Sept. 11, 2009
Carpet Capital Tournament Central
Live Results at GolfStat.com
DALTON, Ga. - Auburn sophomore John Stembridge fired an opening round 69 to lead all but one golfer on day one of the Carpet Capital Collegiate at The Farm Golf Club in Dalton, Ga. The Norcross, Ga., native finished Friday in second place, just one stroke off leader Jonathan Randolph of Ole Miss.
"I came out and made an early bogie but just kept it steady and bought back to two-under," said Stembridge. "It's a thinking man's course. You've got to find your way around some obstacles. The greens are trecherous - real fast today."
Auburn shot a 292 to finish the day in seventh, four strokes behind tournament leader and third-ranked Alabama.
"We didn't play our best today and are still just four strokes off the lead," said Stembridge. "Four strokes in college golf isn't a lot. We're definitely in position to make a run for the win."
Redshirt freshman Jackson Beindorf (74) tied for 24th followed by sophomores Will McCurdy (75) and Kyle Kopsick (75), both tied for 31st. Redshirt freshman David Zickler (76) tied for 40th.
"We played pretty well today," said first-year Auburn head golf coach Nick Clinard. "We got off to a good start through eight. There were maybe four or five three-putts down the stretch that cost us some strokes.
"Today was a good day to judge what kind of a team we are. Our work ethic has been outstanding. Our guys are listening to the message that they are great golfers and we are going to be a successful team."
Trailing team leader Alabama (289) are No.15 South Carolina (290), No. 18 Tennessee (290) and No. 19 Clemson (290) in a three-way tie for second. Chattanooga (291) is in fifth followed by No. 3 Georgia (292), Auburn, No. 11 Georgia Tech (295), Wake Forest (298), East Tennessee State (299), No. 24 Texas Tech (302) and Ole Miss (304).
Three players finished tied for third behind Randolph and Stembridge - Alabama's Lee Knox (70), Clemson's Ben Martin (70) and South Carolina's Paul Woodbury (70).
The Tigers are set to tee of the front nine at 8:50 a.m. CST with Wake Forest and East Tennessee State.
Complete results will be available at www.GolfStat.com. Tournament central for the Carpet Capital Collegiate can be accessed via www.RamblingWreck.com.