Oct. 18, 2014
Official USCC site | Results/Live scoring/Tee Times
Alpharetta, Ga. – Ollie Schniederjans fired a 4-under-par 68 Saturday, leading Georgia Tech to a much-improved round of 285 (-3) and a lift to a 12th place tie after 36 holes at the United States Collegiate Championship at The Golf Club of Georgia.
Schniederjans, Tech’s All-America senior from Powder Springs, Ga., posted his eighth round under 70 in 11 this fall, recording five birdies against one bogey. The world’s top amateur player moved up into a tie for 11th place individually.
Tech, ranked 15th in the nation, also counted a pair of 72s from freshmen Jacob Joiner and Chris Petefish and a 73 from Drew Czuchry. The Yellow Jackets were the only team in the bottom half of the field to break par Saturday on the 7,017 Golf Club of Georgia’s Lakeside Course. Weather and course conditions remained optimal save for stronger breezes that helped bump up the course scoring average slightly.
“We were a little better today, only two teams shot lower than we did,” said Heppler. “We saw some nice progress with the younger guys, even the individuals. It was on those freshmen from the get-go today and they turned in a couple of even-par rounds. They’re getting more and more comfortable, and we’ve got to just keep sticking them in there. Drew did a nice job of coming back from a 3-over start.”
No. 25 Virginia, the first-round leader by six strokes over Texas, faded on the closing holes Saturday and dropped a stroke behind the ninth-ranked Longhorns after 36 holes. Texas played the round in even-par 288 and remains at 10-under-par 566 for the tournament, while the Cavaliers, after a 7-over-par 295 Saturday, stand at 9-under-par 567 for the tournament.
Texas A&M remained in third place after a round of 289 and finished 36 holes at 7-under-par 569. Wake Forest (572, -3) moved up four positions to fourth place with a 4-under-par 284 round Saturday. LSU made the biggest move Saturday, posting a 9-under-par round of 279 to jump from a tie for 13th to a tie for fifth with Auburn.
The Cavaliers’ Denny McCarthy, who opened the tournament Friday with a 63, added a 72 Saturday and maintained his lead in the medal race at 9-under-par 135, two shots ahead of teammate Derek Bard (66-71–137, -7). Oklahoma State’s Kristoffer Ventura (70 Saturday) and Texas’ Kramer Hickok (68) are tied for third place at 6-under 138. LSU’s Zach Wright matched the best round of the day with a 67 and holds fifth place at 5-under-par 139.
Tech’s players competing as individuals again played solidly, with Michael Hines and Vincent Whaley each carding 73 on Saturday. Hines is tied for 23rd place individually at even-par 144.
“This is a tough field, and it’s hard to make up a lot of ground,” added Heppler. “But if we can put together a good round tomorrow, it could turn into a nice finish. The greens will be firmer and faster, and the course will play more difficult. We just need to be smart out there.”
Tee times for the final round of the USCC will begin at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Tech’s counting players will begin round 3 off the 10th tee Saturday at 9 a.m. The four individuals will start at No. 10 at 8:50 a.m.
UNITED STATES COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPGolf Club of Georgia, Alpharetta, Ga.36-hole Results
Team Standings 1 Texas 278 288 566 -10 2 Virginia 272 295 567 -9 3 Texas A&M 281 289 570 -6 4 Wake Forest 288 284 572 -4 T5 Auburn 286 289 575 -1 T5 LSU 296 279 575 -1 T7 Oklahoma State 290 286 576 E T7 Stanford 283 293 576 E 9 East Tennessee St. 286 292 578 +2 T10 Iowa 291 289 580 +4 T10 Washington 290 290 580 +4 T12 UCLA 287 294 581 +5 T12 Georgia Tech 296 285 581 +5 14 Clemson 294 290 584 +8 15 Kent State 304 296 600 +24
Individual Leaders 1 Denny McCarthy Virginia 63 72 135 -9 2 Derek Bard Virginia 66 71 137 -7 T3 Kristoffer Ventura Oklahoma State 68 70 138 -6 T3 Kramer Hickok Texas 70 68 138 -6 5 Zach Wright LSU 72 67 139 -5 T6 Paul McBride Wake Forest 71 69 140 -4 T6 Maverick McNealy Stanford 66 74 140 -4 T6 Cody Proveaux Clemson 73 67 140 -4 T6 Carson Schaake Iowa 69 71 140 -4 T6 Adria Arnaus Texas A&M 69 71 140 -4 T11 Ollie Schniederjans Georgia Tech 73 68 141 -3 T11 Adrian Meronk East Tennessee St. 72 69 141 -3 T11 Will Long Auburn 68 73 141 -3
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH GOLF
Georgia Tech’s golf team is in its 20th year under head coach Bruce Heppler. The Yellow Jackets have won 15 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 27 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.
