April 18, 2004
Atlanta – Led by Chan Wongluekiet’s 67, four Georgia Tech players broke par Sunday, and the sixth-ranked Yellow Jackets overtook NC State to finish third in the Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Golf Championship at New London, N.C.
Tech’s team score of 274 (14 under par) Sunday was its second-best ever on the 7,102-yard, par 72 Old North State Club at Uwharrie Point, two strokes off its opening-round 272 in 2002. Wongluekiet was joined in red figures by Nicholas Thompson, Roberto Castro and Mike Barbosa, who each carded a 69.
It was the best team round of the entire tournament, but not good enough to make up much ground on the leaders. Clemson, the defending champion, shot 10-under-par 278 and won the tournament by eight strokes over Wake Forest. The Tigers finished the championship at 27-under-par 837, with the Demon Deacons at 19-under-par 845.
Tech was another three strokes back at 16-under 848, and the Wolfpack was at 10-under 854 for the tournament after scoring an even-par 288 Sunday. North Carolina (eight-under 856) was fifth and Duke (seven-under 857) sixth, the only other teams under par for the tournament.
Thompson, a junior from Coral Springs, Fla., finished tied for third in the medal race at eight-under-par 208, one place and two strokes shy of his best-ever ACC Tournament finish. He was three strokes off the pace of Wake Forest’s Sean Moore, who shot 67 to win the individual championship at 11-under-par 205. Clemson’s Jack Ferguson shot a 70 to finish second at 10-under 206. Matt Hendrix of Clemson tied for third with Thompson after posting a 70 on Sunday.
Castro, a freshman from Alpharetta, Ga., tied for 11th along with Wongluekiet, a junior from Bradenton, Fla., and two others at three-under-par 213. Barbosa, a sophomore from Santa Barbara, Calif., tied for 15th at two-under-par 214.
Freshman Kevin Larsen shot even-par 72 Sunday but did not count for Tech. The Yellow Jackets, who were seven under par at the turn, combined for 12 birdies and an eagle on the back nine.
Tech will now wait until May 10 to see where it will be assigned among the three NCAA regional tournaments that will take place the weekend of May 20-22.
51st ACC MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPOld North State Club at Uwharrie Point, New London, N.C.Final Results - April 18, 2004
TEAM STANDINGS
Clemson 284-275-278 – 837 (-27) Wake Forest 283-286-276 – 845 (-19) Georgia Tech 290-284-274 – 848 (-16) NC State 288-278-288 – 854 (-10) North Carolina 281-292-277 – 856 (-8) Duke 287-293-277 – 857 (-7) Florida State 295-291-289 – 875 (+11) Virginia 295-291-296 – 882 (+18) Maryland 297-311-297 – 905 (+41)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Sean Moore, Wake Forest 70-67-70 – 205 (-11) Jack Ferguson, Clemson 69-67-68 – 206 (-10) Matt Hendrix, Clemson 70-68-70 – 208 (-8) Nicholas Thompson, Georgia Tech 71-68-69 – 208 (-8) Bill Haas, Wake Forest 67-73-69 – 209 (-7) Stephen Poole, Clemson 72-69-69 – 210 (-6) Dustin Bray, North Carolina 70-74-67 – 211 (-5) Garry Hill, NC State 74-67-70 – 211 (-5) Stephen Lewton, NC State 69-69-74 – 212 (-4) Jerry Richardson, NC State 71-72-69 – 212 (-4) Ryan Blaum, Duke 68-76-69 – 213 (-3) Roberto Castro, Georgia Tech 70-74-69 – 213 (-3) Nathan Smith, Duke 73-71-66 – 213 (-3) Chan Wongluekiet, Georgia Tech 74-70-67 – 213 (-3) Mike Barbosa, Georgia Tech 75-70-69 – 214 (-2) Ted Smith, North Carolina 70-75-69 – 214 (-2)
OTHER GEORGIA TECH SCORES
Kevin Larsen (37th) 75-78-72 – 225 (+6)
