As only team under par, Georgia Tech leads Carpet Capital

Even without newly minted U.S. Amateur champion Andy Ogletree (who is away competing at the Walker Cup), Georgia Tech is getting along just fine at its own season-opening Carpet Capital Collegiate in Rocky Face, Ga. The Yellow Jackets are 7 under through 36 holes, and have built a 12-shot lead on North Florida.

Georgia Tech is looking for its 10th title in this event, played this year at The Farm Golf Club. Senior Luke Schniederjans and Tyler Strafaci carried their team on a day when Noah Norton, a U.S. Open qualifier, had to sit out of the round with back spasms. Without Norton, Georgia Tech didn’t have the luxury of dropping a score, but it didn’t really matter.

Schniederjans contributed 67, Strafaci 69 and and Andy Mao, competing for the first time as a freshman, had 71. The home team counted a 78 from Ben Smith as Connor Howe, playing as an individual, had 75.

Georgia Tech went 3 under as a team, and at 7 under, is 12 shots ahead of a North Florida team that looks much different than last year. The Ospreys graduated four seniors in May, but this year’s team looks capable of keeping up to the standard those players set last season. A second-round 3-over 291 tied for the third-best team score on the board on Saturday.

Behind North Florida, Alabama is 9 over and in third while Clemson is 11 over and in fourth.

Schniederjans also leads the individual race at 9 under (68-67) and is seven shots ahead of Charlotte’s Marc Boucher and teammate Strafaci at 2 under.