Michael Johnson wins Schenkel Invitational; Auburn men’s golf fifth
STATESBORO, Ga. (auburntigers.com) – All-SEC senior Michael Johnson won the Schenkel Invitational with a birdie on the second playoff hole after firing a 2-under 70 on Sunday at the Forest Heights Country Club.
Johnson and Vanderbilt’s Will Gordon each finished at 13-under 203.
It is Johnson’s third win of the season, one shy of the NCAA lead, and the fifth of his career.
“It feels great,” Johnson said. “It’s hard to win just once, I feel extremely blessed to have been able to do it three times this year.”
Johnson, the No. 3 rated golfer in the nation, went to the 18th green needing a birdie to tie Gordon and force playoff. He did just that, and in the playoff, the Birmingham, Ala., native tapped in a par on the par-4 No. 1 and followed with a birdie on the par-5 No. 9.
“This was the hardest win of the year, no doubt,” Johnson said. “The two others I really didn’t feel much pressure, but having to birdie the last hole to get into a playoff was a cool feeling. It felt awesome to birdie the last when you have to.”
Auburn finished fifth at 23-under after finishing at even par for the day while No. 15 Vanderbilt took home the trophy at 41-under 823.
Senior Jake Mondy and freshman Jacob Solomon tied for 25th while junior Will Long tied for 37th at 2-under and All-SEC junior Matt Gilchrest tied for 66th at 6-over.
All-America sophomore Ben Schlottman, playing as an individual, finished t-10th at 8-under 66-74-68. The Advance, N.C., native used a 4-under 68 final round with birdies on Nos. 5, 8, 9, 16 and 18 to climb 11 spots on the day.
No. 10 Wake Forest finished second at 31-under 833 followed by Kentucky (279—839), North Carolina State (272—839), Auburn, Georgia State (289—842), North Florida (276—844), No. 19 North Carolina (289—848), UAB (286-849) and Georgia Southern (286—851).
College of Charleston finished 11th at 10-under 854 followed by Iowa (287—856), Harvard (287—869) and Boston College (305—893).
Auburn returns to action March 26 at the one-day FarmLinks Match Play at FarmLinks in Sylacauga, Ala.
