Nov. 19, 2001
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech senior golfer Kris Mikkelsen had a solid day on Monday, as he joined junior teammate Troy Matteson in the 24-player field of the 27th annual Savane All-America Golf Classic in El Paso, Texas. The two-day, 54-hole event is being contested at the par-71, 6,781-yard El Paso Country Club. The tournament features some of the top collegiate men’s players in the nation and is hosted by the Sun Bowl Association.
Mikkelsen opened the day with a round of 2-under-par 69, but in the afternoon, he gave both of those shots back to par and finished the day with a 2-over-par round of 71. His 36-hole total of even-par 69-73-142, places him among six players tied for ninth place. That total puts Mikkelsen 10 shots off the pace of individual leaders Brad Heaven of Toledo and D.J. Trahan of Clemson, both of whom stand at 10-under-par after rounds of 65-67-132 and 66-66-132 respectively.
Matteson found red figures in the morning round, as he carded a 1-under-par round of 70 to open the tournament, however he did not find that same scoring groove over the second 18 holes of play, as he finished the day with a 4-over-par score of 75. The total of 3-over-par 70-75-145 places Matteson among three players tied for 22nd place after two rounds.
Both Mikkelsen and Matteson are competing in their first Savane All-America Golf Classic, and are the 11th and 12th Georgia Tech players to play in the tournament. Former Yellow Jackets David Duval and Matt Kuchar are both past winners of the event, with Duval winning the title in 1991 and Kuchar winning a playoff to capture the 1999 crown.
The final round of play will get under way on Tuesday morning with Mikkelsen playing in a threesome with defending tournament champion Ricky Barnes of Arizona and Graeme McDowell of UAB. Matteson will be grouped with Steve Sokol of Florida Southern, the defending Division II national champion, and Lee Williamson of Purdue. Tournament information is available at www.sunbowl.org.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS AFTER 36 HOLES
1. Brad Heaven (Toledo) 65-67-132 D.J. Trahan (Clemson) 66-66-132 3. Nick Watney (Fresno State) 68-65-133 4. Franklin Hatchett (SMU) 68-70-138 5. Bill Haas (Wake Forest) 67-72-139 Michael Webb (Augusta State) 71-68-139 7. John Klauk (Texas) 65-75-140 Oliver Wilson (Augusta State) 70-70-140 9. Bryant Odom (Georgia) 72-70-142 Jason Hartwick (Texas) 74-68-142 Brock Mackenzie (Washington) 69-73-142 Lars Johansson (San Diego State) 67-75-142 Kris Mikkelsen (Georgia Tech) 69-73-142 Graeme McDowell (UAB) 66-76-142 15. Ricky Barnes (Arizona) 71-72-143 Simon Nash (Minnesota) 74-69-143 Chris Nallen (Arizona) 69-74-143 David Miller (Georgia) 74-69-143 19. Wilhelm Schauman (Minnesota) 73-71-144 Troy McKinley (Pacific) 73-71-144 David Inglis (Tulsa) 73-71-144 22. Steve Sokol (Florida Southern) 72-73-145 Troy Matteson (Georgia Tech) 70-75-145 Lee Williamson (Purdue) 71-74-145
