BRADENTON, Fla. - Following what turned out to be the final day of their college careers, Georgia Tech seniors Ollie Schniederjans and Anders Albertson were in disbelief. In contention with UCLA for the final spot in match play at the NCAA championships, the two stalwarts fell short and the Yellow Jackets’ hopes went with them.
Starting the day in a tie for eighth with the Bruins, the Jackets finished ninth for the tournament at 23-over, three shots behind UCLA. Over four days and 288 holes, UCLA took 1,172 shots and Tech took 1,175.
Schniederjans and Albertson played Monday’s round at the Concession Golf Club in 6-over 78 and 2-over 74, respectively. Schniederjans, who ended 2014 as the world’s top-ranked amateur, finished in a tie for 49th at 10-over. In his final college round, he failed to contribute a counting score, as the team total only take the top four scores.
“Just in shock at how my final college day went down,” Schniederjans said. “It couldn’t be more of a disaster, really.”
Albertson, a two-time ACC champion, tied for 67th at 15-over. In a final departing blow, after birdieing his final hole, Albertson was assessed a one-shot penalty for slow play, the first of his career.
“Unfortunately, Ollie and I didn’t do our best this week,” Albertson said. “We knew we had to help lead and we had good rounds at times, but it just wasn’t our week.”
With a gallery that included Tech athletic director Mike Bobinski, Tech fell behind by as many as eight strokes during Monday’s round, but closed to within one shot late in the round. The Bruins held on, however.
The Jackets’ surprise low scorer Monday was freshman James Clark, who birdied three of the final seven holes to help close the gap.
“Clark – incredible round,” coach Bruce Heppler said. “I think we got within one with four to go and it didn’t work out in the end. Ninth in the tournament’s pretty good I guess, but you want to keep playing, but we don’t get to.”
Schniederjans will turn professional after playing in the U.S. and British opens, having finished last summer as the world’s top-ranked amateur. Albertson will play in a U.S. Open sectional qualifier and the Palmer Cup – a Ryder Cup-style event for U.S. and European collegians – and will turn professional after that.
“(Match play) would have been a lot of fun to do with this group and share those moments, but it’s been a great year and I really enjoyed it,” Albertson said. “I enjoyed my career here. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Vince Whaley, T33, +6 – 79-71-68-76 – 294
Ollie Schniederjans, T49, +10 – 76-74-70-78 –298
Chris Petefish, 53, +11 –72-77-73-77 – 299
James Clark, T54, +12 –76-75-79-70 – 300
Anders Albertson, T67, +15 – 69-75-85-74 – 303
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