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GMC National Championship Golf Team Meets with Georgia Governor

GMC's National Championship Golf Team Visit with Georgia Governor

On Wednesday, August 14, 2019, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp welcomed GMC's 2019 NJCAA National Championship Golf team to the Capitol.

Back in June the team closed an eleven-shot gap on the last day to win the National Championship. Dusty Watts, who received All American Honors while finishing 2nd and recently qualified for the GA Ammature, said meeting the Governor was an honor.

"It was a great experience to tour the capitol building,” Watts said. “To meet someone with as much power and responsibility as the Governor is a privilege, and it provided us the opportunity to reunite the team and reminisce on our achievement."

All Americans, Luke Ninneman and Austin Quillian, echoed Watts’ sentiments.

“This was my first time in the Capitol building, and it was a cool experience,” Ninnman said. “It’s not something you get to do that often so you just have to take it in and remember it,” Quillian added.

Team Captain, Jake Johnson, said visiting the Capitol was a privilege.

"I liked being able to take another trip with these guys and being able to have the chance to meet someone as special as the Governor,” Johnson said. “He’s a busy guy but he took time out of his day to meet with us and that’s pretty awesome.”

This is Coach Van Horn's first championship with the team, but GMC golf has spent much of the last three years at the top, winning two of the last three Championships.

"As a coach you work for these moments and when they happen it's a bit surreal,” Van Horn said. “It was another great day for team GMC. I look forward to the challenge of making this a yearly event."

The team was joined by GMC President, Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell, IV, GMC Athletic Director, Bert Williams, Assistant Coach, Michael Williams, and Harold Mason, a dedicated supporter of the golf program.

Mason was truly excited to join the team for this honor, saying, "I was so grateful that the team invited me. I was impressed by the Governor, he was so easy to talk to and made our team feel so welcome.”

Athletic teams at GMC have won their fair share of National Championships over the years and Williams has seen them all. He says each time is just as exciting as the last.

"I am so proud of our team and what they accomplished this year,” Williams said. “Celebrating championship in this manner is always great moment, but celebrating two in three years with this golf program is really special."

The team will be back at it in just a few weeks as they begin their fight for championship number four. You can catch them in action locally on September 23-24, 2019, as they host 17 other programs in the annual Bulldog Classic held this at the Harbor Club in Lake Oconee.

For more information about GMC Athletics please contact Assistant Athletic Director Greg Zecca at gzecca@gmc.edu.