Jackets in Second at Steelwood Collegiate Invitational

LOXLEY, Ala. – After two rounds to open the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational on Saturday, No. 13 Georgia Tech stands in second-place with a team total of 23-under-par 553, while junior Albert Hansson holds a share of the individual lead with a 12-under-par showing. The two-day tournament, which features six teams ranked in the top-50, is being contested at the Steelwood Country Club.

After 36 holes, Georgia Tech boasts four players under-par, paced by Hansson’s 12-under-par 132 behind rounds of 65 and 67. Hansson is in a two-way tie for first on the individual leaderboard, holding a one-stroke lead entering the final round of competition on Sunday.

Georgia Tech is 12 strokes off the team leader, No. 3 Auburn in first-place at 35-under-par 541. The Yellow Jackets were led by Hansson (Fiskebäckskil, Sweden), Henry Robards (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.), Max Emberson (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and Andrew Ferworn (Houston, Texas) with subpar rounds. Auburn entered the clubhouse with all five starters in the red on Saturday.

South Alabama serves as host to 14 teams in the playing field this weekend, which features six teams ranked in the top 50 of the latest Scoreboard/Clippd NCAA rankings. The field contains No. 3 Auburn, No. 13 Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kennesaw State, Maryland, No. 45 Memphis, No. 46 Mississippi State, Nebraska, Rice, No. 47 Rutgers, South Alabama, No. 12 Texas A&M, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

The final round of competition tees off on Sunday at 8:45 a.m. ET. The Yellow Jackets will go off No. 1 beginning at 10:15 a.m. ET.

TECH LINEUP – Hansson turned in two stellar rounds on Saturday, opening with a 7-under-par 65 in round one. The Jacket played a perfect round with seven birdies through his first 16 holes before a bogey on No. 17. However, the Jacket closed the first round with a birdie on 18 for his 65. Hansson played an up-and-down second round that was highlighted by seven birdies and an eagle on hole No. 9. Hansson stands tied with Kansas State’s Oliver Toyer in first at 12-under-par.

At 5-under-par 139, Robards is tied for 14^th after rounds of 67 and 72. Robards’ first-round 67 was fueled by six birdies and an eagle on hole No. 18 to close the first 18. Robards played an even second-round to post a 5-under-par 139 through 36 holes.

Emberson posted back-to-back 70s for a two-round total of 4-under-par 140. The freshman Yellow Jacket fired off 10 birdies over 36 holes and stands in a four-way tie for 19^th.

Ferworn carded rounds of 71 and 72 on Saturday to own a 1-under-par 143 after two rounds. The senior is tied for 38^th entering Sunday’s final round.

After missing the last tournament, Carson Baez (Davenport, Fla.) returned to competition on Saturday and is tied for 62^nd at 4-over-par 148 after rounds of 70 and 78.   

TEAM LEADERBOARD – Through two competitive rounds of competition that saw the team lead bounce between a trio of teams, No. 3 Auburn pulled away in the second round and leads the field at 541 (-35). The Tigers held only a two-stroke lead after the first round, but their 16-under-par second round was the lowest of the afternoon by six strokes.

Georgia Tech sits in second at 553 (-23), while Texas A&M and Mississippi State are tied for third at 557 (-19). Fellow Atlantic Coast Conference foes Virginia Tech and Virginia follow right behind in fifth (560, -16) and sixth (562, -14), respectively.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD – It is a tight battle for the individual crown as only six strokes separate the top 10 individuals. Georgia Tech’s Hansson and Kansas State’s Toyer lead the way at 12-under-par, with Auburn’s Cayden Pope in third at 11-under-par 133.

Three golfers are tied for fourth at 10-under-par 134, with another two tied for seventh (135, -9). Auburn’s Alex Holder is in ninth (136, -8) and four golfers are tied for 10^th (138, -6).

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION – Georgia Tech is competing in the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational for the first time. The 54-hole tournament will run over two days with the teams playing two rounds on Saturday and the final round on Sunday.

The Steelwood Collegiate was started in the fall of 2016 with the goal of helping local and regional charities while showcasing “tomorrow’s Tour Stars” at a premier college event. The Steelwood Golf Course was designed by former U.S. Open Champion Jerry Pate and ranked by GolfWeek as “One of the Top Five Private Golf Courses in Alabama” in 2019.

EVENT DETAILS

Steelwood Collegiate Invitational

• Dates: October 31 – November 1 (stroke play, 54 holes)
• Format: 36 holes Saturday, 18 holes Sunday
• Venue: Steelwood Country Club (par 72, 7,096 yards)
• Participating teams (15): 3 Auburn, No. 13 Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kennesaw State, Maryland, No. 45 Memphis, No. 46 Mississippi State, Nebraska, Rice, No. 47 Rutgers, South Alabama, No. 12 Texas A&M, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

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 his first season as head coach, Hybl has guided the Yellow Jackets to two tournament victories. 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.