Augusta, GA
Augusta University tuition, housing and meal plans to increase
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta University students will pay more for tuition, housing and meal plans.
The increases apply to both full-time and part-time students.
Georgia’s first need-based scholarship will become available and could help ease the burden for families.
Esperanza Lorenzo Martinez, a junior kinesiology major and first-generation student, said costs add up beyond tuition.
“It’ll still add up, especially like there’s so many things that they add on situation costs, like the lab fees and like, it might be maybe like $30, but you add that with maybe you’re taking like 5, six classes, then that adds up to maybe like 300, $400,” Martinez said.
Kyle Parsons, director of student financial aid and scholarships, said students have different paths depending on what aid they qualify for.
“For many students, that path is going to look different depending on what types of aid they may qualify for, whether that’s a need-based source of fund, a scholarship, or a state or federal grant,” Parsons said. “One of the biggest opportunities is for students to qualify for the Hope Scholarship or Zell Miller Scholarship.”
Rihanna McGahee, a senior communications major, said scholarships can help with tuition but the balance shifts.
“Even though we have scholarships that we can apply for, it can be used for tuition, but we could also lose money while gaining money at the same time,” McGahee said.
Omariaon Butts, a criminal justice major and intern with Augusta University Police Department, said the increase could affect students without scholarships.
“I think I would be more concerned for the ones who didn’t and they had to pull out a bunch of loans or maybe pay out of pocket and now it’s got to be extra,” Butts said.
Parsons said the university wants to help students navigate the increases.
“We want to make sure that they understand that there is a path forward, that just because something increases doesn’t mean that we can’t help offset that somewhere else,” Parsons said. “We want to make sure that students are set up for success, that they’re in a position to be able to focus on their academics and not on the financial barriers that stand in front of them.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Republican U.S. Senate candidate Buddy Carter is scheduled to make a campaign stop in Augusta as part of his statewide “Fly Around” tour ahead of Georgia’s Republican primary on Tuesday.
Supporters are invited to attend the Augusta event at 1501 FBO Way. Organizers ask attendees to arrive no later than 11:40 a.m.
Carter’s tour includes additional stops in Savannah, Macon, Albany, Columbus and Atlanta as he works to rally voters before primary day.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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Dates: May 18-20
Location: UGA Golf Course- Augusta, GA
Teams
1. Auburn
2. Illinois
3. Vanderbilt
4. BYU
5. Georgia
6. Louisville
7. Kansas
8. Northwestern
9. College of Charleston
10. Rice
11. Southern Mississippi
12. Harvard [The Ivy League]
13. Howard [Northeast Conference]
Format
The NCAA organizes six regional tournaments, and each field consists of 12 teams and six individuals. After three rounds of stroke play at a regional tournament, the top five teams from each location advance to the national championship. The top individual on a non-advancing team from each regional site advances as well.
The Course
The UGA Golf Course has received numerous accolades during its 55+ years of existence. It is a fixture in Golfweek Magazine’s collegiate golf course rankings, coming in at #26 in 2022. In the state of Georgia, the UGA Golf Course is ranked as the 12th best public golf course to play by Golfweek Magazine. GolfAdvisor, which is more focused on customer reviews, ranked the UGA Golf Course as the #1 course in Georgia, the #1 collegiate course in the U.S., and the 10th best course in the nation to play according to data collected in 2021.
In May 2006, Love Golf Design of St. Simons Island was hired to renovate the green complexes and add 21 new tees to both lengthen and shorten the golf course to improve playability for all golfer abilities. The new championship Bulldog Tees stretched the course to almost 7,300 yards and provided the best collegiate and professional golfers with a very stern test. The golf course reopened in December 2006 to rave reviews.
Vandy’s Roster
Wells Williams- Senior
#20 ranked player, 1 Top 3, 68.4 scoring average
Will Hartman- Freshman
#278 ranked player, 70.9 scoring average
Chase Nevins- Junior
#180 ranked player, 70.1 scoring average
John Ed Steed- Freshman
#86 ranked player, 1 Top 3, 69.5 scoring average
Ryan Downes- Sophomore
#80 ranked player, 1 win at the Bryson Invitational, 69.6 scoring average
How Vandy Got Here
Vandy put together another nationally relevant season in 2026, spending much of the spring ranked inside the top 15 and consistently competing against elite SEC and national fields. Under head coach Scott Limbaugh, the Commodores combined veteran leadership with one of the country’s strongest young cores.
The season was highlighted by several strong tournament finishes, including a runner-up performance at the Mason Rudolph Championship in Nashville, where Vanderbilt finished behind Auburn after shooting under par in all three rounds. Freshman Jon Ed Steed emerged as one of the team’s breakout stars with multiple top-five individual finishes during the spring.
Senior standout Wells Williams anchored the roster throughout the year and earned first-team All-SEC honors, while Steed was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Williams also repeated as SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Commodore golfer to win the award in consecutive seasons.
At the SEC Championship in Sea Island, Vanderbilt entered as a top-10/top-15 caliber team nationally, but the tournament ended disappointingly. The Commodores were in contention entering the final stretch before a difficult closing round dropped them to 15th place overall at 3-over par, ending their SEC title hopes early.
Opponents
1. Auburn
#1 ranked team nationally, won 5 and placed Top 3 in 10 events out of 12 played. Placed 1st in SEC Championship stroke play and 3rd in match play. Lead by Jackson Koivun (#1 nationally, 66.4 scoring average). Most famous golf alumni is Jason Dufner.
2. Illinois
#12 nationally ranked, Big Ten runner up, 3 wins and 8 Top 3’s in 11 tournaments. Finished 2nd in the Big 10 Championship. Lead by Max Herendeen (#51 ranked player, 69.5 average, 1 win). Most famous golf alumni is Steve Stricker.
4. BYU
#24 ranked, 3 wins and 6 Top 3’s in 12 tournaments. Finished 6th in Big 12 Tournament. Lead by Khei Akina (#6 ranked player, 68.0 scoring average, 2 wins and 4 Top 3’s. Most famous golf alumni is Johnny Miller.
5. Georgia
#26 ranked, 3 wins and 4 Top 3’s in 12 tournaments. Host school for region. Lead by Carter Loflin (#67 ranked player, 69.7 scoring average, 2 wins. Kevin Kisner is most famous golf alumni.
6. Louisville
#36 ranked nationally, 0 wins but 3 Top 3’s in 10 tournaments played. 7th in ACC Tournament. Lead by Cooper Claycomb (#115 ranked player, 1 win, 69.8 scoring average). Most famous golf alumni is Adam Hadwin.
7. Kansas
#37 ranked team, 1 win and 5 Top 3’s in 12 events. 5th in Big 12 Tournament. Lead by William King (#145 ranked player, 0 wins or Top 3’s but a 69.9 scoring average). Most famous golf alumni is Gary Woodland.
8. Northwestern
#50 ranked team, 0 wins or Top 3’s. Finished 9th in Big 10 Tournament. Lead by Daniel Savard (#69 ranked player, 2 Top 3’s, 69.2 scoring average). Matt Fitzpatrick is most famous golf alumni.
9. College of Charleston
#51 ranked team, 3 wins and 5 Top 3’s in 10 events played. Finished 3rd in CAA Championship. Lead by Miles Eubanks (#117 ranked player, 1 win and 2 Top 3’s, scoring average of 69.7). Most famous golf alumni is Kieron van Wyk.
10. Rice
#62 ranked team, 2 wins and 4 Top 3’s in 11 events played. Finished 3rd in the American Conference Championship. Lead by Lukas Boandl (#93 ranked player, 1 win and 2 Top 3’s, 69.6 scoring average. Most famous golf alumni is Brad Lardon.
11. Southern Mississippi
#63 ranked team, 2 wins and 7 Top 3’s in 10 events. Finished 3rd in the Sunbelt Conference Championship. Lead by Benjamin Fernandez (#203 ranked player, 4 Top 3’s, 70.6 scoring average). Most famous golf alumni is Mark Blackburn.
12. Harvard
#124 ranked team, 2 wins and 3 Top 3’s in 7 events played. Won the Ivy League Championship. Lead by Barry Zhang (#598 ranked player, 1 win at the Ivy League Championships, 72.2 scoring average). Most famous golf alumni is Edwards Stimpson who invented the stimp meter.
13. Howard
#190 ranked team, 2 wins and 4 Top 3’s in 11 events played. Won the NEC Championship. Lead by Francisco Perez (#768 ranked player, 1 win at the Colin Montgomery HCU Invitational, 73.2 scoring average). Their most famous golf alumni is Gregory Howell Jr.
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Matthew Wayne Pollock was called home on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
Born on May 31, 1983, in Augusta, Georgia, Matt was known for his kind heart, gentle spirit, and deep love for both his family and animals. He dedicated many years of service to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center and Doctors Hospital of Augusta, where he built lasting friendships and touched the lives of many through his compassion and hard work. Matt also spent time working in veterinary medicine at Blanchard Woods Animal Hospital, combining his love for animals with his caring nature.
Matt found joy in the outdoors and especially loved hunting and golfing with his Uncle Scott, creating memories he treasured deeply. He loved Georgia football. He had an enormous heart, was always willing to help others, and shared an especially close bond with his mother, whom he loved more than anything.
He is survived by his mother, Karen Pollock; his father, Roger Pollock Sr. (Debbie); his aunt, Diane Wisnieski; his uncles, Kenny Pollock (Petra) and Scott Pollock; his stepson, John Turner (Shounette); his brothers, Douglas Pollock (Katherine) and Roger Pollock Jr. (Samantha); his stepsisters, Laura Wayland and Michelle Mashak; his nephews, Cameron Mashak, Kaiden Mashak, and Bennett Pollock; his niece, Charlotte Pollock; and many loving cousins.
Matt was preceded in death by his beloved uncle, Scott Wisnieski; his grandmother, Uta “Nana” Wisnieski; and his grandfather, Bob “Papa” Wisnieski.
Though his family’s hearts are broken, they find comfort in knowing Matt is reunited with his Nana, Papa, and Uncle Scott, where he has finally found peace, happiness, and rest.
He will be deeply missed and forever loved by all who knew him.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 20, at 2:00 p.m. at Platts Funeral Home, 337 N. Belair Road, Evans, GA 30809. You are welcome to come as Matt remembered you. The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m., one hour prior to the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Matt’s memory to the Burn Foundation of America in Augusta, GA (Burn Foundation of America | Augusta, GA).
Arrangements were provided by Platt’s Funeral Home 337 North Belair Road, Evans, GA 30809 (706) 860-6166. Please take a moment to share your condolences, memories, and photos at online guestbook at plattsfuneralhome.com.
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