Feb. 15, 2002
WAIKOLOA, HI – Georgia Tech junior Troy Matteson won his first career tournament and in the process helped lead the top-ranked Yellow Jackets to their third team title in four years in the Taylor Made/Waikoloa Intercollegiate. The 54-hole event was played at the 7,074-yard, par-72 Waikoloa King’s Course in Waikoloa, Hawaii.
The third round saw winds pick up on the Big Island, as trade winds gusted at 35-40 mph on Friday. Matteson was able to master the elements and carded a 1-over-par score of 73 to claim a one-stroke victory over Fresno State’s Nick Watney. Matteson’s first individual title came in a solid scoring week, as he finished with a 6-under-par total of 67-70-73=210.
As a team, Georgia Tech captured its third team title of the 2001-02 season with a solid three-day score of 4-under-par, 281-285-294=860. The 6-over-par score of 294 on the final day was the only team round not in red figures for the Jackets, as Tech claimed an eight-shot win over Oklahoma, which finished the tourney at 4-over-par, 868.
Matteson led four Yellow Jackets in the tournament’s top 20, as both Kris Mikkelsen and Chan Wongluekiet joined him the top 10. Mikkelsen and Wongluekiet were part of a tie for ninth place at 1-over-par, 217 as they finished with scores of 71-72-74=217 and 71-73-73=217 respectively.
Freshman Nick Thompson was the fourth Tech player in the top 20, finishing tied for 20th with a 3-over-par score of 72-73-74=219. The final member of the Yellow Jacket contingent in the field was Matt Weibring, as he finished tied for 37th place at 6-over-par, 73-70-79=222.
Georgia Tech will not have much time to enjoy its victory as the Yellow Jackets will travel to Rio Mar, Puerto Rico on February 24-26, to compete in a strong field at the Puerto Rico Classic.
GEORGIA TECH INDIVIDUALS 1. Troy Matteson 67-70-73=210 T9. Kris Mikkelsen 71-72-74=217 Chan Wongluekiet 71-73-73=217 T20. Nick Thompson 72-73-74=219 T37. Matt Weibring 73-70-79=222
