March 16, 2002

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. - With a six-under par 570, the Wake Forest men's golf team leads the 18-team field after two rounds of the Birkdale Collegiate Invitational. The Demon Deacons shot a seven-under par in the first round and turned in a one-over 289 in the second round on Saturday to hold a two-stroke lead over second-place Missouri and a four-stroke lead over Georgia Southern and Virginia.

The two-day, 54-hole tournament, hosted by Davidson College, is taking place at the par 72, 7,013-yard course at Birkdale Golf Club. The Deacons finished second at the event last season.

Deacon sophomore Bill Haas (Greer, S.C.) turned in a 66 in Saturday's first round, then followed that up with an even 72 to end the day in first place with a six-under 138. He is one stroke ahead of two players tied for second place - Old Dominion's Geoffrey Harris and Virginia's Steve Marino, who are knotted at 139. Haas' first-round 66 was the low score of the day.

Junior Chad Wilfong (Thomasville, N.C.) is currently tied for fifth place with a three-under 141 after turning in rounds of 70 and 71. Another WFU junior, Brent Wanner (Chatham, Mass.), is in 16th with an even 144 (68-76).

Junior Cortland Lowe (Augusta, Ga.) is 49th with a six-over 150 (77-73), while junior Chris Yoder (Ashland, Ohio) is one stroke behind in 52nd place with a 151 (78-73).

Senior Jay Morgan (Choctaw, Okla.), playing as an individual, turned in rounds of 73 and 71 and is tied for 16th with Wanner.

The final round of the Birkdale Collegiate takes place on Sunday.

Birkdale Collegiate Invitational
Birkdale GC * Huntersville, N.C.
par 72 * 7,013 yards

1st Wake Forest 281-289 570 -6
1st Bill Haas 66-72 138 -6
t5th Chad Wilfong 70-71 141 -3
t16th Brent Wanner 68-76 144 E
t49th Cortland Lowe 77-73 150 +6
t52nd Chris Yoder 78-73 151 +7

t16th Jay Morgan (Ind.) 73-71 144 E