June 28, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Auburn All-American Michael Johnson and rising senior All-SEC Matt Gilchrest have received sponsor's exemptions in The Barbasol at Grand National's Lake Course July 14-17.
"Ever since I was a little kid it has been a dream of mine to play in a PGA Tour event, and I feel like I've been working towards this my whole life," said Gilchrest. "I also want to thank The Barbasol tournament committee, Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs for his support of me and men's golf, Coach (Nick) Clinard and Coach (Corey) Maggard and all of the volunteers who are going to help work the event in July.
Gilchrest is a two-time All-SEC selection, earning first-team honors in 2015 with a 71.33 stroke average and second-team honors as a freshman in 2014 with a 71.89 average. The Southlake, Texas, native was on the Ben Hogan Award Watch List in 2015 and a NCAA All-Southeast Region selection.
He has won two collegiate tournaments, co-medalist of the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate in 2015 and the UK Bluegrass Invitational medalist in 2014. He was named SEC Golfer of the Week on Feb. 11, 2015, following his career-low 64 in the Ameri Ari Invitational, tying him for the second lowest round in Auburn history.
Gilchrest had five top 10 finishes in nine spring tournaments this past season. He finished third at the SEC Championship with an even par 68-71-71-210 and led Auburn by tying for 20th in the NCAA Championship.
He was named to the SEC Men's Golf Community Service Team in 2015.
Recently named a Golfweek first-team All-American, Johnson turned professional on June 26 after competing as a member of Team USA at the Arnold Palmer Cup in Formby, England. The former Auburn senior had a sensational senior campaign that saw him win a school record three tournaments and break the single season scoring average school record at 70.37. Johnson was a semifinalist for the Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus Awards. He became Auburn's seventh All-American under head coach Nick Clinard, and only the fifth first-team member in school history joining Buddy Gardner, Chip Spratlin, Iain Steel and Blayne Barber. He was also a PING second-team All-American this year.
"I am honored to except the sponsor exemption from Barbasol and delighted to have this tournament be one of my first as a professional golfer," said Johnson. "Thanks to Barbasol for the opportunity and I look forward to playing this RTJ course in front of an international audience," said Johnson. "Hearing the cries of War Eagle from a PGA TOUR crowd while competing in Auburn/Opelika will be a remarkable experience and I am thankful to everyone who helped make this possible."
The Birmingham, Ala., native won medalist honors at the Primland Collegiate, Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate and Schenkel Invitational and was ranked No. 1 by GolfWeek for a majority of the season. His five career wins are second only to Jimmy Green for most in school history while his 70.37 stroke average ranked second in the SEC and sixth nationally this season.