under 206, and junior Adam Mitchell and sophomore Hudson Swafford were eighth at 6-under 210.

Also, the Bulldogs got a 21st-place effort from sophomore Rob Bennett (who also played as an individual) at 1-over 217 and a 34th-place showing by junior Michael Green at 5-over 221.

“We felt coming into the season that we had the talent to compete,” Haack said. “What I really like is seeing it come together so early in the year. I think the confidence we’ve gained from this tournament really bodes well for us for the rest of the season.”

Henley paced the Bulldogs on Tuesday at 6-under 66. After English’s 4-under 68, Georgia got 1-under 71 tallies from Harman and Swafford, and an even-par 72 from Mitchell. Green closed with a 3-over 75 and Bennett wrapped with a 5-over 77.

The Bulldogs will return to action Oct. 28-30 at the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational in Orlando, Fla.