Nov. 7, 2003
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Led by singles victories from rookies Kevin Larsen and Roberto Castro, along with a win by sophomore Thomas Jordan, the Georgia Tech golf team advanced to the quarterfinals of the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship with a 3-2 win over Southern California on Friday morning in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Yellow Jackets’ second match of the day against in-state rival Georgia was even at 2-2-1 when play was halted due to darkness in the afternoon. The three-day event is being contested at Barefoot Resort’s par-72, 7,343-yard Dye Course.
In the opening round of the day, Larsen was the first singles winner for Tech, as he had little trouble with the Trojan’s Ben Hayes, winning by a 5 and 4 score. Larsen took control of the match by winning four-straight holes to close out Hayes. Jordan was the Jackets second winner of the day, as he defeated USC’s Taylor Wood by a 3 and 1 score.
Southern Cal knotted the match at 2-2 with wins from Nico Bollini over Tech’s Mike Barbosa (3 and 2) and from Joshua Wooding over the Jackets’ Chan Wongluekiet (1 up). Rookie Roberto Castro clinched the match for Tech was he battled to the final hole with Tyler Ley. Castro birdied the final hole, the par-five 13th, to win the match, 1 up.
In the afternoon match, the Yellow Jackets squared off with the Bulldogs and are currently tied in the match at the suspension of play. Georgia has already won two singles matches with Brendon Todd downing Barbosa by a 5 and 4 score and Chris Kirk defeating Tech’s Wongluekiet by a 4 and 2 count. The Jackets have one match won as Castro defeated Jason Hodges by a 5 and 4 score, taking a 5 up lead after just 11 holes.
Jordan is close to claiming a win in his match against Richard Scott, standing dormie with a 2 up lead through 16 holes, while the match between Tech’s Larsen and the Bulldog’s Ryan Hybl is all square through 15 holes and will decide the match tomorrow.
Full tournament results and live scoring of the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship are available at www.golfstatlive.com. The event will continue on Saturday with the conclusion of the quarterfinal round and the semifinals.
GEORGIA TECH D. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, 3-21. Roberto Castro (GT) d. Tyler Ley (USC), 1 up2. Kevin Larsen (GT) d. Ben Hayes (USC), 5 and 43. Thomas Jordan (GT) d. Taylor Wood (USC), 3 and 14. Nico Bollini (USC) d. Mike Barbosa (GT), 3 and 25. Joshua Wooding (USC) d. Chan Wongluekiet (GT), 1 up
