Oct. 13, 2008
Macon, Ga. –
Georgia Tech’s Cameron Tringale shot a 1-under-par 69 Monday and rallied to win the individual title at the Brickyard Collegiate golf tournament, while the Yellow Jackets finished second to Georgia in the team competition at the Brickyard at Riverside course.
Tringale, who shot 67 the first day, then struggled to a 75 Sunday, captured the third title of his career Monday after beginning the day two strokes behind. The senior from Laguna Niguel, Calif., played the first 11 holes 2-under-par, gave those shots back with bogeys at 12 and 13, then birdied the final hole, a par-5, to squeeze by Virginia Tech’s Drew Weaver.
“I just stayed steady eddie and tried to get myself as many putting looks as I could,” said Tringale. “I didn’t really put myself in any trouble, and I avoided a lot of mistakes. I missed a few fairways, but not by much. It’s a lot easier to play from the fairway here.”
His birdie on 18 was his first in six tries dating back to last year’s tournament.
“I hit a good tee shot up the right side, but I hit my second shot 40 yards short of where I was trying to hit it,” he said. “I had a 25-30-yard shot over a bunker and hit a good one to about a foot. It was nice not having to think about the putt.”
Tringale’s 54-hole total of 1-over-par 211 was one shot better than Weaver, the 2007 British Amateur champion. Tringale had not won since his freshman year when he recorded victories at the UH-Hilo Invitational and the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship.
“He drove it in the fairway all the way in,” said Tech head coach Bruce Heppler. “He didn’t make a ton of putts, but tee-to-green he was terrific. He hit a great pitch on 18 and birdied it for the first time in six tries. It’s great to get him back in the winner’s circle.”
John-Tyler Griffin shot a 72 Monday to finish in a six-way tie for third at 5-over-par 215, the highest finish of his career, and David Dragoo posted a 74 to tie for 17th at 8-over 218, his second top-20 finish this fall.
But it was not enough for the 15th-ranked Jackets, who began the day in a three-way tie for the lead and shot 7-over 287 as a team. Georgia successfully defended its 2007 title by posting a 2-over 282 Monday and finished at 19-over 859, five shots ahead of Tech.
“We just didn’t make enough putts today,” said Heppler, “but it was a really good sign for our three, four and five guys this week. Hopefully, we’re building some depth and hope those guys can keep playing like that.”
Clemson (26-over) was third, followed by Florida State (33-over) and Virginia Tech (35-over) in the top five.
Tech got solid play for the second straight day from freshman James White, who shot 72 and tied for 28th at 10-over 220. Chesson Hadley shot 77 and did not count for Tech, finishing in a tie for 69th at 22-over 232. Freshman Minghao Wang, playing as an individual, finished the tournament with two solid rounds of 73-72 and tied for 43rd at 14-over-par 224.
BRICKYARD COLLEGIATEBrickyard at Riverside, Macon, Ga.Final Results
TOP FIVE TEAMS Georgia, 292-285-282–859 (+19) Georgia Tech, 282-295-287–864 (+24) Clemson, 290-289-287–866 (+26) Florida State, 297-285-286–873 (+33) Virginia Tech, 291-286-298–875 (+35)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Cameron Tringale, Georgia Tech, 67-75-69–211 (+1) Drew Weaver, Virginia Tech, 68-73-71–212 (+2) John-Tyler Griffin, Georgia Tech, 69-74-72–215 (+5) Harris English, Georgia, 74-68-70–215 (+5) Cameron Knight, Florida State, 70-70-69–215 (+5) David May, Clemson, 72-69-74–215 (+5) Phillip Mollica, Clemson, 72-71-72–215 (+5) Hudson Swafford, Georgia, 71-73-68–215 (+5)
GEORGIA TECH SCORES 1 – Cameron Tringale, 67-75-69–211 (+1) T3 – John-Tyler Griffin, 69-74-72–215 (+5) T17 – David Dragoo, 71-73-74–218 (+8) T28 – James White, 75-73-72–220 (+10) T69 – Chesson Hadley, 75-80-77–232 (+22) T43 – Minghao Wang (individual), 79-73-72–224 (+14) T75 – Adam Cohan (individual), 79-78-80–230 (+27)
