Staff Directory
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- (478) 301-5625
As Gary Guyer enters his seventh full season as head coach ofthe Mercer University women's golf team, the program has never beenin better shape. During his first six years in Macon, Guyer haspositioned Mercer as a consistent challenger for conference titlesand has led the Bears into the national spotlight.
Guyer is the winningest coach in Mercer women’s golfhistory. During his tenure, he has led the Bears to 10 tournamentvictories, two third place finishes in the A-Sun ConferenceChampionship and guided one student-athlete to an NCAA Regionalat-large bid.
Gary Guyer assumed the reins of the Mercer women's golf programin January, 2007 on an interim basis. Since then, he hasconsistently worked to develop a top-tier program with a goal ofbecoming a top-30 team and advancing to the NCAA’s. Each year under Guyer’s leadership, the program has improvedin the GolfStat rankings, most recently finishing the 2013-14campaign ranked No. 55 in the country.
NCAA End of the Year Rankings (GolfStat):
2014- 55/256; 2013-76/254; 2012-112/253; 2011-143/252; 2010-157/237; 2009-188/237; 2008- 210/226
"2013-2014 was another good year for us,” Guyersaid. “We started the fall season with two victories and twothird place finishes. This gave us a 37-4 head-to-head record,which was one of the best records in the country. In the spring,our second place finish at the Insperity Lady Jaguar (where we ledVanderbilt going into the final round) gained us nationalrecognition.”
As a people person and excellent mentor, Guyer has presided overan era of prosperity within his program. When you look at all thethings you want in a coach -- recruiting skills, dealing withplayers academically and athletically, and knowledge of the game– Guyer earns high marks from the golfing community.
On the course, Guyer’s' laid-back demeanor translates intohis coaching style, which involves being there to lend advice whileletting his athletes play, and not trying to push a style orphilosophy on them. On the recruiting trail, however, it is allabout hard work. Guyer is a tireless recruiter who scours Americalooking for players who he believes are focused on success, bothacademically and athletically.
"Mercer University has always placed a premium on academics andathletics. I tell my players and recruits to look at academics asyour mother and athletics as your father. You love them both thesame. This year we had one Academic All-American and seven ofour nine student-athletes had a 3.0 or better. Our team GPA was3.66."
Guyer's philosophy is to place a strong emphasis on buildingindividual relationships with his players and finding whatmotivates each player. Practice sessions focus on individual skilldevelopment within a competitive and supportive team environment.Each practice, whether it is on skills or a playing lesson, isgeared towards game day.
"Most of our focus is on preparing for competition,” Guyersaid. “We must be physically and mentally prepared for everytournament. It comes down to having a complete strategy on how weare going to play the course and then being in a state of mind towhere we can execute that game plan. Executing the ordinary in anincredible manner wins championships.”
Guyer served as the director of the Georgia Golf Ministry, whichwas associated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, from 1997until his appointment at Mercer. He is co-founder of D1 Golf whichwas created to educate, equip and inspire America's teachingprofessionals, golf coaches and their student-athletes.
Guyer attended the University of Georgia and graduated from theTerry College of Business. Until 1997, Guyer worked as anInvestment Banker in the securities industry. He is married to theformer Barbara Basinger of Athens. The couple has two daughters,Lane and Allison, and two sons, Lath and Rhett. Lath playedbaseball for the Mercer Bears from 2005 – 2010 where they wonthe 2010 A-Sun Championship and went to the NCAA’s.
Gary Guyer is a Level II PGA apprentice and is working towardshis PGA certification.
The GUYEREra
NCAAAppearances
2014- Lacey Fears (Individual)
Atlantic SunChampionship
2014- 3rd Place
2013- 4th Place
2012- 3rd Place
2011- 6th Place
2010- 6th Place
2009- 8th Place
2008- 6th Place
TournamentWins
2013 LPGA Xavier Invitational
2013 EAT A PEACH Collegiate
2013 Ocala Spring Invitational
2013 EAT A PEACH Collegiate
2012 Courtyard Classic at Jacksonville University
2011 EAT A PEACH Collegiate
2011 Coastal Georgia Invitational
2010 EAT A PEACH Collegiate
2008 Cateechee Classic
2007 Cateechee Classic
Top 5Finishes
2014 Insperity Lady Jaguar (2nd)
2014 John Kirk Panther Intercollegiate (5th)
2013 Great Smokies Intercollegiate (3rd)
2013 Hurricane Invitational (5th)
2013 Lady Paladin Invitational (5th)
2013 LPGA Invitational (3rd)
2013 Terrier Intercollegiate (5th)
2012 Cincinnati Spring Invitational (5th)
2011 LPGA Xavier Invitational (5th)
2011 Chris Banister Gamecock Classic (4th)
2011 JU Women’s Classic (5th)
2010 Chris Banister Gamecock Classic (4th)
2008 Wofford Invitational (3rd)
2007 Fighting Camel Classic (2nd)
All-ConferenceSelections
2014- Lacey Fears- All-Conference First Team
2014- Mary Alice Murphy- All-Conference Second Team
2014- Katy Harris- All-Conference Freshman Team
2013- Lacey Fears- All-Conference First Team
2013- Mary Alice Murphy- All-Conference Second Team
2012- Lacey Fears- All-Conference First Team
2012- Mary Alice Murphy- All-Conference Second Team
2012- Sarah Louie Brown- All-Freshman First Team
2011- Mary Alice Murphy- All-Freshman First Team
2007- Anna Hill- All-Freshman First Team
2007- Anna Rogers- All-Conference First Team
AcademicAll-Americans
2014- Mary Alice Murphy
2013- Aurelie Wiriath
2013- Mary Alice Murphy
2012- Aurelie Wiriath
2011- Aurelie Wiriath
2011- Mary Alice Murphy
2010- Alex Quagliata
