Oct. 16, 2015
Results and pairings via Golfstat
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Georgia Tech men’s golf team sits in a tie for 5th after a solid first round at the 10th United States Collegiate Championship at the Golf Club of Georgia. The Jackets finished the day with a score of 286 (-2), just four strokes back of leader Florida State.
TECH LINEUP – Jacob Joiner, who shot a 2-under 70 and is tied for 7th, led the Jackets. James Clark (T17) finished at 1-under after a round that included an eagle at the par-5 1st. Michael Pisciotta (T25) finished with a stellar even-par round, and Vince Whaley (T36) finished with a 1-over 73. Chris Petefish rounded out the scoring with a 4-over 76, placing him in a tie for 59th.
TEAM LEADERBOARD – The Atlantic Coast Conference flexed its muscles on Friday, placing three teams at the top of the leaderboard. Florida State, who had all five players shoot even par or better, leads the way with a 6-under 282. Virginia (-5, 283) and Wake Forest (-4, 284) sit at 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Clemson and Georgia Tech (-2, 286) sit in a tie for 5th, leaving only one non-ACC school near the top. Auburn sits at 4th after recording a score of 285 (-3).
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD – Virginia’s Derek Bard led the way on Friday with a round of 66 (-6). Wake Forest’s Cameron Young and Auburn’s Will Long sit two strokes behind after both shooting 68 (-4). FSU’s Jack McGuire, Clemson’s Miller Capps and Stanford’s Maverick McNealy finished the day three shots back after rounds of 69 (-3). Tech’s Jacob Joiner is currently in a tie for 7th with Oklahoma’s Grant Hirshman, Texas’ Beau Hossler, Mississippi’s Noah West and six others after a score of 70 (-2).
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION – The Carpet Capital Collegiate continues through Sunday at the 7,017-yard, par 72 Lakeside Course at the Golf Club of Georgia, which also serves as the Yellow Jackets’ home course. Tech has been the institutional host of this event since its inception in 2006. The Yellow Jackets finished seventh last year while Texas outlasted Virginia for the team title. The Cavaliers’ Derek Bard won medalist honors. The field is traditionally one of the strongest in college golf, and 16 of the 17 teams this year are in the current Golfstat top 50. Seven of those are ranked among the top 10, with five others in the top 25.
The field, in alphabetical order with Golfstat ranking – Auburn (1), Clemson (21), East Tennessee State (50), Florida State (4), Georgia Tech (19), Iowa (43), Kent State (48), LSU (27), Mississippi (71), Oklahoma (9), Oklahoma State (2), Southern California (7), Stanford (8), Texas (13), UCLA (24), Virginia (22), Wake Forest (5)
TECH’S UNITED STATES COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY – Georgia Tech has won the USCC twice in its nine-year history, in 2010 and 2012. Clemson is the only other multiple winner, having captured the inaugural title in 2006 and again in 2009. James White, who set tournament records for 18-hole score (62) and 54-hole score (204), won medalist honors in 2010, while Ollie Schniederjans won it in 2013 for Tech’s only individual titles. The Yellow Jackets’ seventh-place finish last fall was its lowest in the nine previous events.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH GOLF
Georgia Tech’s golf team is in its 21st 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). For more information on Tech golf, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
