Sept. 13, 2009
DALTON, Ga. - The Auburn men's golf team (284-870) shot four-under in Sunday's final round to advance three spots at the Carpet Capital Collegiate held at The Farm Golf Club in Dalton, Ga. The Tigers placed ahead of five top-25 teams, including No. 3 Alabama and No.4 Georgia.
"The guys have really drawn a lot of confidence from this weekend," said Auburn head men's golf coach Nick Clinard. "They came out of the gates real strong today and played well. This gives them a little more swagger in their step, something the team was lacking last year. They're going to head into the next tournament with more confidence when they throw that Auburn golf bag around their shoulder. You love to see that."
Sophomore Kyle Kopsick (69-214) earned the first top-10 finish of his career, tying for ninth at two-under par. Sunday was the second-consecutive day Kopsick led the Tigers, working his way up from a first-round tie for 31st. The Chicago, Ill., native was at one-under through 15 holes before carding two quick birdies on Nos. 6 and 7.
"Kyle Kopsick can be an All-American," said Clinard. "He's starting to realize that. He can do that every week. If he can continue shoot rounds like that at home and then reproduce them on the rode when it counts, he's going to do great things."
Sophomore John Stembridge (72-215) tied for 11th followed by redshirt freshmen David Zickler (71-219) and Jackson Beindorf (72-223) in 23rd and 38th, respectively. Sophomore Will McCurdy (77-229) tied for 47th.
"Today we were steadier than we were the first two rounds," sadi Kopsick. "I left some shots out there but, all-in-all, it was a good round. We're not going to start accepting fourth-place finishes as a good thing, but we did make some positive strides this week."
No. 18 Tennessee (274-581) claimed the team championship, followed by Chattanooga (288-863), No. 11 Georgia Tech (282-867), Auburn, No. 15 South Carolina (289-872), Alabama (292-875), Wake Forest (290-875), No. 24 Texas Tech (290-876), No. 19 Clemson (289-884), East Tennessee State (299-892), No. 4 Georgia (306-892) and Ole Miss (200-899).
Texas Tech's Mils Floren (68-210) and Tennessee's Darren Renwick (69-210) tied for medalist honors.
Complete results will be available at www.GolfStat.com. Tournament central for the Carpet Capital Collegiate can be accessed via www.RamblingWreck.com.