Ollie Schniederjans scored 17 points on Thursday at Montreux Golf & Country Club and will take a three point lead into day two of the Barracuda Championship.
Schniederjans got off to a nice start in the popular Reno tournament – which uses a Modified Stableford scoring format, carding birdies on Nos. 2, 3, and 4 to quickly rack up a half-dozen points.
Six-consecutive pars, though, saw the 25-year old fall back to the pack somewhat, but he picked up the pace going home with birdies on Nos. 11, 13, and 15 to move to 12 points. Two pointless pars on 16 and 17 were followed by a five-point eagle on 18 to put Schniederjans atop the scoreboard in Reno at +17.
“Yeah, it was really good. Eagles are huge in this format. So it’s a little more nerve-racking, three-footer being three more points,” said Schniederjans.
“It’s interesting you have putts that are worth more than others. But really good finish and played really good.”
Aaron Baddeley (+14) was three back, while Robert Streb (+13) was four off the pace.
TOP 5 LEADERS
1. Ollie Schniederjans +17
2. Aaron Baddeley +14
3. Robert Streb +13
4. John Merrick +11
5. Michael Thompson +10
5. Alex Cejka +10
5. Stephan Jaegar +10
5. Tom Lovelady +10
DAY-ONE HIGHLIGHTS
EXIT QUESTION
Looked today like the key to the round was the scrambling. Every time you missed a green you got up-and-down.
OLLIE SCHNIEDERJANS: Yeah, everything was sort of going well — good putting, good short game, hit it awesome. I hit some wedges a little too far. So I missed some opportunities from the fairway with lead shots, I just flew it over the pin.
But a couple of times I flew it over the green and got up-and-down with a wedge. I’m hitting it really nice. Probably just gotta dial in those wedge yardages a little better. But it was a really good round.
