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Mercer University

Mercer University is a private comprehensive university in Macon, Georgia, with additional campuses in Atlanta and other locations, known for its strong health‑sciences, business, and liberal‑arts programs. Students often rave about the close‑knit campus community, engaged faculty, many student organizations, and the chance to be involved in research, service, and campus‑wide events while still having access to nearby cities.

State

Georgia

Student Population

10,300

Acceptance Rate

66–69%

GPA Range

3.2–3.6

SAT Range

1180–1350

Common Majors

nursing and health‑related fields, business, psychology, biology

“Mercer feels like a small, supportive campus where you can study in strong health‑ and business‑focused programs, get involved quickly, and still be close to cities, and many students say they were surprised by how easily the residential‑life events and service‑oriented community made them feel at home.”

Team & Tuition

Divison

Division 1

Tuition (no scholarship)

$42,176

Conference

Southern Conference

Scholarships Available

Yes. Both athletic and academic.

Avg Men's Scores

72.65

Avg Women's Scores

75.34

Men's Team Notes

Bears men averaged 290.6 over 25 rounds at John Hayt Collegiate (Sawgrass Country Club) and Southern Conference Championship (The Preserve at Verdae), posting top-5 finishes with strong par-5 birdie rates led by upperclassmen. Precise irons navigated Florida winds and Carolina hills effectively.

Women's Team Notes

Bear women carded 301.4 scores at Liz Murdock Memorial (Forest Hills Golf Club) and Lady Vol Classic (Willow Creek GC), securing top-8s highlighted by freshmen approach precision. Birdie surges boosted positioning on challenging Georgia and Tennessee layouts.

Coaches

Men's Coach

Jason Payne

Women's Coach

Michele Drinkard

Men's Email

payne_jc@mercer.edu

Women's Email

drinkard_sm@mercer.edu

Men's Coach Bio

Jason Payne is Mercer men’s head golf coach, leading the Bears in the Southern Conference. Returning for a second stint at Mercer, he was named head coach in 2021 and has guided the program through a strong, conference‑heavy schedule with a focus on fundamentals and scoring‑oriented play. Payne emphasizes a demanding practice culture and team accountability, helping position Mercer men’s golf as a consistent SoCon‑level program and an NCAA‑postseason‑caliber contender.

Women's Coach Bio

Michele Drinkard is Mercer women’s head golf coach, directing the Bears in the Southern Conference. Hired in 2015, she brings a long head‑coaching career that includes multiple NCAA‑Tournament‑qualifying seasons at Ole Miss and Birmingham‑Southern. Drinkard focuses on technical‑skill refinement, short‑game work, and a high‑academic, team‑driven environment, helping Mercer women’s golf steadily improve its conference finishes and national‑ranking presence.

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