ATLANTA — The Georgia Tech men’s golf team carried a three shot lead into the final round and needed every bit of it to hold on for a one stroke victory at the Carpet Capital Collegiate. Play on Sunday saw scores rise with cold and windy conditions making scoring difficult. The 54-hole tournament was played at the 6,906-yard, par-72 layout of The Farm in Rocky Face, Ga.
The Yellow Jackets posted an 8-under-par round of 280 on Saturday, but saw that rise to a 16-over-par total of 304 on Sunday, as Tech finished with a three-day total of 6-over-par, 286-280-304=870. The win was the first of the year for the Jackets and the second-straight year, and fifth time overall, that they have won the Carpet Capital Collegiate. Tech held a one shot lead on the final hole, and a birdie putt by Clemson’s (283-287-301=871) Lucas Glover that would have sent the event to a playoff slid just under the hole, giving the Jackets the victory.
Tech’s individuals were led by senior Bryce Molder (Conway, Ark.), who carded a 1-over-par 73 on Sunday and finished alone in second placed at 5-under-par, 70-68-73=211. His total was three shots off the pace of individual champion Kyle Thompson of South Carolina, who fired a final-round 70, and was the only player in the field to shoot under par on the final day, to finish the event at 8-under-par, 69-69-70=208.
Molder was followed in the individual standings by fellow fourth-year player Wes Latimer (Woodstock, Ga.), who was one of five players tied for 18th place at 5-over-par, 72-75-74=221. Junior Kris Mikkelsen (Woodstock, Ga.) was one place behind Latimer, as he finished as part of a five-player tie for 23rd at 6-over-par, 73-70-79=222.
Sophomore Troy Matteson (Austin, Texas), was the next Yellow Jacket in the field, as he was one of four players tied for 31st place at 8-over-par, 77-69-78=224. Rounding out the Tech contingent in the field was junior Matt Weibring (Plano, Texas), who played well over the first 36 holes, but struggled with weather conditions in the final round and faded to 36th at 10-over-par, 71-73-82=226.
The Yellow Jackets will return to action in just over a week, when they travel to Birmingham, Ala., to compete in the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate at the Old Overton Golf Course on October 16-17.
TEAM SCORES AFTER 18 HOLES1. Georgia Tech 286-280-304=870 2. Clemson 283-287-301=8713. Georgia 278-291-305=874 4. Florida 292-288-303=883 5. East Tennessee State 292-293-299=884 6. UCLA 281-297-313=891 South Carolina 296-288-307=891 8. Wake Forest 299-292-301=892 9. Arizona State 294-293-309=896 Tennessee 292-291-313=896 11. Augusta State 294-297-306=897 12. Auburn 294-301-305=900 13. NC State 299-303-301=903 14. North Carolina 304-296-314=914 15. Virginia 294-304-319=917 TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS, GEORGIA TECH PLAYERS1. Kyle Thompson, S. Carolina 69-69-70=208 2. Bryce Molder, Georgia Tech 70-68-73=211 3. Nick Cassini, Georgia 65-72-75=212 4. Michael Webb, Augusta State 72-68-75=215 5. Lucas Glover, Clemson 68-71-77=216 6. Nick Gilliam, Florida 71-71-75=217 David Sanchez, NC State 69-76-72=217 Chris Wisler, East Tenn. St. 70-74-73=217 Cortland Lowe, Wake Forest 75-67-75=217 10. Three Players Tied at 218 GEORGIA TECH INDIVIDUALSt-18. Wes Latimer 72-75-74=221 t-23. Kris Mikkelsen 73-70-79=222 t-31. Troy Matteson 77-69-78=224 t-36. Matt Weibring 71-73-82=226
