Tech Golf Maintains Lead at Clemson Invitational

Salem, S.C.  –  Luke Schniederjans fired a 10-under-par 62 Saturday to take the individual lead, while No. 8 Georgia Tech expanded its lead to six strokes over after posting a 17-under-par 271 in the second round of the Clemson Invitational, which is being contested at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls.

The Jackets will attempt to close out their second tournament victory of the spring Sunday when the final round gets underway at 9 a.m.

TECH LINEUP – Schniederjans posted the best round by a Georgia Tech player this year and matched his own career low, piling up nine birdies and an eagle with one bogey over the par-72, 7,103-yard course. The junior from Powder Springs, Ga., who previously shot 62 in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Stanford Regional.

Tyler Strafaci (Jr., Davie, Fla.), with five birdies and an eagle in his round, and Noah Norton (So., Chico, Calif.), with seven birdies, each duplicated his first-round 68 Saturday and are tied for sixth place individually. Freshman Connor Howe (Ogden, Utah) provided Tech’s fourth counting score Saturday with a 73 and is tied for 28^th individually.

Andy Ogletree (Jr., Little Rock, Miss.) followed his opening 67 with a 74 and did not count for the Jackets Saturday, but is tied for 16^th individually after 36 holes. Fifth-year senior James Clark (Columbus, Ga.), competing as an individual, is tied for 28^th place after posting a 74 Saturday.

TEAM LEADERBOARD – The Yellow Jackets, with a 36-hole total of 543, have put together their best back-to-back rounds since opening the 2014 NCAA Raleigh Regional with scored of 268-272 (on a par-71 golf course).

No. 15 Georgia, after a 12-under-par 276 Saturday, is six shots behind Tech at 549 (-27), followed by No. 9 Duke at 553 (-23) and No. 17 Clemson at 556 (-20). Virginia (-9), Connecticut (-2) and Furman (-1) are the only other teams under par for 36 holes.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD – Schniederjans grabbed the 36-hole lead with a 13-under-par total of 131, one shot ahead of first-round leader Adrian Pendaries of Duke, who carded a 68 Saturday and has a 36-hole total of 132 (-12).

Georgia’s Spencer Ralston, who shot 66 Saturday, is alone in third place at 11-under-par 133, while Clemson teammates Bryson Nimmer (69 Saturday) and Jacob Bridgeman (66 Saturday), are tied for fourth place at 135 (-9). Tech’s Strafaci and Norton are tied for sixth at 136 (-8).

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION – The Clemson Invitational, a 54-hole event hosted by Clemson, concludes with the final 18-hole round Sunday. It is played at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, a 7,103-yard, par 72 layout in Salem, S.C.

The Yellow Jackets finished second to the host team, Clemson, in its two previous trips to the Clemson Invitational in 2016 and 2017. Vincent Whaley captured the second tournament title of his career with an 8-under-par score of 208 in his senior year of 2016, while James Clark tied for third (2-under-par 214) in 2017.

Tech is the highest-ranked team in the 15-team field, which also includes No. 10 Duke, No. 19 Clemson, Boston College and Virginia from the ACC, as well as No. 15 Georgia, Army West Point, College of Charleston, Connecticut, Elon, Furman, Louisiana Tech, UNC Wilmington, Western Carolina and Wofford.