Sept. 13, 2015
2015 Carpet Capital Collegiate Champions
By Matt Penland
DALTON, Ga. - The sixth-ranked Auburn men's golf team won the Carpet Capital Collegiate by nine strokes, shooting a 1-under 287 at the Farm Golf Club in Dalton, Ga. on Sunday. Auburn (293-288-287-868) defeated Clemson (294-877) as four Tigers finished in the top-15.
Auburn played the final two rounds 1-under.
Freshman Jacob Solomon (73-73-72-218) led the Tigers with a top-10 finish in his collegiate debut after shooting a final round even-par with birdies on Nos. 7, 10, 12 and 14 to finish 10th.
All-SEC senior Michael Johnson (71-70-78-219) finished one stroke behind Solomon at 11th and junior Will Long (78-72-70-220) climbed 19 spots to tie for 12th. Long shot a final round 2-under 70 and birdied Nos. 2, 7, 10 and 12.
All-SEC junior Matt Gilchrest (73-73-75-221) tied for 14th and freshman Graysen Huff (76-84-70-230) climbed 21 spots by shooting a final round 2-under 70 with birdies on Nos. 5, 6, 9 and 11 to tie for 47th. Freshman Mark Lawrence, playing as an individual, tied for 79th at 81-82-82-245.
"I can't say enough how proud I am of this golf team," said Auburn head coach Nick Clinard. "We kept getting better and better each day and to play the final two rounds 1-under on this tough golf course is remarkable.
"Each of our guys stepped up, and it was a team effort with four finishing from 10th to 14th.
No. 8 South Carolina (296-880) finished third followed by No. 2 LSU (291-883), No. 13 Georgia Tech (303-885), No. 17 Alabama (317-895), No. 23 Florida (296-899), Tennessee (301-900), No. 22 North Carolina (301-903) and Kennesaw State (310-906).
No. 14 South Florida (309-907) finished 11th followed by Ole Miss (307-913), Chattanooga (302-913), North Florida (308-921) and Dalton State (314-932).
Jacob Joiner of Georgia Tech won medalist honors at 4-under 212.
It is Auburn's 18th team title under Clinard.
The Tigers will return to action September 28-29 at the Primland Collegiate Invitational at the Primland Resort in Meadows of Dan, Va.
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.