Golf Returns to Action at Olympia Fields

THE FLATS – Fresh off a season-opening tournament win last week, Georgia Tech golf returns to action at the 20^th installment of the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational this weekend. The three-day tournament takes place Sept. 18-20 at Olympia Fields County Club’s South Course.

Georgia Tech will send a familiar lineup to Illinois with Albert Hansson (Fiskebäckskil, Sweden), Max Emberson (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Carson Baez (Davenport, Fla.), Andrew Ferworn (Houston, Texas) and senior Kale Fontenot (Lafayette, La.) representing the Yellow Jackets.

Tech is coming off a season-opening sweep at the Folds of Honor Collegiate last week, capturing both the team title as well as individual title. Finishing the tournament 18-under-par 834, the Yellow Jackets won the tournament with a five-stroke advantage over Notre Dame and Texas, tied for second. Freshman Max Emberson made his collegiate debut in style, taking home the individual crown for his first collegiate victory. Emberson opened the tournament with an impressive 8-under-par 63 and held steady the remainder of the tournament for a two-stroke win. The appearance was Tech’s first at the Folds of Honor Collegiate.

The Yellow Jackets are making their fifth appearance at Olympia Fields, having claimed two titles at the tournament. Last season, Tech tied for sixth at 7-over-par 847 paced by Aidan Tran’s ninth-place finish.

The Yellow Jackets entered the fall season ranked in three preseason polls, coming in at No. 22 in the Golfweek’s preseason rankings, No. 25 in the preseason Bushnell/Golfweek DI Coaches Poll and No. 26 in Golf Channel’s Top 30.

TECH LINEUP – The Yellow Jackets will send a familiar lineup for their second tournament of the fall season. Hansson opened his junior season tying for sixth at the Folds of Honor Collegiate last week, finishing 5-under-par. Hansson posted a pair of 69s to open the tournament and closed with a 1-under-par 70 to record his first top-10 finish of the season.

Emberson led the Jackets with an impressive debut, capturing his first collegiate title behind an 11-under-par 202 showing. The Thousand Oaks, Calif., native carded three eagles during the tournament, one in each round, including two on hole No. 18.

Also making their White and Gold debuts, Baez and Ferworn both finished in the top 32. Baez carded a 1-over-par to finish tied for 25^th, while Ferworn tied for 31^st at 3-over-par.

One of two returning starters from last season, Fontenot tied for 31^st in his first tournament as a senior.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION – Georgia Tech is making its fifth appearance in the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational with titles in 2024 and a share in 2019. Illinois hosts the 15-team event, which will be contested over 54 holes beginning Friday and concluding Sunday at Olympia Fields Country Club’s South course, which plays to a par-70 and measure 7,215 yards.

 

Tee times begin at 9 a.m. Eastern time Friday and Saturday, with the final round at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.

The 15-team field (with national ranking) includes Alabama (18), Arizona State (4), Baylor, Florida (1), Florida State (20), Georgia Tech (25), Illinois (12), LSU (9), Northwestern, Oklahoma State (3), Pepperdine (13), Stanford (19), Texas A&M (16), Texas Tech (5) and UNLV. Rankings based on the Bushnell/Golfweek Preseason Coaches poll released on August 29.  

EVENT DETAILS

Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational

• Dates: September 18-20 (stroke play, 54 holes)
• Format: 18 holes Friday, Saturday and Sunday
• Venue: Olympia Fields Country Club, South Course (par 70, 7,215 yards)
• Tech Appearances (best finish): 5 (sole title in 2024, co-medalists in 2019)
• Participating teams (15): Alabama, Arizona State, Baylor, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, LSU, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Pepperdine, Stanford, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UNLV

Alexander-Tharpe Fund

The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of the development of Yellow Jackets that thrive academically at the Institute and compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH GOLF

Georgia Tech’s golf team begins a new era under head coach Ryan Hybl, who was announced as the program’s sixth head coach in program history in May. In the first tournament under Hybl, the Yellow Jackets swept both the team and individual titles. The Yellow Jackets have won 19 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 34 appearances in the NCAA Championship and been the national runner-up five times. Follow Georgia Tech Golf on social media by liking their Facebook page, or following on X (@GTGolf) and Instagram. For more information on Tech golf, visit Ramblinwreck.com.