Sept. 7, 2016
By Kami Muskat
AUBURN, Ala. - The No. 11 Auburn men's golf team will tee off the 2016-17 season at the Carpet Capital Collegiate Friday through Sunday at the par 72, 7,012-yard The Farm Golf Club in Dalton, Ga.
The 14-team field includes No. 6 Florida, No. 7 LSU, No. 13 Clemson, No. 16 Alabama, No. 17 South Carolina, No. 21 Virginia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Memphis, Kennesaw State, North Florida, Chattanooga and Dalton State.
All-SEC senior Matt Gilchrest will be in the No. 1 position. Gilchrest, who had five top 10 finishes in nine spring tournaments and placed third at the SEC Championship, averaged 72.43 strokes per round in 2015-16. Gilchrest tied for 14th at the Carpet Capital Collegiate last season with a 73-73-75-221.
All-Southeast Region sophomore Jacob Solomon (71.91) will be in the No. 2 spot. Redshirt Senior Ryan Benton (71.91) is in the No.3 slot, followed by freshman Jovan Rebula, who will make his college debut at No. 4. Senior Will Long (72.63), 2015 U.S Collegiate Championship co-medalist, will play No. 5.
Sophomore Trace Crowe (74.13), who won the 2016 USA Individual Tournament at 7-under 68-70-68-206, will be playing as an individual.
"We are the defending champions, so we have some good vibes there," eighth-year head coach Nick Clinard said. "This a tricky course, but we will be ready to go. We look forward to getting out there."
Auburn is the defending champion of the Carpet Capital Collegiate.
Live-scoring for the tournament can be found on www.golfstat.com.