February 22, 1999

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The Wake Forest men's golf team fired a team score of 3-over par 291 to stand in eighth place out of 18 teams after the first round of the Puerto Rico Classic. The event is being contested on the 6,945-yard, par-72 River Course of the Rio Mar Country Club in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Demon Deacons stand 10 strokes back of the tournament co-leaders, Georgia Tech and Clemson, who both shot 7-under 281's on the first day of play. Also ahead of the Deacs are Georgia (285), Minnesota, East Tennessee State, Texas (all at 289), and Northwestern (290).

Senior Michael Capone (Cranston, RI) was the Deacs' top finisher on the day, firing a 1-under 71 to stand in a nine-way tie for 10th place individually. Capone stands six strokes back of the individual leader, Clemson's Michael Hoey.

Senior Thomas Parker (Laurinburg, NC) opened the tournament with an even-par 72 to stand in a tie for 19th place, while seniors Oscar Sanchez (Canary Island, Spain) and Juan Vizcaya (Madrid, Spain) both carded 74's and are tied for 33rd. Freshman Jay Morgan (Choctaw, OK) posted a 76 int he first round and is tied for 55th overall.

Second round action continues on Monday, and the tournament concludes with the final 18 holes on Tuesday.

TEAM RESULTS

1   Georgia Tech            281 -7
    Clemson                 281 -7
3   Georgia                 285 -3
4   Minnesota               289 +1
    East Tennessee State    289 +1
    Texas                   289 +1
7   Northwestern            290 +2
8   WAKE FOREST             291 +3
9   North Carolina          292 +4
10  NC State                297 +9
11  Penn State              299 +11
12  Virginia                303 +15
13  Florida State           304 +16
    Columbus State          304 +16
15  Duke                    306 +18
16  Kent                    311 +23
17  Purdue                  314 +26
18  Missouri                316 +28

TOP TEN INDIVIDUALS

1   Michael Hoey, Clemson       34-33=67    -5
2   Carlton Forrester, Ga. Tech 33-35=68    -4
    Nick Cassini, Georgia       34-34=68    -4
4   David Gossett, Texas        33-36=69    -3
    Matt Kuchar, Ga. Tech       33-36=69    -3
    David Christensen, ETSU     33-36=69    -3
7   Luke Donald, N'western      36-34=70    -2
    John Engler, Clemson        36-34=70    -2
    Kris Mikkelsen, Ga. Tech    36-34=70    -2
10  Michael Capone, Wk. Forest  34-37=71    -1
    eight other players with          71    -1

OTHER WAKE FOREST PLAYERS

19  Thomas Parker, Wk. Forest   37-35=72    E
33  Oscar Sanchez, Wk. Forest   39-35=74    +2
33  Juan Vizcaya, Wk. Forest    37-37=74    +2
55  Jay Morgan, Wk. Forest      39-37=76    +4