Georgia Tech golfer Ollie Schniederjans shot a 63 in the opening round of the Dogwood Invitational and took the lead at the midway point of the tournament at 12-under 132.
He followed with scores of 67 and 68 to finish at 21-under 267 at Druid Hills GC.
Unfortunately for Schniederjans, Auburn’s Michael Johnson shot 63-64 the final two days to finish at 28-under 260, seven ahead of the Yellow Jackets’ standout, who had to settle for second place.
Johnson’s score was a tournament record. He opened with a 64 to trail North Carolina high school golfer Ben Griffin by three shots, and followed with a 69 to take 2nd after 36 holes, one behind Schniederjans. His third round 63 gave him a 3-shot advantage heading to the final round.
Griffin wound up 3rd at 16-under 272, with Georgia State golfer Davin White of Locust Grive 4th at 273 that included an opening round of 64. Michael Garretson of Acworth, who plays at South Alabama, was 7th at 275, with Woodstock’s Anders Albertson (Georgia Tech), Milton’s Zack Jaworski (Vanderbilt), Jimmy Beck of Columbus (Kennesaw State) and Joey Garber (UGA) tying for 10th at 278.
Tying for 15th at 279 were Duluth’s Seth Reeves (Georgia Tech), Alpharetta’s Billy Kennerly (Clemson) and Keith Mitchell (UGA).
Johnson played the first six holes at Druid Hills in even par all four days, but tore up the last 12 throughout the tournament. He had eight birdies the final 12 holes in the opening round, was 9-under on the last 12 with two eagles to take the lead after the third round, and went 6-under on a 6-hole stretch the final day beginning at the par-5 seventh to pull away from Schniederjans.
His only stumble during the tournament came on holes 16 and 17 in the second round (his 7th and 8th of the day), when he went double bogey-bogey. But he held on for a 69 to stay one back of Schniederjans at the end of the day.
For the week, Johnson was 18-under on Druid Hills’ par 5s, with three eagles, 12 birdies and just one par. He was also a combined 7-under on holes 11 and 12 – both par 4s, carding birdies on the 12th each round.
Schniederjans, who played his high school golf at Harrison in west Cobb, carded 24 birdies during the tournament and only three bogeys. He led until the 9th hole of the third round, but trailed by three by the end of the day, as he shot 33 on the back nine to Johnson’s 30.
An eagle on the 7th hole the final day opened Johnson’s lead to four, and became seven after his run of four straight birdies beginning at the 9th.