April 16, 2004
ATLANTA – Despite rounds of two-under-par 70 from Roberto Castro and one-under-par 71 from Nicholas Thompson, Georgia Tech shot a two-over-par 290 Friday and is in sixth place, nine shots off the pace after the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship at New London, N.C.
North Carolina shot a seven-under 281 Friday on the 7,100-yard, par 72 Old North State Club at Uwharrie Point, and has a two-stroke lead over Wake Forest (283). Defending champion Clemson is in third place at 284, followed by Duke at 287 and NC State at 288. Florida State and Virginia are tied for seventh at 295, with Maryland bringing up the rear at 297.
Castro, a freshman from Alpharetta, Ga., who posted three birdies and one bogey in his round, is in a group of five golfers tied for sixth at 70, four shots off the lead. Thompson, a junior from Coral Springs, Fla., is tied for 11th with two others at 71. His round included three birdies and two bogeys.
Tech also counted a 74 from Chan Wongluekiet, a junior from Bradenton, Fla., who is tied for 24th. Mike Barbosa, a sophomore from St. Petersburg, Fla., and Kevin Larsen, a freshman from Santa Barbara, Calif., each carded a 75, putting them in a large group tied for 31st.
Bill Haas of Wake Forest, the nation’s top-ranked player according to the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index, shot a 67 to take a one-stroke lead in the medal race. Ryan Blaum of Duke and Martin Ureta of North Carolina are tied for second at 68, followed by Jack Ferguson of Clemson and Stephen Lawton of NC State at 69.
The second round is set for Saturday, with the final 18 holes to be played Sunday.
51st ACC MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPOld North State Club at Uwharrie Point, New London, N.C.First Round Results - April 16, 2004
TEAM STANDINGS
North Carolina 281 (-7) Wake Forest 283 (-5) Clemson 284 (-4) Duke 287 (-1) NC State 288 (E) Georgia Tech 290 (+2) Florida State 295 (+7) Virginia 295 (+7) Maryland 297 (+9)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Bill Haas, Wake Forest 67 (-5) Ryan Blaum, Duke 68 (-4) Martin Ureta, North Carolina 68 (-4) Jack Ferguson, Clemson 69 (-3) Stephen Lawton, NC State 69 (-3) Dustin Bray, North Carolina 70 (-2) Roberto Castro, Georgia Tech 70 (-2) Matt Hendrix, Clemson 70 (-2) Sean Moore, Wake Forest 70 (-2) Ted Smith, North Carolina 70 (-2) Nicholas Thompson, Georgia Tech 71 (-1) Doug Manchester, Wake Forest 71 (-1) Jerry Richardson, NC State 71 (-1)
OTHER GEORGIA TECH PLAYERS
Chan Wongluekiet (t24th) 74 (+2) Mike Barbosa (t31st) 75 (+3) Kevin Larsen (t31st) 75 (+3)
