Sept. 10, 2016
Rocky Face, Ga. –
Freshman Luke Schniederjans fired a 6-under-par 66 Saturday and grabbed a share of the 36-hole lead, while Georgia Tech struggled to a 7-over-par 295 and stands in 10th place heading into the final round at the 28th Carpet Capital Collegiate at The Farm Golf Club in Rocky Face, Ga.
Pairings and results via Golfstat
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD – Schniederjans, younger brother of the Yellow Jackets’ three-time All-American Ollie Schniederjans, turned up the heat in a bid to become the fourth consecutive Tech player to win medalist honors in this event. Ollie captured the title in 2013 and 2014, and Jacob Joiner won last fall.
The Powder Springs, Ga., native, who is competing as an individual and not counting toward Tech’s team score, shot 5-under-par with no bogeys on his opening nine (started on the 10th hole), then went 1-under on his closing nine to fashion his 66. Schniederjans shot 69 on Friday in his collegiate debut and has a 36-hole total of 135 (-9), tied with Auburn senior Ryan Benton (68-67).
LSU’s Sam Burns (136, -8) shot the best round of the day with a 65 and is in third place. Florida’s Sam Horsfield, the first-round leader, is tied for fourth with Virginia’s Derek Bard and Luke Schaap at 137 (-7).
TECH LINEUP – Junior James Clark (Columbus, Ga.) and senior Michael Hines (Acworth, Ga.) each shot 1-under-par 71 to pace the Yellow Jackets Saturday. Clark, with a 4-under-par total of 140, enters the final round tied for 12th place, while Hines (142, -2) is tied for 18th.
Sophomore Tyler Joiner (Leesburg, Ga.) shot 76 for Tech Saturday, while freshman Andy Ogletree (Little Rock, Miss.) and junior Chris Petefish (Danville, Calif.) each carded a 77.
COACH Bruce Heppler SAYS – “I’m excited for Luke to see what he can get done tomorrow. He has played some pretty special golf for the first 36 holes. Otherwise, we got off to a tough start and never really recovered. James Clark has made some great strides in grinding out two tough rounds. Today he was plus-2 through four holes and finished under par. Michael Hines has been very solid for two days, but two guys aren’t enough.”
TEAM LEADERBOARD – Led by Bard’s and Schaap’s 67s Saturday, 14th-ranked Virginia shot 11-under-par 277 and opened a three-stroke lead on No. 15 Auburn, which posted an 8-under total of 280. The Cavaliers have a 36-hole total of 553 (-23), while the Tigers are at 556 (-20).
Clemson stands in a distant third place at 11-under 565, followed by LSU (567, -9) and Florida 569 (-7). They are the only teams of the 14 competing with subpar scores over 36 holes.
Alabama (576, E), Tennessee (577, +1), Kennesaw State (578, +2), South Carolina (578, +2) and Tech (, 581, +5) stand sixth through 10th.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION – The Carpet Capital Collegiate concludes Sunday at The Farm Golf Club, a 7,012-yard, par 72 layout designed by Tom Fazio near Dalton, Ga. The Yellow Jackets have been the institutional host of this event since its inception in 1989, winning seven times, most recently in 2013. Tech finished fifth last year behind Auburn, Clemson, South Carolina and LSU, all of whom returned to compete this weekend. LSU and South Carolina both advanced to match play at the NCAA Championship last spring, and the 14-team field also includes NCAA Championship entrants Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida and Virginia.
TECH’S CARPET CAPITAL COLLEGIATE HISTORY – Georgia Tech has won the Carpet Capital Collegiate seven times in its 27-year history, most recently in 2013, the most of any participant. Clemson has won four times, Alabama three. A Yellow Jacket has won medalist honors eight times, including each of the past three years (Jacob Joiner last fall, Ollie Schniederjans in 2013 and 2014). Current PGA Tour pros Stewart Cink, Chesson Hadley, Troy Matteson and Bryce Molder also have claimed victory at The Farm, with Molder taking the title three consecutive times between 1998 and 1999, when the event moved from the spring to the fall schedule.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH GOLF
Georgia Tech’s golf team is in its 22nd year under head coach Bruce Heppler. The Yellow Jackets have won 16 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 28 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.
