April 17, 2011
Alpharetta, Ga. – Paul Haley shot a 4-under-par 68 Sunday, rallying past two teammates to win medalist honors and lifting 4th-ranked Georgia Tech to a 17-stroke victory in the Yellow Jacket Classic at the Golf Club of Georgia.
Tech, which had not played for four weeks before this weekend, shot rounds of 284 and 283 for a 9-under-par total of 567, while UNC-Wilmington finished second at 10-over 586. UAB was third at 605, followed by Georgia State at 607 and Troy at 627.
“We needed to get back on the course, and the scores we shot were just what we were looking for,” said Tech coach Bruce Heppler. “Paul won himself a tournament, and played very well to do it. We played both rounds under par. For the most part, everyone played well.”
Haley, a senior from Dallas, Texas, pronounced himself ready from the start Sunday, pitching in from 50 yards out for eagle on the first hole and recording three birdies on the back nine in his bogey-free round.
“You couldn’t ask for a better start than pitching in for eagle on the first,” said Haley. “I played very steady the rest of the front nine, then finally took the lid off the hole at 11 and made birdie, and played solidly coming in. I got it up and down every time I missed a green except one. My short game and my putting were really solid today.”
Tech’s three seniors finished 1-2-3 in the individual race. Haley finished the tournament with a 5-under-par total of 139, one stroke better than Kyle Scott, who shot 70-70 for a 4-under 140. John-Tyler Griffin, who led after 18 holes with a 69, finished with an even-par 72 for a 36-hole total of 3-under 141.
Freshman Richard Werenski shot a 73 Sunday to go with an opening 74 to finish tied for fifth at 147, while James White tied for 13th at 151 after a closing 76.
It was the second tournament victory for Tech at the Golf Club of Georgia this year. The Yellow Jackets captured a 27-stroke victory over top-ranked UCLA in the United States Collegiate Championship in the fall. Haley became the third different Tech player to win a tournament this year, and the second to win on this golf course.
“Hopefully everyone got some confidence out of this and are back in tournament mode,” added Heppler. “For us to go up to the ACC cold was not the answer, so I feel very good about what we did here this weekend.”
The Yellow Jackets, who have won or shared the last for ACC crowns, begin defense of their title Friday morning at the Old North State Club in New London, N.C.
Yellow Jacket ClassicGolfClub of Georgia (par 72, 7020 yards), Alpharetta, Ga.Final Results
Fin. Top 20 Teams Scores 1 Georgia Tech 284 283 567 2 UNC Wilmington 295 291 586 3 UAB 303 302 605 4 Georgia State Univ. 309 298 607 5 Troy University 330 297 627
Fin. Top 20 Players School Scores 1 Paul Haley Ga. Tech 71 68 139 2 Kyle Scott Ga. Tech 70 70 140 3 J.T. Griffin Ga. Tech 69 72 141 4 Josh Brock UNCW 75 71 146 5 Thomas Bass UNCW 72 75 147 Richy Werenski Ga. Tech 74 73 147 7 Payne McLeod UNCW 74 74 148 Michael Taylor UNCW 74 74 148 Sam Love UAB 77 71 148 10 Tyler Gruca Georgia St 76 73 149 11 Jason Shufflebottam UAB 72 78 150 Richard Casko Troy 79 71 150 13 James White Ga. Tech 75 76 151 Thomas Sutton UAB 74 77 151 Ross Mclister Georgia St 77 74 151 16 *Minghao Wang Ga. Tech 73 79 152 *Victor Lavin Georgia St 71 81 152 18 Brent Paul Georgia St 78 75 153 Taylor Zimmerman UNCW 81 72 153 20 Alan Fowler Georgia St 78 76 154 *played as individual
