Oct. 25, 2011
ALPHARETTA, Ga. - Auburn junior Dominic Bozzelli (70-210) earned the first collegiate medalist honors of his career and the sixth for Auburn under head coach Nick Clinard Tuesday, shooting 6-under at the U.S. Collegiate Championship at The Golf Club of Georgia.
The top-ranked Tigers finished tied for second with No. 12 Washington (285-855), trailing only No. 3 UCLA (283-852). The result was Auburn's 12th top-three in the team's last 13 regular-season events.
The Tigers are 7-4-1 against teams ranked in the top 10 of the GolfWorld/Nike Golf Coaches' Poll and 4-3-1 versus the top-five.
"This was another great effort by our team," said Clinard. "It was a fantastic event to be a part of. Of course you want to win. We have a very talented team and have the mindset that we should be able to win every tournament we play.
"Hats off to UCLA. They played great down the stretch."
Junior Blayne Barber (70-212) and true freshman Michael Johnson (72-212) tied for third at 4-under. For Barber, it was his seventh top-five in 15 events since transferring to Auburn from Central Florida in 2009.
Bozzelli tied his career low round Sunday, shooting a five-under opening 18 to finish the day tied for second. A second round, 73, kept the Pittsford, N.Y., native in the top five and the hunt.
"Dominic played a great tournament, as did Blayne and Michael," said Clinard. "There are some difficult stretches on this golf course and they kept their nose to the grinder all week making big shots and some clutch putts when they needed them."
Bozzelli got off to a strong start Tuesday, dropping birdies on the day's first two holes and carrying 2-under par through No. 8.
"I got off to a good start today," said Bozzelli. "I was steady on front and shot below the hole like I tried all week. The bogey on nine was unfortunate. You hate to make bogey on a par-five."
Bozzelli made the turn at 5-under, still leading the Tigers for the tournament.
"I made the turn at 1-under and made a good birdie on 11," said Bozzelli. "The three-putt on No. 13 was unfortunate. After 14, I told my caddie I wanted four good looks coming in.
"I birdied 16 and picked up a solid par on 17, which played tough all week. On 18 I had a good look at birdie from 12 feet, but caught the lip."
Bozzelli tied with No. 8 Texas A&M's Johannes Veerman for co-medalist honors. The result follows Bozzelli's win at the 2011 New York State Am.
"This is what you practice for," said Bozzelli. "I've stuck with the plan the coaches laid out. It's good to see the work pay off."
Bozzelli leads the Tigers in 2011-12 scoring average at 71.33 strokes per round.
"Coach Osteen and I are very happy for Dominic and his family," said Clinard. "They were able to come down and support him this week and I know it means a great deal to them."
The Tigers were tied for third at 6-under following Monday's second round, trailing only No. 5 Georgia Tech and UCLA. Although Georgia Tech surged out to a nine stroke lead midway through the final round, the Tigers eventually chipped away at the deficit as the round progressed.
Auburn wrapped up Tuesday holding a one-stroke clubhouse lead over UCLA before the Bruins shot a combined 5-under through their final three holes to take the team championship.
Senior Will McCurdy (75-223) tied for 46th followed by junior Jackson Beindorf(73-226) in 59th.
The event completed the Tigers' 2011 fall season. Auburn is set to return to action Feb. 11-12 at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla.
Complete U.S. Collegiate results can be accessed via www.GolfStat.com.