May 4, 2004
ATLANTA – Nicholas Thompson, Chan Wongluekiet and Roberto Castro were named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Golf team announced Tuesday afternoon, while Castro was also named ACC Rookie of the Year.
It marked the fourth time Tech has placed three golfers on the all-conference team and the second time in three years. Clemson and Wake Forest also had three honorees. Voting was done by the ACC’s nine head coaches.
“This is a great conference, and to have three of your starting five make the all-conference team is a great accomplishment for them,” said head coach Bruce Heppler, whose team is ranked No. 6 in the nation currently.
Thompson, a junior from Coral Springs, Fla., made the team for the second straight year. The nation’s No. 17-ranked golfer, according to the latest Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index, Thompson leads the Yellow Jackets and ranks fourth in the ACC with a 71.14 scoring average this year. He tied for third at the ACC Championship at 8-under-par 208 and has five top-10 finishes in 10 tournaments this year.
Wongluekiet, a junior from Bradenton, Fla., made the team for the first time after averaging 72.69 strokes in 11 events this year. He is the only Tech golfer to play in every tournament. Wongluekiet has one top-10 finish (Taylor/Made Waikoloa in February) and five top-20 showings, and tied for 11th at the ACC Championship (3-under 213).
Castro, a freshman from Alpharetta, Ga., became the fourth Tech golfer to win the ACC Rookie of the Year honor, joining Matt Kuchar (1997), Bryce Molder (1998) and current teammate Wongluekiet (2002). Castro is second on the team and sixth in the ACC in stroke average at 71.76. He tied for 11th at the ACC Championship (3-under 213) and has three top-10 finishes in 10 events this year.
2004 All-ACC Men's Golf Team
Jack Ferguson, Jr., Clemson Matt Hendrix, Sr., Clemson Gregg Jones, Sr., Clemson Ryan Blaum, So., Duke Nathan Smith, So., Duke Roberto Castro, Fr., Georgia Tech Nicholas Thompson, Jr., Georgia Tech Chan Wongluekiet, Jr., Georgia Tech Dustin Bray, Sr., North Carolina Fernando Mechereffe, Sr., NC State Bill Haas, Sr., Wake Forest Sean Moore, Fr., Wake Forest Kyle Reifers, So., Wake Forest
Player of the Year: Bill Haas, Wake Forest Rookie of the Year: Roberto Castro, Georgia Tech Coach of the Year: Larry Penley, Clemson
