Georgia Tech returned to Olympia Fields Nation Membership in Illinois on Sunday morning to finish a come-from-behind victory over Arizona State on the Combating Illini Invitational, one of many premier occasions of the common season.
The Yellow Jackets, led by particular person runner-up Benjamin Reuter, fired the spherical of the match, an 8-under 272, to beat a seven-shot deficit after 36 holes and edge the Solar Devils by a single shot.
Listed below are a number of takeaways:
RAMBLIN’ ON THE WRECK: The Yellow Jackets’ fall debut didn’t point out this sort of efficiency. Georgia Tech completed eighth on the Go to Knoxville Collegiate, 28 pictures again of winner LSU. Reigning NCAA particular person champion Hiroshi Tai tied for twelfth, but three Jackets completed fortieth or worse. That group included Reuter, a junior who redshirted final season and hasn’t contributed constantly since his freshman 12 months.
However what a distinction a pair weeks could make. Reuter made back-to-back eagles in his opening spherical earlier than taking pictures 8 beneath for the championship, two pictures behind Josele Ballester of Arizona State. Tai added a T-6, and Georgia Tech posted 12 beneath as a workforce, a shot higher than the earlier match report set by Oklahoma State in 2018.
Due to inclement climate anticipated on Sunday, the ultimate spherical started a day earlier, starting proper after the completion of Saturday morning’s second spherical. Georgia Tech, Arizona State and Florida, which completed T-9, have been the one faculties with holes to play on Sunday morning – the ultimate group had two holes to complete whereas everybody else was within the clubhouse. Reuter parred his penultimate gap within the rain earlier than a closing bogey proved simply sufficient for the Jackets to carry onto the workforce win.
BALLIN’ BALLESTER: Amazingly, Arizona State senior Josele Ballester had not recorded a person faculty victory previous to Sunday at Olympia Fields. The reigning U.S. Beginner champion, nevertheless, did boast 9 top-5s, together with three runners-up, certainly one of which got here within the Solar Satan’s fall opener, the Sahalee Gamers.
Now that he’s within the win column, having carded simply 4 bogeys all week, Ballester is arguably the very early frontrunner for not less than the 2 college-only nationwide participant of the 12 months awards, the Haskins and the Nicklaus.
CLANTON RETURNS: As for the Hogan Award, one might make a case for Ballester proper now, although what Clanton has performed in PGA Tour begins this 12 months has been unimaginable – three top-10s and only one missed reduce in seven begins. If I used to be voting right this moment, my Hogan vote would go to Clanton.
The Florida State junior was again competing amongst collegians at Olympia Fields, and the consequence was a powerful exhibiting, a T-6 that included one poor four-hole stretch to complete his second spherical (4 over on Nos. 15-18).
The Seminoles as a workforce, although, haven’t gotten off to the beginning many envisioned. Florida State was sixth on the Folds of Honor Collegiate with out Clanton and T-9 at Olympia Fields with out sophomore Tyler Weaver, who didn’t qualify. Not that there isn’t hope; final fall, the Seminoles finishes sixth or worse in three straight occasions to start out the autumn – they usually ended up ending because the NCAA runner-up.
SOME POSITIVES: Expectations have been low in Chapel Hill to start this season as North Carolina was presupposed to be in rebuild mode following the departures of seniors Austin Greaser, Dylan Menante and Peter Fountain. A T-9 at Sahalee confirmed that this might be an extended season for the Tar Heels. But, they tied for third at Olympia Fields, exhibiting there may be some potential right here. David Ford’s hip seems to be tremendous (T-6), and sophomore Hampton Roberts recorded his greatest faculty end (T-14). If Maxwell Ford (T-48) can snap out of his extended droop, that is an NCAA qualifier. … Texas switch Luke Potter recorded his first faculty top-10 in practically a 12 months, tying for sixth. An encouraging efficiency contemplating Potter apparently barely certified this time round. … Make that back-to-back top-10s for Ethan Fang as an Oklahoma State participant. Fang, in fact, additionally reached the quarters of the U.S. Beginner. He’s on a heater.
SOME NEGATIVES: Florida continues to be stricken by inconsistency. The Gators rallied after a poor begin to end second at Sahalee. This time they began sturdy earlier than taking pictures 11 over within the remaining 36 holes. Matthew Kress has now completed outdoors the highest 50 in two straight occasions. Fortunately for Florida, it’s early – and this program has responded to disappointing falls previously. … Texas Tech senior Calum Scott carded simply 4 birdies and an eagle in 54 holes because the Purple Raiders completed T-9. Scott completed T-37 after sharing fiftieth at Inverness. That’s not good for a man I tabbed as a possible nationwide participant of the 12 months. … After profitable the Folds of Honor Collegiate, Alabama got here again all the way down to earth with a solo twelfth, beating simply Northwestern, Baylor and Michigan. In fact, it didn’t assist that freshman Nicholas Gross was disqualified within the second spherical, forcing Alabama to rely a 5-over 75.
