April 10, 2010
Raleigh, N.C. – John-Tyler Griffin shot a 72 Saturday to pace Georgia Tech in the final round, but the 16th-ranked Yellow Jackets stumbled on the back nine and finished in a tie for sixth place at the Wolfpack Intercollegiate at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course at NC State.
Paul Haley shot a final-round 74 (3-over-par) Saturday and tied for 15th place individually, Tech’s top player in the event, and earned his second top-20 finish of the year. The junior from Dallas, Texas, completed 54 holes in 6-over-par 219, five shots behind medalist Adam Long of Duke (1-over 214). Griffin, from Wilson, N.C., tied for 22nd place at 8-over 221.
North Carolina, which was in fifth place after 18 holes, played well over the final 36 holes and won the team title by seven strokes over the 26th-ranked Blue Devils. The Tar Heels shot 2-under-par Saturday and finished three rounds at 8-over 860, while Duke kept pace with a 3-under-par effort Saturday and finished at 15-over 867.
Host NC State was third at 872, followed by Florida State at 876, Purdue at 885 and Tech at 887. The Yellow Jackets made a move in the field early, playing the front nine in 3-over-par, but came home in 10-over collectively.
The biggest victim was Chesson Hadley, Tech’s senior playing in his hometown, who was 1-under at the turn but finished with a 76 despite four birdies on his card. James White posted a 75 Saturday for Tech’s other counting score, while freshman Bo Andrews, also from Raleigh, shot 78.
The 17-team field included nine of the 11 ACC golf-playing schools, giving Tech a preview of conference as it prepares for the ACC Championship in two weeks. The Jackets have won the title three times in the last four years, and will begin defense of its 2009 title April 23 at the Old North State Club at Uwharrie Point in New London, N.C.
