No. 18 Georgia Tech opens year with Carpet Capital Victory

ROCKY FACE, GA (September 10, 2017) - In dramatic fashion No. 18 Georgia Tech has won the Carpet Capital Collegiate. Starting the day a shot back in tie for second with No. 19 Alabama both teams fired 9-under final rounds to finish regulation tied for the lead at 14-under. Needing a playoff to settle the score both teams sent out all five players with the low four scores counting towards the team total. After the teams remained neck and neck in the playoff it all came down to the putter of Luke Schniederjans. Facing a birdie putt to seal the deal the sophomore calmly rolled in the putt in to give Georgia Tech a season opening victory and their eighth overall Carpet Capital Collegiate title.

Luke Schniederjans comments on his winning putt and the advice he got from his brother last night. pic.twitter.com/JxMSqRCVay

— Georgia Tech Golf (@GT_GOLF) September 10, 2017

Schniederjans, an All-ACC performer as a freshman, keyed the Tech rally on Sunday as he turned in a his best round of the tournament, a 4-under 68 that left him 1-under and tied for 15th. The shared fifteenth showing was also where teammates Tyler Strafaci, Noah Norton and Chris Petefish finished. A two-time winner from a year ago, Schniederjans, was cruising along during his final round with six birdies and no bogeys through his first 17 holes before stumbling on the last with a double-bogey that cost Georgia Tech an opportunity to win the tournament in regulation. The low Georgia Tech performer for the week was Andy Ogletree who at 6-under finished tied for 7th.

Here's a look at Luke Schniederjans' tournament winning putt at the Carpet Capital Collegiate. pic.twitter.com/RZSdeSRLCM

— Georgia Tech Golf (@GT_GOLF) September 10, 2017

In the individual race Florida's Alejandro Tosti completed a wire-to-wire run to the title. On Sunday Tosti closed with a 1-under 71 to post 11-under and pull out a to shot victory. Tosti, last years 2017 SEC Individual Champion winner, didn't have his best day but with five birdies and four bogeys, including a bird on the last he was able to hold off all challengers. Bryson Nimmer (Clemson) finished in second place at 9-under while Davis Riley (Alabama), Phillip Knowles (North Florida), Turk Pettit (Clemson) and Trace Crowe (Auburn) shared third at 7-under. Behind runner-up Alabama the team top-five was rounded out by No. 13 Auburn in third at 10-under, No. 7 LSU took fourth at 4-under while No. No. 10 Florida and Tennessee shared fifth at 2-under. For Florida it was a disappointing last day as they had led following each of the first two rounds.