March 8, 2002
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech golf team rallied over the final nine holes of play and evened its team score to finish tied atop the leaderboard with in-state rival Georgia after the first round of play at the Las Vegas Collegiate. The 54-hole event is being contested at the Southern Highlands Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nev.
The top-ranked Yellow Jackets began their opening round on the back nine and were unable to find red figures on the inward half, but found the scoring groove on the outward nine and finished the day with an even-par score of 288. Tech shares the lead with Georgia, which also finished the day at even-par 288. The Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets were the only two teams to finish at par or better in the 16-team field.
Tech’s individuals in the field are being led by freshman Nick Thompson, who continued his solid play with an opening-round score of 3-under-par, 33-36=69, to stand as part of a three-way tie for fourth place. Thompson trails a trio of golfers in first place at 4-under-par, 68, by one shot entering the second round.
Joining Thompson in the top 10, is junior Troy Matteson, who finished the opening round with a 2-under-par total of 34-36=70. Matteson is tied with Ryan Hybl of Georgia for seventh place. Senior Kris Mikkelsen is the third Yellow Jacket in the top 15, as he is part of a seven-player logjam in 14th place at 1-under-par, 35-36=71. Fellow senior Matt Weibring is among five players tied for 56th place at 5-over-par, 37-40=77, while rookie Chan Wongluekiet is tied for 72nd place after an opening score of 40-40=80.
The Las Vegas Collegiate will continue on Saturday with the second round of play at Southern Highlands. Live scoring is available at www.golfstatlive.com.
TEAM SCORES AFTER 18 HOLES1. Georgia Tech 288 Georgia 2883. Florida 289 New Mexico 289 UNLV 2896. Arizona 291 NC State 2918. Clemson 293 TCU 29310. Houston 29511. Ohio State 299 Oklahoma State 29913. Arizona State 30114. Alabama 30915. Air Force 31516. Kent State 319
TOP-10 INDIVIDUALS AND TECH INDIVIDUALS 1. Will Collins, New Mexico 68 Clark Corbett, UNLV 68 Brien Davis, UNLV 68 4. Hunter Mahan, Oklahoma St. 69 Nick Thomson, Georgia Tech 69 Camilo Villegas, Florida 69 7. Ryan Hybl, Georgia 70 Troy Matteson, Georgia Tech 70 9. Five players tied at 71.
GEORGIA TECH INDIVIDUALS T14. Kris Mikkelsen 72 T56. Matt Weibring 77 T72. Chan Wongluekiet 80
