OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – With a 5-under-par 65 final round, freshman Max Emberson (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) claimed a share of the individual title at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational to open his collegiate career with back-to-back individual tournament wins. Emberson, who won the Folds of Honor Collegiate title last week, finished in a four-way tie for first at Olympia Fields Country Club, concluding the tournament at 13-under-par 197.
Battling inclement weather all weekend, Georgia Tech entered the final round of play in fifth place after teams finished round 2 Saturday morning. Despite a 3-under-par final round, the Yellow Jackets slipped into an eighth-place finish for the tournament (818, -22). Arizona State took home the team title with a 54-hole total of 800 (-40) to claim a two-stroke victory over second-place Illinois (802, -38).
“It has been a strong start to our season and I am extremely excited for our freshman, Max Emberson, to be showing he is one of the best players in the country,” said head coach Ryan Hybl. “I am excited to see him continue to grow and be a proud representative of Georgia Tech. For our squad, we have many opportunities to get better. We are building each week as we continue to learn. Our execution needs to be stronger, but I do believe our effort and commitment is right where it needs to be.”
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to compete this week and to come away with another win,” stated Emberson. “I’m proud of the work that went into it and everyone who has supported me along the way.”
Georgia Tech is back in action at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational, Sept. 28-29, in Fort Worth, Texas. Albert Hansson returns as the reigning individual champion, having claimed the title last season in a playoff.
TECH LINEUP – With a shotgun start for the final round, Emberson opened with a bogey on 5, but quickly rebounded and finished the round with seven birdies. Emberson posted rounds of 63-69-65 over the weekend to cap a 13-under-par 197 showing. With a birdie on hole No. 3, Emberson moved back into a share of the lead and closed the tournament with a par on four to walk away a victor.
Emberson becomes the first freshman Yellow Jacket to win two individual titles in their freshman season since Luke Schniederjans won two his freshman season in 2016-17.
Carson Baez (Davenport, Fla.)carded a 1-over-par 71 on Saturday. After a second-round 67, Baez finished the tournament 2-under-par 208 to tie for 51st.
Andrew Ferworn (Houston, Texas) and Albert Hansson (Fiskebäckskil, Sweden)both tied for 58th at even-par 210. Ferworn fired an even-par 70 on Saturday, while Hansson struggled in the final round, posting a 75 and did not count towards the team total.
Senior Kale Fontenot (Lafayette, La.) saved his best round for last, recording a 1-over-par 71 to conclude the tournament in 78th-place (217, +7).
TEAM LEADERBOARD – After finishing the second round Saturday morning, Arizona State held a four-stroke lead entering the final round in the afternoon. The Sun Devils maintained their lead and finished with a 10-under-par 270 over the final 18 to post a team total 40-under-par 800 and take the win.
Host Illinois finished second (802, -38), while Texas Tech took third (803, -37) and Alabama finished fourth (810, -30). Oklahoma State and Florida tied for fifth (813, -27), while Stanford finished seventh (817, -23), just one stroke ahead of the Yellow Jackets in eighth. Pepperdine and LSU tied for ninth (819, 21).
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