DALTON, Ga. - The sixth-ranked Auburn men's golf team is in fifth after shooting a 1-over 289 on Friday in the first round of the Carpet Capital Collegiate at The Farm in Dalton, Ga. The Tigers trail No. 19 Georgia by 11 strokes.
"We played well for the most part, but we didn't finish strong on the last two holes," head coach Nick Clinard said. "There is still a lot of golf left to be play, so it should be fun."
Junior Niclas Carlsson is tied for third after leading the Tigers with a bogey-free 4-under 68. Carlsson birdied the par-3 No. 5 and par 5 No. 12 before closing out the round with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 17 and 18. The Sweden native is currently three strokes behind Georgia's T.J. Campbell.
Redshirt sophomore Blake Soni is tied for 22nd after shooting an even 72. In just his second career tournament, Soni parred the first seven holes, but bogeyed on No. 8 to finish the front at 1-over. After making the turn, Soni birdied Nos. 12 and 13 before a closing bogey on No. 18.
Sophomore Michael Johnson is tied for 38th at 2-over par. Johnson made the turn at even par before firing birdies on Nos. 10 and 11. After a bogey on No. 12, the Birmingham, Ala., native birdied on No. 13 to move back to 2-under. After a bogey on No. 14, Johnson finished the round with a bogey on No. 17 and a double bogey on No. 18.
Michael Hebert is tied for 43rd at 4-over. The senior from Orlando, Fla., birdied the par-4 fourth, but bogeyed Nos. 5, 6 and 8 before making the turn. Hebert bogeyed No. 14 to finish at 4-over.
Senior All-American Dominic Bozzelli, is tied for 63rd with a 78.
The Tigers begin the Saturday's second round at 8:45 am CT with No. 15 North Florida and Wake Forest. Live stats for the tournament can be found on www.golfstat.com.
For the most up to date information on the Auburn men's golf team, follow us on Twitter @AUMensGolf or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AUMensGolf.