Several college golf teams from Georgia played their first events of 2014 in early February, including the Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State men, and the Augusta State, Georgia State and Kennesaw State women.
Georgia Tech played its annual season opener in Hawaii, tying 7th with a 27-under total of 837. Oklahoma State won the tournament by 12 shots at 819, led by medalist Jordan Niebrugge, the 2013 U.S. Public Links champion, who will competing in this year’s Masters.
The Yellow Jackets were tied for 15th in the 20-team field after the first round at 286, but rebounded the next day to shoot 270, the low 18-hole total for the tournament. Tech shot 281 the final day to finish two strokes out of a tie for 3rd.
Georgia Tech was led by Duluth senior Seth Reeves, who closed with scores of 66 and 67 to tie for 16th at 207. Ollie Schniederjans, a junior from Powder Springs, shot 69 each of the first two rounds and tied for 30th at 210. Also tying for 30th was freshman Vince Whaley, making his first start for the Jackets. Whaley shot a team best 65 in the second round.
Bo Andrews shot a final round 69 to tie for 42nd at 212, while junior Anders Albertson of Woodstock posted a 217 total with scores of 72-72-73.
Kennesaw State placed 2nd in its season opener in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., finishing 14 shots behind San Diego’s winning total. The Owls were five shots out of the lead after 36 holes, but Sam Diego pulled away in the final round.
The Owls shot 3-under 285 the opening round to trail San Diego by two, and closed with scores of 295 and 294 for an 874 total.
Kennesaw’s Jimmy Beck, a junior from Columbus, shared medalist honors with a San Diego player, posting scores of 71-69-70 for a 6-under 210 total. Freshman Chris Guglielmo of Cumming was next for the Owls, tying for 20th at 223.
Jonathan Klotz, a senior from Columbus, opened with a 69 and tied for 24th at 224. Austin Vick, a junior from Evans, shot 73 in the second round and tied for 31st at 226.
Augusta State, Georgia State and Kennesaw State all opened their 2014 season in the UCF Challenge in Orlando, with Augusta placing 6th at 869, 12 shots behind host Central Florida’s winning total.
Casey Kennedy led the Lady Jaguars, placing 2nd individually at 5-under 211. Freshman Eunice Yi of Evans tied for 22md for Augusta at 217, with freshman Jessica Haigwood of Roswell T26 at 218.
Georgia State was 13th at 883, led by Melissa Siviter, who tied for 39th at 220. Lauren Court, a junior from Lawrenceville, had two of her three scores count, including a final round 73.
Kennesaw State was 17th in the 19-team field at 891, led by Kaew Preamchuen, who shot a final round 67 to tie for 7th at 214.