USA Golf News: Michael Johnson and Matt Gilchrest from Auburn Will Join the Barasol Championship Field

The home field advantage in the Barbasol Championship may go to Auburn's Michael Johnson and Matt Gilchrest. Johnson and Gilchrest have joined the field of the PGA TOUR's Barbasol Championship with sponsor exemptions.

The Barbasol Championship will be July 13 - 17, 2016 on the Lake Course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Grand National site in Opelika, Alabama.

Johnson and Gilchrest join fellow Auburn golfers Blayne Barber and Patton Kizzire in the Barbasol Championship field of 132 players. Both Barber and Kizzire competed in the 2015 Barbasol Championship. Kizzire is the highest ranked PGA TOUR player in the field which also features former Masters and U.S. Open champions.

About Michael Johnson

Recently named a Golfweek first-team All-America, Johnson turned professional on June 26 after competing as a member of Team USA at the Arnold Palmer Cup in Formby, England. The former Auburn senior had a sensational senior campaign that saw him win a school record three tournaments and break the single season scoring average school record at 70.37.

Johnson was a semifinalist for the Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus Awards. He become Auburn’s seventh All-American under head coach Nick Clinard, and only the fifth first-team member in school history joining Buddy Gardner, Chip Spratlin, Iain Steel and Blayne Barber. He was also a PING second-team All-American this year.

"I am honored to accept the sponsor exemption from Barbasol and delighted to have this tournament be one of my first as a professional golfer," said Johnson. "Thanks to Barbasol for the opportunity and I look forward to playing this RTJ course in front of an international audience," said Johnson. "Hearing the cries of War Eagle from a PGA TOUR crowd while competing in Auburn/Opelika will be a remarkable experience and I am thankful to everyone who helped make this possible."

The Birmingham, Alabama, native won medalist honors at the Primland Collegiate, Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate and Schenkel Invitational and was ranked No. 1 by GolfWeek for a majority of the season. His five career wins are second only to Jimmy Green for most in school history while his 70.37 stroke average ranked second in the SEC and sixth nationally this season. He played high school golf for Spain Park High School in Hoover, Alabama.

About Matt Gilchrest

A rising senior from Southlake, Texas, Matt Gilchrest has had an exceptional career thus far at Auburn. He averaged 72.43 stokes per round in the 2015 - 2106 season with 10 sub-par rounds and seven rounds in the 60s. He had five top 10 finishes in 9 spring tournaments. Gilchrest was an All-SEC first-team selection in 2015 in addition to being a 2nd team selection in 2014.

Gilchrest was a star on and off the golf course. He was on the 2015 Ben Hogan Award Watch List while also being named an Academic Top Tiger. He will be competing in the Barbasol Championship as an amateur.

"Having started playing golf at an early age, it has always been a dream to compete on the PGA TOUR," said Gilchrest. "I am very pleased that in July that vision will become a reality. Auburn University has great traditions in golf and all athletics. It will be an honor to wear the orange and blue while competing on the Plains in front of my friends and family."

Gilchrest tied for third at the SEC Championship, his career best finish at the tournament while finishing 20th in the 2016 NCAA Championship. He recently finished T6 in the Sunnehanna Amateur and T7 in the Northeast Amateur this month.

He tied for third at the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate at 5 under. In Texas, he played for Southlake Carroll and was named the Team MVP. He captured five AJGA wins during his storied junior career.

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Media Contact: Bill Lang - RTJ Golf Trail - bill.lang@rtjresorts.com - 205.965.9574 - www.barbasolchampionship.com.

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