ATLANTA (Nov. 22) — Georgia Tech golfer Matt Kuchar (Lake Mary, Fla.) ended Monday one stroke off the lead at the 1999 Savane All-America Golf Classic in El Paso, Texas, which is being held at the par 71, 6,781-yard El Paso Country Club.
Kuchar fired a 6-under-par 69-67–136 to finish one stroke behind John Engler of Clemson, who shot a 69-66–135 to take the lead after the first 36 holes. Kuchar, the 1998 Haskins National Player of the Year, continued his hot fall play as he shot five out of nine rounds under par during the collegiate season and added two more on the opening day of the Savane Classic.
Tech’s Bryce Molder (Conway, Ark.) finished tied for seventh after finishing nine strokes off the lead at 2-over 72-72–144.
Following Engler and Kuchar were Kansas’ Ryan Vermeer at 139 and ’99 U.S. Amateur Champion David Gossett at 140.
The tournament is hosted by the Wells Fargo Sun Bowl Committee and will conclude with 18 holes Tuesday.
1. John Engler (Clemson) 69-66 - 1352. Matt Kuchar (Georgia Tech) 69-67 - 1363. Ryan Vermeer (Kansas) 70-69 - 1394. David Gossett (Texas) 69-71 - 1405. Andy Miller (BYU) 67-74 - 1416. Derek Gillespie (Arizona) 69-74 - 143T7. Michael Kirk (UNLV) 74-70 - 144 Bryce Molder (Georgia Tech) 72-72 - 144T9. Jeff Quinney (Arizona State) 72-74 - 146 Ben Curtis (Kent) 71-75 - 146 Michael Morrison (Georgia) 69-77 - 146 Kyle Thompson (South Carolina) 73-73 - 14613. Troy Kelly (Washington) 73-74 - 14714. Jonathan Byrd (Clemson) 76-72 - 148T15. Camilo Benedetti (Florida) 77-72 - 149 Billy Harvey (BYU) 75-74 - 14917. Wil Collins (New Mexico) 76-74 - 150T18. Max Harris (North Carolina) 75-76 - 151 Chad Collins (Methodist) 74-77 - 151T20. Andy Sanders (Houston) 77-75 - 152 Matt Krauss (Duke) 76-76 - 152 Eric Ecker (South Carolina) 75-77 - 152 Chris Wisler (East Tennessee St.) 73-79 - 152 Jeremy Anderson (UNLV) 73-79 - 152
