By Taft Gantt
Johns Creek, Ga. – Two match victories proved to be just enough to give fifth-ranked Georgia Tech a 2-1-2 victory over No. 20 Florida in the consolation match Tuesday and secure the Yellow Jackets a third-place finish at the ninth annual East Lake Cup.
Sophomore Hiroshi Tai (Singapore) was able to get the first point for the Yellow Jackets with a 2&1 victory over the Gators’ Tyler Wilkes. Tai and Wilkes were knotted through the 12th hole, but Tai won the 13th with a par to go 1-up, and 15 with a par to go 2-up, and held on. Senior Christo Lamprecht (George, South Africa) followed suit shortly after closing out Ian Gilligan, 4&2, his second match win in the event. He never trailed against Gilligan, clinching the match with a par at 16.
Down one hole heading to 18, senior Bartley Forrester (Gainesville, Ga.) birdied the par-5 18th to tie the match with Matthew Kress and give Georgia Tech the half point. Freshman Carson Kim (Yorba Linda, Calif.) tied his match with Parker Bell to confirm the overall contest victory for the Yellow Jackets. Luke Poulter finished off the freshman stroke play medalist Kale Fontenot (Lafayette, La.), 2&1, for the Gators’ only full point.
The win avenged a 3-2 loss to the Gators at the NCAA Championship last May, and allowed Georgia Tech to head into its offseason with a win after falling in its semifinal match to top-ranked North Carolina, 3-2, Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets return to action in February.
Carson Kim’s half-point proved to be the clinching match for the Yellow Jackets. (photo by Clyde Click)
THEY SAID IT
“I think they showed up after the disappointment from yesterday. It was a long day. Had a chance to win that match and play for the title today, but they all kind of geared themselves up as the last day of the fall. I was happy with how everybody played.” – Head coach Bruce Heppler on Tech’s rebound from a disappointing loss to North Carolina
“It’s always nice to have a home crowd and a golf course that you’re familiar with. It just kind of eases you up a little bit.” – Christo Lamprecht on playing in Atlanta
“These are really good teams we’re playing against, so I think we can use it as motivation to keep working hard in the offseason, and hopefully, come April, May or June, we’ll be ready and play a bit better next time.” – Hiroshi Tai on the experience
Photos by Clyde Click
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH GOLF
Georgia Tech’s golf team is in its 29th year under head coach Bruce Heppler, having won 72 tournaments in his tenure. The Yellow Jackets have won 19 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 33 appearances in the NCAA Championship and been the national runner-up five times. Connect with Georgia Tech Golf on social media by liking their Facebook page, or following on Twitter (@GTGolf) and Instagram. For more information on Tech golf, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
