Georgia Tech opens OFCC/Fighting Illini Invite with two-shot lead

Georgia Tech won its first start out of the gate this season at its own Carpet Capital Collegiate, and that was without reigning U.S. Amateur championship Andy Ogletree in the lineup. With Ogletree back from the Walker Cup and part of the starting squad at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invite, Georgia Tech opened with a 2-under 278 on Friday that was good enough for a two-shot lead.

The Yellow Jackets were the only team to get under par on Day 1 at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club. Ogletree and two other upperclassmen fell right in step, each firing a 1-under 69 to land in a tie for seventh individually. That trio also included senior Tyler Strafaci and junior Noah Norton.

Senior Luke Schniederjans, who won the Carpet Capital Collegiate two weeks ago, posted the Jackets’ fourth counting scored with a 1-over 71 and is tied for 21st. Tech’s toss-out score was a 2-over 72 by redshirt freshman Ben Smith.

"We were in a good place the whole day,” head coach Bruce Heppler said. “Luke had a bad break on the 16th, but otherwise a real solid round for him, too. I’m very pleased with everyone and what they’re doing. For 2-over to be our worst score is very positive. This is a hard course, and it’ll be an even more severe test tomorrow with the weather that is being forecast."

Led by redshirt senior Sahith Theegala’s 2-under 68, Pepperdine had the next-best score, an even-par 280. Sophomore Joe Highsmith, the reigning Sahalee Players champion, also had 69 to fall into part of that tie for seventh individually.

Texas is third and Florida State is fourth entering the weekend.

Texas sophomore Pierceson Coody leads the individual race with a 3-under 67 Along with Theegala, Baylor’s Cooper Dossey, Florida State’s Jamie Li and Cal’s James Song also had 68. A total of six men were tied for seventh at 69.

Quotes and information from Georgia Tech Athletics used in this report