July 1, 2013
THE FLATS – Performances of Georgia Tech golfers past and present produced another hugely successful weekend for Yellow Jacket golf, as rising junior Ollie Schniederjans captured a runner-up finish at The Dogwood in Atlanta and 2007 graduate Roberto Castro did the same at the AT&T National in Bethesda, Md.
Schniederjans led a parade of five Georgia Tech players in the Dogwood, firing rounds of 63-69-67-68 for a 21-under-par total of 267 to finish second. That score was within two of the tournament record and would have been good enough to win in eight years since 2000. But Michael Johnson of Auburn stayed out of each with a closing 64 to shatter the tournament scoring record and post a 28-under-par total of 260.
See Marietta Daily Journal coverage
Anders Albertson (10-under 278) tied for 10th, Seth Reeves (9-under 279) tied for 15th, and Richard Werenski (2-under 286) tied for 35th. Michael Hines was the only member of the Tech contingent not to make the 54-hole cut and tied for 57th place in the 90-player field
A similar fate beset Castro, who was tied for the 54-hole lead at the AT&T National and shot a 2-under-par 69 Sunday to finish at 9-under 275. But Bill Haas went out Sunday and shot 5-under 66 to finish at 12-under 272 and win the title.
More impressively, all six Tech alumni in the field made the cut. Stewart Cink posted his first top-5 finish since winning the 2009 British Open, Nicholas Thompson tied for 28th, Cameron Tringale tied for 44th, Troy Matteson tied for 52nd and Bryce Molder tied for 61st.
The weekend performance boosted Tech back to the top of the Rivals Cup rankings this week. Rivals Cup ranks college teams based on the combined FedEx Cup points accumulative by their alumni.
COULD FIVE TECH PLAYERS CROSS THE BIG POND?
Past champions Stewart Cink (2009) and David Duval (2001), as well as Matt Kuchar (fifth in the Official World Golf Ranking), are already in the field for the 2013 Open Championship, which will be held July 18-21 at Muirfield, but could the Georgia Tech contingent grow to five?
Perhaps it is a long shot, but Roberto Castro leaped 53 positions from 94th to 41st after his runner-up finish at the AT&T National, and a similar performance this week at the Greenbrier Classic could put him in position to claim a spot. Likewise, Cameron Tringale (57th) could so the same with a win or a runner-up finish.
After this week’s Greenbrier Classic, the leading five players that are not already exempt from inside the top 20 in the FedExCup will earn a spot in the British Open. The only other way for a player to earn a spot is to win next week’s John Deere Classic. Below are the five players not exempt into the British Open currently inside the top 20, according to the PGA Tour. Ken Duke was on this list following his victory at the Travelers Championship, but slipped to 21st after the AT&T National. A Tour victory is worth 500 points.
FedExCup rank – Player – Points
5 – Billy Horschel – 1,422
9 – Boo Weekley – 1,154
16 – Russell Henley – 968
17 – Harris English – 958
18 – Charles Howell III – 940
41 – Roberto Castro – 667
57 – Cameron Tringale – 584
IT’S ALL ACADEMIC
In case you missed the announcement last week, four of Georgia Tech’s five starters in the NCAA Championship were named to the 2013 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Golf Team. It is the fourth time since the ACC began recognizing an All-Academic Team for golf in 2006 that Tech has placed at least four student-athletes on it.
Bo Andrews, a rising fifth-year senior with a 3.8 cumulative grade-point average in Management, was named to the team for the third time. Sophomores>Anders Albertson (3.61 cumulative GPA) and Ollie Schniederjans were named to the team for the second time, while junior Seth Reeves made the team for the first time. All are management majors at Tech.
To be eligible for consideration for the All-ACC Academic team, a student-athlete, regardless of classification, must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career. Rising senior Richard Werenski and rising sophomore Michael Hines also met the qualifications, but did not make the team.
About Georgia Tech Golf
Georgia Tech’s golf team is in its 19th year under head coach Bruce Heppler. The Yellow Jackets have won 14 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 26 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.
