IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUGUST 4, 2004

TWO NEW SPORTS COMING ABAC BEGINNING IN 2005

TIFTON—Two new sports will be phased in at Abraham Baldwin College over the next two years. In the fall of 2005, the college will bring back the Men’s Golf program, and in the fall of 2006, a Women’s Soccer team will be added to the growing list of sports offered on campus.

Alan Kramer, Athletics’ Director and Men’s Tennis Coach said, “We wanted to take a hard look in the mirror at the programs we were offering looking ahead toward ABAC’s 100- year anniversary (in 2008).”

Kramer said Herb Hendrix will be coaching golf starting in the fall of 2005. Hendrix is presently the intramurals director at the college. Women can play on the golf team but must hit from the same tees as the men.

“Golf will be the perfect fit, having our own golf course (Forest Lakes) and the popularity of our own Golf Turf Management program,” Kramer said.

Before being eliminated because of a lack of statewide competition, men’s golf fared well at ABAC, producing several top flight golfers, including Sonny Skinner from Sylvester.

A national search for a full-time instructor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and soccer coach begins this fall. The position will be available in the fall of 2005. “The interest in soccer locally and nationally has soared over the years. Almost everyone is playing soccer,” Kramer said.

Kramer said one women’s program will be phased out. Women’s tennis will not be available after spring 2006. The incoming freshmen players will have every opportunity to play for two years before the program is dissolved.

“ABAC has taken the position of building a reputation, not resting on one. And the addition of these programs only strengthens the entire ABAC Athletics Department. That is why we’ve added these new sports to the list of athletics,” Kramer said.

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