March 9, 2008

First and Second Round Results in PDF Format

The No. 19 Wake Forest golf team shot a 301-304=605 in the first two rounds of the General Jim Hackler Championship in windy Myrtle Beach to land in a tie for fifth place heading into Monday's final round.

The par-72, 6,950-yard Tournament Players Club of Myrtle Beach coupled with the weather conditions proved challenging as none of the 15 participating teams ended play under par.

"It was very windy, the greens were brick hard and the scores were very high," Wake Forest head coach Jerry Haas said. "We're in a nice position and a good round tomorrow will put us right there with the leaders."

Both rounds are the first rounds of the season in which the Deacs have eclipsed the 300-stroke mark for 18 holes. Wake is 29 over for the first two rounds.

Tournament host Coastal Carolina leads the event after shooting 589 (+13). Duke is second following a 597 (+21), eight strokes off the lead.

The Deacs were led by Chris McCartin, whose consecutive 74s put the senior in a seventh-place tie in the hunt for individual honors. McCartin was four over on the day.

Sophomore Brendan Gielow carded a 77-75=152 to finish eight over par. Gielow was 32nd after round one but jumped to 25th at the end of the second. Both of Gielow's rounds were under his season average of 71.9 strokes per 18 holes.

In his first event of the spring, freshman Chris Cannon fell from 25th place after round one into a tie for 41st following an eight-over 80 in the second round.

Dustin Groves is currently tied for 46th after recording an 81-75=156 (+12). The junior was averaging 73 strokes per 18 holes entering the event.

Sophomore Travis Wadkins shot a 158 for the first two rounds and is currently tied for 55th to close the scoring for the Deacs. Wadkins' first round 75 was the only round in which a Deacon golfer met or shot under his season average.

Freshman Justin Bryant, competing as an individual, is in a 55th-place tie after shooting 81-77=158 (+14).

"We battled hard today, and we'll have a good round tomorrow. We've been finishing strong all year," Haas said.

The Deacs will tee-off Monday at 8:50 a.m.

A high of 62 degrees has been projected by weather.com but tee-time temperatures will be in the low 40s. Skies will be clear will relatively low winds.