Bragg ends up having terrific fall golf season

Former Evans Golfer Kristen Bragg just wrapped up a terrific fall season for the Augusta State women's golf team.

Bragg did not come in as a highly touted prospect, but she was an immediate fixture among the Lady Jags starting lineup, and she was one of the key reasons ASU had a record-breaking fall.

The team captured the school's first tournament title with a win at the Taco Bell Intercollegiate in Greensboro, N.C. The Lady Jags bested Coastal Carolina by seven shots to claim the victory.

ASU also had a second-place finish in the inaugural Lady Jaguar Invitational last weekend at Forest Hills. In that event, Bragg was key to ASU's success as she finished 15th individually.

The field included some big-time programs including Florida State and eventual winner Maryland. During the four fall tournaments, Bragg recorded a scoring average of 80, with a low round of 73. As a team, Augusta State has finished t-11th, 1st, t-17th, and t-2nd. ASU resumes play Feb. 7 in Orlando, Fla., at the UCF Women's Invitational.

Bratton and the Paladins ride high

Throughout the football season I've closely monitored the Furman Paladin football program.

As many of you know, one of Furman's premier players happens to be former Lakeside High School star Brian Bratton.

Bratton, a senior wide receiver, and his Paladin teammates are enjoying quite a season. Last week, in front of more than 17,000 fans, they knocked off Georgia Southern.

It was a match-up of two of the nation's top three teams (No. 2 GSU/No. 3 Furman). Not to mention Georgia Southern was out-scoring opponents by an average of 40 points.

Well, Bratton and his Furman squad out-dueled GSU en route to a 29-22 victory.

Furman rallied for the win with a long scoring drive in the closing minutes of the game.

The biggest play of the drive was third-and-10 from near midfield.

On the play, Bratton hauled in a 20-yard pass from quarterback Ingle Martin.

In the latest Division I-AA poll, Furman moved up to No. 2. The Paladins have two games remaining as they chase a national title.

During Bratton's freshman season in 2001, Furman advanced to the national championship before losing to Delaware 13-6.

The Paladins will be one of the favorites to win the title when the Division I-AA playoffs start in a couple of weeks.

Bratton also continues to rewrite the Furman record books. This season he has 39 catches for 539 yards and six touchdowns. He also has carried the ball 12 times for 138 yards and two more scores, and he averages 23 yards per kick return.

He already owns every school kick-return record and he is closing in on some of the receiving marks, too.

If you think Bratton has gotten a lot of attention this season, there's a reason. He deserves it.