THE FLATS – Down 2-1 with its final two matches extending to extra holes, fifth-ranked Georgia Tech could win only one of the two contests and fell to top-ranked North Carolina, 3-2, Tuesday in the semifinal round of the East Lake Cup.
The Tar Heels were able to avenge a 3-2 loss to the Yellow Jackets in the semifinals of last May’s NCAA Championship, and advanced to Wednesday’s championship match against 15th-ranked Florida State, which got past No. 20 Florida, also 3-2. With the loss, Tech draws a rematch of its NCAA Championship final by facing the Gators in the third-place match.
Senior Christo Lamprecht (George, South Africa) survived his playoff in a back-and-forth match with the Tar Heels’ Kenan Poole, winning in 21 holes. Freshman Kale Fontenot (Lafayette, La.), who won medalist honors on Monday, led by two holes with two to play in his match with Maxwell Ford, but was unable to hold on as the Tar Heel junior won 17 with a par and 18 with a birdie to send the contest to extra holes. Ford eventually prevailed on the fourth playoff hole, needing only a par at 18 to escape and clinch the match for the Tar Heels.
Tech drew first blood when freshman Carson Kim (Yorba Linda, Calif.), first off the tee against Peter Fountain, scored a 4&3 victory. But the Tar Heels grabbed the lead after Austin Greaser downed senior Bartley Forrester (Gainesville, Ga.), 3&2, and David Ford finished off sophomore Hiroshi Tai (Singapore), 5&4, within minutes of each other.
That left the overall contest in the hands of Fontenot and Lamprecht.
Wednesday’s consolation match begins at 10:40 a.m. on the Atlanta Athletic Club’s Highlands course, with the Jackets taking on Florida, followed by the Seminoles against the Tar Heels. Golf Channel will provide live television coverage from 3-6 p.m.
Freshman Carson Kim put the first point on the board for the Jackets with a 4&3 victory over Peter Fountain.
THEY SAID IT
“Yeah, kind of started off this morning not hitting good golf shots, put me on the back foot straight away. He was playing really good out of the gate, so I knew I was going to have to just claw my way back into the match.
“I kind of got some momentum coming down 12, eagling 12. Yeah, it was a good match. Nothing extravagant happened, but we both played pretty good golf. Neither one of us kind of wanted to give it up. Yeah, I’m just pleased that I kind of got it done and hopefully my teammate can get it done too up there.” – Christo Lamprecht 21-hole on his victory over Kenan Poole
“Yeah, we don’t get a lot of it in the fall, but it’s really cool if we do. I think it brings out the best golf in players. Generally for myself, I play my best golf when I play match play. I enjoy part of it kind of playing against the person, all you’ve got to do is beat him. A lot of feistiness going on and I enjoy that part of the game.” – Lamprecht on match play
Photos by Clyde Click
CYPRESS POINT CLASSIC RECAP
Out on the West Coast, senior Andy Mao (Johns Creek, Ga.) picked up Georgia Tech’s only singles victory in a 5-1 loss to Illinois, defeating Jackson Buchanan, 1-up, in the Yellow Jackets’ anchor match. Tied after 12 holes, the match went back and forth, each player taking a lead and then giving it back before Mao won the 17th hole with a par and then held on with a half at 18.
None of the other singles matches reached the 18th hole, with senior Aidan Kramer (Oviedo, Fla.) dropping the closest decision in a 2&1 loss to Max Herendeen.
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.
