Sports Page Atlanta

Former Georgia Bulldog Ryuji Imada won on the first playoff hole of the AT&T Classic to win his first ever PGA Tour event. Last year he lost in a playoff at this event, so this is extra special for him.

For his efforts he collects $990,000. Here is a final look at how all the former Bulldogs and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets did…

*** Georgia Bulldogs

Ryuji Imada: -15 (67) 1st place… led the tournament in putts per round… (drive for show and win for dough)

Justin Bolli: -12 (69) T-5th place… 21 birdies good, 11 bogeys bad… $200,000+ i’ll take it

Chris Kirk: -2 (75) T-52nd place… sunday was only round he finished over par

Bubba Watson: -9 (70) T-11th place… 2 pars on front 9 (also 5 birdies, 2 bogeys)

*** Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Stewart Cink: -9 (69) T-11th place… tough 7-8-9 (all bogeys)

Matt Kuchar: -8 (71) T-20th place… #18 this tourney (par, birdie, birdie, eagle)

Troy Matteson: -3 (72) T-44th place… #5 this weekend (triple bogey on saturday and a double bogey on sunday)

Larry Mize: -3 (71) T-44th place… not great, not bad, just solid solid solid

As I mentioned below, a lot of big time winners of the AT&T Classic (formely the BellSouth Classic, formely the Atlanta Classic and so-on and so-on).

I also mentioned if you are a fan of Georgia or Georgia Tech golf there are a lot of people you can be watching…

The three most famous ones are probably David Duval, Stewart Cink and Larry Mize. These former Yellow Jackets have had great pro careers. Duval was the 1999 winner at the BellSouth, Cink has 6 top-10 finishes on the course, while Mize has had two 2nd place finishes here, back in 1987 and in 1990.

Ryuji Imada got everyone excited last year when he lost in a playoff to Zach Johnson who just got off a win at the Masters. Ever year Imada improves at this course. In 2005 he finished 15th, in 2006 he finished 10th and last year 2nd. In 12 Tournaments this year, the former Georgia Bulldog has 2 runner-ups and is 22nd on the PGA Tour money list.

Another former Bulldog is Bubba Watson. He is a big-time crowd pleaser while his pink driver and his booming drives. Watson is the leader once again averaging over 310 yards a drive.

Here are the former Georgia Bulldogs that are playing…

• Justin Bolli
• Paul Claxton
• Ryuji Imada
• Chris Kirk
• Franklin Langham
• Scott Parel
• Bubba Watson

Here are the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets that are playing…

• Ramon Castro 
• Stewart Cink
• David Duval
• Matt Kuchar
• Troy Matteson
• Larry Mize
• Nicholas Thompson

The PODS Championship was help this past weekend in Tampa, Florida and three golfers from the area finished near the top.

• Ryuji Imada shot a final round 68 to finish two under for the tournament and grab a share of the second place prize pool. This marks twice that he’s finished second in a 2008 tournament. Imada turned pro in 1999 after leading the Georgia Bulldogs to a NCAA title.
• Troy Matteson shot a final round 69 to finish two under and also tie for second place. This is his best finish of the young 2008 schedule. Matteson was a 2003 graduate from the Georgia Tech golf team.
• Stewart Cink came into Sunday’s final round with the lead, but shot a 74 and finished tied for second. This also marks twice for Cink to finish in second place in 2008. Cink is a 1995 graduate of the Georgia Tech golf team.

Each of these three golfers took home $294,591 and change for their second place finish.