Columbus, Ga. – Riding a bogey-free first 34 holes in the tournament, Georgia Tech’s Andy Mao shot a 2-under-par 68 Saturday and finished off a two-stroke victory at the Southeastern Amateur at the Country Club of Columbus.
Mao, who lost a playoff to his teammate Aidan Kramer for the title at the Rice Planters Amateur in late June, led this event from early in the second round Friday. He played his first 34 holes without a bogey, carding a 7-under-par 63 Thursday and a 5-under-par 65 Friday to take a two-stroke lead. His only bogeys came on the final two holes of his second round.
On Sunday, the Johns Creek, Ga., senior birdied four of the first 14 holes without a bogey to get to 16-under-par and build a four-stroke lead. He was able to withstand a pair of bogeys at 15 and 17 to win the tournament by two over University of Alabama senior Tyler Lipscomb of Carrollton, Ga., who shot 7-under-par 63 to make a challenge. Mao posted a 54-hole total of 196, Lipscomb a 12-under-par 198.
Mao had tied for 70th place and 29th place, respectively, in the Southeastern Invitational the last two years.
Two other Georgia Tech golfers competed this weekend – freshman Hiroshi Tai (Singapore/Windermere, Fla.) tied for 19th place with a score of 207 (-3), and junior Adam Bratton (Newburgh, Ind.) tied for 33rd with an even-par total of 210.
Andy Mao wins the @SoutheasternAm !! #GTGOLF senior finishes out a 2-under-par 68 and a 14-under-par 196 tournament total at the Country Club of Columbus. Third Yellow Jacket champion this summer. #gojackets pic.twitter.com/lxMVLZ8lPM
— Georgia Tech Golf (@GTGolf) July 23, 2022
Prior to this weekend, Mao tied for 18th at the Monroe Invitational in his most recent tournament, tied for sixth (second alternate) at the U.S. Amateur qualifier in Johns Creek in late June, and tied for eighth (second alternate) in the U.S. Open qualifier in Roswell, Ga., in early June. He played in three events for the Yellow Jackets in 2021-22, recording a tie for 43rd at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate for his high finish.
Mao becomes the seventh player from Georgia Tech to win this event, won most recently by current rising senior Connor Howe in 2020. Seth Reeves, currently a member of the PGA Tour after graduating from Tech in 2014, won the Southeastern Invitational in 2013. Watts Gunn (1928), Stanley Holditch (1934), Bill Eager (1936) and Tommy Barnes (1938, 1946) also have their names on the Jordan-Martin Trophy.
He is the fourth different Georgia Tech player to win a major amateur event since December. Bartley Forrester won the Monroe Invitational two weeks ago, while Kramer won the Rice Planters Amateur in late June, and Howe captured the Patriot All-America Invitational in December.
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ABOUT GEORGIA TECH GOLF
Georgia Tech’s golf team has completed 27 years under head coach Bruce Heppler, winning 70 tournaments in his tenure. The Yellow Jackets have won 18 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 31 appearances in the NCAA Championship and been the national runner-up four times. Connect with Georgia Tech Golf on social media by liking their Facebook page, or following on Twitter (@GTGolf) and Instagram. For more information on Tech golf, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
