The Loop

Schniederjans' eagle lands Ga. Tech a title

October 22, 2012

__By Ryan Herrington

COLLEGE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

MEN

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__Ollie Schniederjans, Georgia Tech

__The sophomore's performance over the final three holes at the GC of Georgia Sunday helped the Yellow Jackets rally to defeat defending champion UCLA by one stroke at the U.S. Collegiate Championship. A birdie on the 16th, after hitting his approach to one foot, was followed by a par save on the 17th after he hit his tee shot on the long par-3 into a hazard. He then reached the par-5 18th in two when he hit a 5-iron from 220 yards to three feet. When he converted the eagle putt, it gave him a final round 71 and the host school the victory.

"I knew I needed birdie to tie and eagle to win," said Schniederjans, who finished T-7 individually, eight strokes back of medalist Patrick Rodgers of Stanford (seven-under 209). "Knowing that and with all those people out there watching, the last group out there and everybody watching, that was the coolest hole I've ever played. I was in between clubs [with the second shot], and I went with the longer club because I wanted to hit a cut shot in there. I didn't' hit it exactly like I drew it up, but when I hit it, I knew it was going to end up perfect."

__Honorable mention: __Justin Thomas, Alabama—In just his 15 career start, the sophomore claimed his fifth career victory (tying Alabama's school record) when he won the Jerry Pate National Collegiate with a two-under 208, one stroke over Auburn's Michael Johnson.

__WOMEN

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__Kyung Kim, USC

__After opening with a one-over 72 at the Stanford Intercollegiate, the reigning U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links champion closed with rounds of 66-68 at Stanford GC to win her first college title.

The freshman from Chandler, Ariz., defeated defending individual champion SooBin Kim of Washington by three strokes (even with a bogey on the last hole) and also helped the Trojans claim the team title by four strokes over Washington and 11 shots clear of third place Stanford.

Honorable mention: Chirapat Jao-Javanil, Oklahoma—The junior claimed her first victory since winning the NCAA title in May, shooting a final-round 68 to take the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic title by two strokes over Notre Dame's Lindsey Weaver and Redlands CC's Sarah Schober.