Open star Schniederjans turns professional

The American performed strongly at the Open and finished T12

The American finished T12 at the Open Championship at St Andrews.

Oliver Schniederjans has announced he has turned professional in the aftermath of his impressive performance at the Open.

The American finished T12 at St Andrews, carding an overall 279 to sit alongside six other players, including Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald.

Schniederjans also played at the US Open at Chambers Bay last month, finishing T42 with Jim Furyk and Robert Streb.

In the process he became the first amateur in 55 years to make the cut at both tournaments in the same year.

The 22-year-old said: "Excel [Sports Management] has an extremely great reputation and track record. I am confident I have chosen the best individuals and group to assist me and my team in managing my golf and business endeavors."

Watch our review of the 2015 Open from St Andrews

 

Schnierderjans graduated from Georgia Tech in the United States this year, with six individual NCAA tournament wins to his name.

In 2014, he was given the Mark H McCormack Medal to commemorate his first-ranked amateur status and also represented the 2014 and 2015 Palmer Cup United States team.

Mark Steinberg, a partner at Excel said: "Ollie was one of the most exciting amateurs to watch and we are so proud to be his agency as he embarks on a very promising professional career."

During the Open, Schniederjans was grouped with former US Open winners Graeme McDowell and Webb Simpson.

He shot a final round 67 on Monday to take him above 2013 Open winner Phil Mickelson and two-time winner of the Claret Jug Padraig Harrington.

Schniederjans will begin his professional career at the RBC Canadian Open this week.

Will Medlock graduated from UEA with a degree in Film and Television before completing a Masters in Sports Journalism at St Mary's in London. Will has had work published by The Independent and the Rugby Paper.