Former amateur star Ollie Schniederjans hoping for first professional victory at Air Capital Classic

Ollie Schniederjans has fond memories about playing golf in Kansas.

Two years ago, he finished second at the NCAA championship while playing for Georgia Tech at Prairie Dunes Country Club. A few months later, he flirted with victory at the Air Capital Classic, finishing in a tie for fifth. His final score of 13-under par shattered the amateur record for the Web.com Tour event.

If not for a few disappointing shots at each event, he may have left the Sunflower State with a pair of trophies.

Now a professional, Schniederjans returns to Wichita this week with only one thing in mind: victory.

“I don’t really have any expectations other than that I want to win,” Schniederjans said by phone. “That is my only goal. I am going to play to win. I am expecting to do everything I can to play my best, and if I play my best I know I will have a good chance to win. So I will be focused on that.”

Schniederjans is seeking his first tournament win as a professional, but that doesn’t mean he lacks a championship pedigree. Schniederjans was one of the most successful amateur golfers in the world before turning pro last year, holding the No. 1 ranking from June 2014 until March 2015. He has played in the U.S. Open and the British Open. He has held the lead at a PGA Tour event. And he has an equipment deal with Callaway.

His future appears bright.

Schniederjans ranks 12th on the Web.com Tour money list halfway through his first full season as a professional. With three top-10 finishes, he is on pace to finish in the top 25 and join the PGA Tour next year.

A victory at the Air Capital Classic would all but clinch a promotion to golf’s biggest stage. It would also move him within reach of his preseason goal.

“I came into the season hoping to win two tournaments,” Schniederjans said. “I have not achieved that yet. I have played in (10) tournaments and I haven’t won one yet. But there are (eight) more tournaments to go. I am still focused on winning twice.”

As Schniederjans proved two years ago, his game is well suited for Crestview Country Club. If not for a rough stretch on the front nine during his second round, which led to a 71, he might have won back then. His other rounds were 64, 65 and 67.

Not bad for an amateur. The winner, Sebastian Cappelen, won with a final score of 18-under.

“It was my first pro event and it was really cool,” Schniederjans said. “It was fun to get away from college and amateur golf a little bit and play in a different scene. It was definitely fun to contend. My game was really good.”

His form is even better now.

Wind and thick patches of rough are the two most difficult traits of the Crestview course. But he isn’t afraid of either.

“The way the wind blows and the way the course is set up really allows you to take advantage of certain holes with length,” Schniederjans said. “I like playing in the wind. It is a challenge that makes the course more difficult for other players that don’t play a lot in the wind like I do.

“Out there, if you hit good drives and play aggressive you will be in a good position with wedges into a lot of greens. I can be aggressive and make a lot of birdies with some good tee shots.”

This story was originally published June 18, 2016 at 3:44 PM with the headline "Former amateur star Ollie Schniederjans hoping for first professional victory at Air Capital Classic."