Area football player, golfer share name, success

During the past few years, the name Adam McKinney has made plenty of appearances in The News-Times . After all, McKinney was a standout high school quarterback for Augusta Christian before bulking up and becoming a solid collegiate defensive end at Presbyterian College.

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So, when I heard Adam McKenney had won a Regions Cup golf event this summer, I must admit I was caught off guard. Surely McKinney was not moonlighting as a scratch golfer.

Well, I quickly learned that McKenney was definitely a golfer, and he had a solid prep career, too. He was a standout for Evans High School. He, too, went on to college as a scholarship athlete, only he did not have to bulk up to hit the links for Georgia Southwestern University in Americus, Ga.

Last week, McKenney had a couple of days he will not soon forget. He and his teammates were in Orlando, Fla., for the Coker College Invitational, and McKenney blew past the field to claim the individual title.

First, McKenney got off to a scorching start with 5-under-par 67 at the Orange County National Golf Center, good for the individual lead heading into Tuesday's final round.

With the tournament on the line, McKenney avoided a Day 2 letdown by carding an impressive 3-under-par 69 to finish at 8-under and better Florida Southern's Jude Eustaquio by two shots.

The win is McKenney's fourth title during a stellar college career. He previously won the ABAC Invitational, the West Georgia Invitational and the Georgia Southwestern Invitational.

So far this fall, McKenney has been outstanding. Through four competitive rounds, he is 9-under par, with rounds of 71, 70, 67 and 69. His 69.25 scoring average is tops on his team by three full shots, and it would put him in contention for All-American status if he comes close to keeping it up this spring. Georgia Southwestern has two more fall events before beginning preparation for its 2009 spring schedule.

McKenney, who also provides leadership as a senior, is one of three Columbia County players who tee it up for Georgia Southwestern. Greenbrier product Chris Hall (sophomore, 76.3 average this fall) and Evans Christian Academy grad Casey Hicks (freshman) also are on the team.

The CSRA pipeline to Americus is not surprising when you learn that Georgia Southwestern golf coach Stan Shurling was born in Augusta in 1950.

So, from now on, I will be sure to follow the career path of McKinney and McKenney, who both call Columbia County home.