April 17, 2015
Freshman Ben Schlottman is tied for fifth with a 3-under 67
By Matt Penland
SEA ISLAND, Ga. -- The sixth-ranked Auburn men's golf team is tied for third at 5-under 275 after the SEC Championship first round at Sea Island Golf Club on Friday. Tiger freshman Ben Schlottman is tied for fifth with a 3-under 67.
Schlottman, who is two shots off the lead, had four birdies on Nos. 3, 7, 8 and 15, and carded his seventh round in the 60s for the year. Senior Dan Stringfellow is tied for 11th at 2-under 68 while sophomore Ryan Benton is tied for 15th at 1-under 69.
All-SEC sophomore Matt Gilchrest is tied for 34th at 1-over 71 and junior Michael Johnson is tied for 39th at 2-over 72.
The Tigers played the back nine at 5-under par after making the turn even. Benton was 3-under on his inward nine as he birdied Nos. 10, 11 and 15.
"I am happy with the way we played the back nine and that kept us in position to make a run to win the golf tournament," said Auburn head coach Nick Clinard. "Ben played great golf, and Ryan had a superb back nine to really help us out."
No. 21 Alabama leads with an 11-under 69 followed by No. 9 LSU (274), Auburn (275), No. 8 South Carolina (275), No. 4 Vanderbilt (276), Arkansas (279), Florida (282), Georgia (282), Tennessee (284) and Kentucky (284).
Texas A&M (286) is 11th followed by Missouri (287), Ole Miss (288) and Mississippi State (289). South Carolina's Matthew NeSmith, Arkansas' Kolton Crawford and Alabama's Robby Shelton are tied for the individual lead at 5-under 65.
Auburn will tee off in Saturday's second round with Alabama and LSU at 8:10 am CT. Live-scoring for the tournament can be found on www.golfstat.com. For the most up to date information, follow on Twitter @AUMensGolf or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AUMensGolf.