July 24, 2017
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech’s representation in the U.S. Amateur from its current roster grew to four last week when rising senior Jacob Joiner qualified on Monday, and rising sophomores Andy Ogletree and Luke Schniederjans both qualified on Wednesday.
They will join rising senior Chris Petefish for the 117th U.S. Amateur, which will take place Aug. 14-20 at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. A total of 7,149 entries were accepted by the United States Golf Association, sixty-four players are fully exempt into the championship and qualifying continues across the country and in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico through Tuesday, July 25. A total of 100 sites have been used for qualifying.
U.S. Amateur qualifying results to date | Georgia Tech in 2017 amateur events
Like Petefish, who won his qualifier in Salix, Pa., Joiner and Schniederjans also were medalists at theirs. Joiner, a senior from Leesburg, Ga., won by a stroke at Burning Tree Country Club in Decatur, Ala., earning his second entry into the U.S. Amateur. Joiner also won his qualifier to advance into the championship in 2014. Schniederjans (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Ogletree (Little Rock, Miss.) both attempted to qualify at Capital City Club’s Crabapple Course in Milton, Ga., Schniederjans winning and Ogletree tying for third. Schniederjans also won his qualifier last summer at Horseshoe Bend, and will make his second appearance in the U.S. Amateur. Ogletree is competing for the first time.
Sophomore Tyler Strafaci (Davie, Fla.) and incoming freshman Noah Norton (Chico, Calif.), who both competed in the U.S. Junior Amateur last week, will attempt to qualify for the U.S. Amateur this week.
MORE AMATEUR ACTIVITY
Porter Cup – Chris Petefish, who has a pair of wins and three other top-10 finishes this summer, led for portions of the 59th Porter Cup last weekend in Lewiston, N.Y., but fell victim to a final-round 64 from Brandon Wu of Scarsdale, N.Y. and finished as the runner-up. Petefish shot rounds of 66-69-70-67 to finish at 8-under-par 272. Wu’s closing heroics gave him a 72-score of 269 (-11). Petefish has won the Azalea Amateur and his U.S. Amateur qualifier this summer, and has top-10 finishes at the Monroe Invitational and the Terra Cotta Invitational.
Southern Amateur – Senior James Clark (Columbus, Ga.) tied for 27th at the Southern Amateur last week at the Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst, N.C. Playing steady as ever, Clark shot rounds of 72-69-72-73 for a 72-hole total of 286 (-2).
RAMBLIN’ WRECK CUP SET FOR NOV. 13 AT GOLF CLUB OF GEORGIA
The Ramblin’ Wreck Cup, Georgia Tech’s annual fund-raising event for the Yellow Jackets’ golf program, is set for Monday, Nov. 13, at The Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta, Ga.
The annual event typically attracts several former Tech greats and some current PGA Tour players, as well as all the current members of the Yellow Jackets’ nationally-ranked team. Every group has one tour pro or a current or former Tech player. Dinner and a raffle for prizes follow the golf competition. The last two events attracted a record turnout and a record level of donations.
Tech alumni and golf fans interested in participating in the event can get more information by calling head coach Bruce Heppler in the golf office at 404-894-4423 or by e-mailing him at bheppler@athletics.gatech.edu.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH GOLF
Georgia Tech’s golf team is in its 23rd year under head coach Bruce Heppler. The Yellow Jackets have won 16 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 28 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 (@GT_Golf) and Instagram. For more information on Tech golf, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
