Salem, S.C. – Led by Christo Lamprecht’s record-setting 62 and Connor Howe’s 65, Georgia Tech shot a program record 22-under-par round of 266 Tuesday and leaped into second place after 36 holes at the NCAA Salem (S.C.) Regional.
The No. 2-seed Yellow Jackets matched the opening-round score of Arkansas, who maintained its lead by carding a 17-under-par score of 271 Tuesday, and moved within seven shots of the Razorbacks in an effort to win a regional for the second year in row. Tech’s score of 266 was a program record for gross score and relation to par in a single round of an NCAA regional or finals, eclipsing the 16-under-par 268 the Jackets shot at the NCAA Raleigh Regional in 2014.
Tech also gave itself a cushion above the cutline, 14 shots ahead of sixth place entering the final round Wednesday. The top five teams in each regional qualifier advance to the NCAA Championship.
The Jackets, at 32-under-par 544, tee off the first hole at 8 a.m. Wednesday, paired with the Razorbacks (539, -39) and top-seeded North Carolina (551, -25), who is tied for third place with eighth-seeded New Mexico. Northern Illinois (553, -23) holds fifth place, with No. 5 seed Georgia Southern in sixth (558, -18).
Tech has advanced to the NCAA Championship finals in seven of the past 10 years, including each of the last three, finishing fourth in 2019 (Pullman, Wash.), third in 2021 (Tallahassee, Fla.) and first last year (Columbus, Ohio). Four of the five Tech starters from 2022 are back for this season.
The Yellow Jackets are playing in an NCAA regional for the 25th straight year and for the 32nd time in the 34 years the NCAA has used a regional qualifying format for its championship (the NCAA Championship and regionals were not conducted in 2020 due to COVID-19).
Tuesday highlights from Christo Lamprecht
TECH LINEUP – Lamprecht played a near-perfect round Tuesday at The Cliffs at Keowee Falls, navigating the back nine (Tech’s first nine) in 30 strokes and the more difficult front in 32 without a bogey. It was a career-low round by the junior from George, South Africa, and a Tech individual record for a round in an NCAA regional or finals. Matt Kuchar held the former regional mark of 64 (-8) in 1998. Mikko Rantanen holds the NCAA finals mark for Tech, a 9-under 63 in 1994.
Lamprecht’s performance outshone another career-best effort by teammate Howe, whose 65 matched the lowest score of his career. The senior from Ogden, Utah went bogey-free with eight birdies until making bogey on his final hole.
Lamprecht moved into fourth place individually at 11-under-par 133, while Howe is tied for sixth place at 8-under-par 136.
Ross Steelman followed his opening 68 with a 2-under-par 70 Tuesday and is tied for 13th place at 6-under 138, while Bartley Forrester posted a 3-under-par 69 and is tied for 22nd at 140 (-4). Freshman Hiroshi Tai followed his opening 68 with a 74 Tuesday and did not count for the Jackets’ team score, but he is tied for 32nd place at 142 (-2) in the 75-player field.
Tuesday highlights from Connor Howe
TEAM LEADERBOARD – No. 6 seed Arkansas stayed hot Tuesday with a 17-under-par round of 271 to finish 36 holes at 39-under-par 537. The Razorbacks hold a seven-shot cushion on No. 2 seed Georgia Tech (544, -32).
Top-seeded North Carolina and New Mexico, the eighth seed, are tied for third place at 551 (-25), with New Mexico close behind in fifth place at 553 (-23).
Georgia Southern is five shots behind fifth place at 558 (-18), followed by Clemson (560, -16). No. 3 seed Texas A&M and San Diego State are tied for eighth place at 564 (-12), with Furman rounding out the top 10 at 571 (-5).
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD – North Carolina’s Ryan Burnett, who shot an opening-round 63, held onto the individual lead by carding a 4-under-par 68 Tuesday and has a 36-hole total of 131 (-13), one stroke ahead of Clemson’s Andrew Swanson and Arkansas’ Segundo Pinto, tied at 132 (-12).
Tech’s Lamprecht has fourth place at 133 (-11), with the Razorback’s Wil Gibson in solo fifth at 134 (-10). The Yellow Jackets’ Howe and New Mexico’s Albert Boneta are tied for sixth place at 136 (-8).
NCAA Salem Regional Round 2
Photos by Andy Mead
Post-round interview with Christo Lamprecht
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
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ABOUT GEORGIA TECH GOLF
Georgia Tech’s golf team is in its 28th year under head coach Bruce Heppler, winning 71 tournaments in his tenure. The Yellow Jackets have won 19 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 31 appearances in the NCAA Championship and been the national runner-up four 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.
