[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 96 (Thursday, June 24, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1198-E1199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THANKING RUSSELL HENLEY, ERIK COMPTON, AND HUDSON SWAFFORD FOR THEIR 
 FINE REPRESENTATION OF UGA AND THE STATE OF GEORGIA AT THE 2010 U.S. 
                           OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

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                           HON. PAUL C. BROUN

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 24, 2010

  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank three 
members of The

[[Page E1199]]

Bulldawg Nation who not only competed well at the 2010 U.S. Open 
Championship, but also represented our great state and flagship 
university with class. All three have displayed the fortitude and 
dedication that makes them great role models for young golfers today. 
Hudson Swafford battled back from shoulder surgery to compete in this 
year's Open, Erik Compton has survived two heart transplants, and 
Russell Henley has worked hard to receive numerous awards, including 
being named Golfweek's National Player of the Year after finishing No. 
1 in the final Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index for 2009-2010. Henley 
also tied with one other player for low amateur status at the 2010 U.S. 
Open.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in commending these young men. I also 
hope Members of the House will turn their attention to the attached 
article--written by author and Bulldawg great Loran Smith--on the class 
they exhibited at this year's U.S. Open.

                Fans Love the Dawgs; Dawgs Love the Open

                            (By Loran Smith)

       Pebble Beach, CA.--At the par-4 dogleg No. 8 hole at Pebble 
     Beach, hard by the Pacific Ocean, a fan yelled out as Russell 
     Henley passed through in the second round on Friday: ``Go 
     Bulldogs!''
       This obviously was a fan who had become attracted to the 
     play of Henley, playing partner Erik Compton and Hudson 
     Swafford, who was in the group behind them. If he had shouted 
     the familiar ``Go Dawgs!'' it would not have given him away 
     as a new Georgia fan.
       ``It has been amazing,'' said Compton, who missed the cut 
     with a two round total of 158, 16 over par. ``You won't 
     believe the number of times I heard someone shouting, `Go 
     Dawgs!' It made me feel like I was back in Athens.''
       Compton has something to do with the regard for the Bulldog 
     contingent in that his compelling story continues to attract 
     attention. How many times do the TV networks and the 
     Washington Post show up to interview a guy who is 16 over 
     par?
       It would only be natural that a player who has had two 
     heart transplants would attract media attention, even when he 
     misses the cut. That he wants to follow his dream of playing 
     the PGA tour with his considerable challenge piques the media 
     interest.
       ``Anyone going through what he has gone through makes it 
     something special in the fact that he is here,'' said Chris 
     Haack, his coach at Georgia.
       There is more to the story.
       ``I think Russell and Hudson (Swafford) have enjoyed 
     themselves and have played to the crowd,'' Haack continued. 
     ``They have made a lot of friends for the University of 
     Georgia.''
       It would be easy to spot Henley and Swafford with their 
     Georgia golf bags and Bulldog head covers. But they were not 
     all show. They displayed shotmaking savvy that engendered 
     respect.
       ``That is the thing that I have enjoyed the most,'' Haack 
     added. ``I think they showed the other players in the Open 
     that they can play golf and should be joining them out here 
     someday.''
       Haack met a couple from Colorado during the first round. 
     When he showed up on the second day they were following his 
     guys.
       ``We became Georgia fans after talking to you and watching 
     your players,'' the Colorado couple said. ``They are very 
     nice, and it is fun to see them having such a good time and 
     enjoying themselves.''
       Early in the week, Haack was in the middle of his summer 
     golf camp when Swofford called him and said, ``Coach you need 
     to come out here and see this place. You just won't believe 
     how unbelievable it is.''
       Haack was torn emotionally. He wanted to be here, but he 
     felt responsible to the kids in his camp. At first, he 
     hesitated.
       ``I haven't made any arrangements,'' Haack said. ``I don't 
     even have a place to stay.''
       With that, Swofford caused Haack to rethink his plans with 
     an invitation to room with him. Haack discussed it with his 
     campers, fully expecting to stay in Athens if there were any 
     expressions of disappointment. The campers told him he ought 
     to strike out for Pebble Beach.
       ``I was excited about coming out here when I got the 
     call,'' Haack said. ``The fact that two of our players are 
     competing in the Open is special, and it doesn't happen very 
     often. Might not ever happen again. The players arranged a 
     player instructor pass for me which gave me access to the 
     practice tee. I have had a great time. Who wouldn't enjoy 
     Pebble Beach?''
       In the first round, when Swafford was leading briefly at 2-
     under par, the text messages began streaming in. All Haack 
     could think about was that his players had to be getting 
     attention for a lot of recruiting prospects.
       ``These boys have done Georgia proud,'' he said. ``I'm 
     grateful that they wanted me to come out and join them.''
       In the background, the waves of the Pacific were crashing 
     against the rocks along the 18th fairway and sea otters were 
     cavorting energetically in the ocean. The Georgia contingent, 
     enjoying themselves to the fullest, realize that there are 
     few golf experiences to compare to the Open at Pebble Beach.
       For Henley, there is something extra. He now has a chance 
     to become the low amateur by nightfall Sunday.

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