Kyle Mueller Wins Georgia Open at Kinderlou Forest, Valdosta Shines as Host City

The 2024 Georgia Open was held at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, GA. Kyle Mueller, of Athens, went wire-to-wire to win the event. Mueller’s four-day total of 274 (14 under par) was good enough to win by two strokes over Nicola Cassidy of Johns Creek. The tournament was Presented By A & R Comunities and Visit Valdosta.

Mueller started the tournament in blistering fashion with an 8-under-par 64 in the opening round on Thursday. He added steady rounds of 69, 69, and 72 to secure the win. Parker Claxton, a junior at Georgia Southern, took home low amateur honors and finished tied for third overall, with a total of 11 under par.

Kinderlou Forest was in excellent shape and provided a stern test for the field of 144 golfers. I was fortunate enough to participate in the Pro-Am on Wednesday and thoroughly enjoyed the course. Hats off to the maintenance staff for a job well done!

Although our Pro-Am team did not take home any hardware, we certainly had a wonderful time! I could not have asked for a better team, which consisted of Valdosta State University President Richard Carvajal, Greater Valdosta United Way CEO Michael Smith, and Kinderlou Forest Golf Professional Henry Westmoreland. Henry had a very respectable showing in the tournament, finishing at 2-under-par, in a tie for 17th.

The Georgia Open is held at a different course each year. Kinderlou Forest and the Valdosta area did a fantastic job hosting the 2024 event. I’d like to thank the Visit Valdosta team for inviting me to attend and for setting up a great week of golf and hospitality.

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to play another fine course in the area – Stone Creek. The course is defined by narrow fairways on the front side, with a more open layout on the back. The diverse design and excellent course conditions make it one to include on any visit to the South Georgia region. I was joined by Keith Weachter and appreciate him taking the time and being a great host.

My accommodations were at The McKey, a fantastic boutique hotel in downtown Valdosta. Originally constructed in 1906, the McKey building has a rich history as both a church and an office building. It has been revitalized as the first boutique hotel in Valdosta. The hotel features twelve spacious rooms, including seven suites. The McKey was the perfect home base for my stay, and it was just a short walk to many of Valdosta’s great restaurants and entertainment venues.

I enjoyed meals at 306 North and The Bistro, each offering diverse menus in an upscale casual environment.

The Georgia Beer Company is just minutes away from The McKey and offers a diverse array of beers brewed using local ingredients. The taproom is a great place to hang out and meet locals and visitors alike. The service and the beer were both fantastic! Downtown Social is another cool spot, and it’s just a two-minute walk from The McKey. Downtown Social has something for just about everyone who is looking for a good time: boutique bowling, shuffleboard, sports suites, darts, cold drinks, and tasty food. You can find it all at Downtown Social.

That’s just a preview of our experience in Valdosta while visiting during the Georgia Open. Look for more about this charming South Georgia destination in the Fall Issue of Southern Fairways Magazine. Until then, you can learn more at Visit Valdosta!