April 7, 2002

AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Wake Forest men's golf team used a two-under 286 in the final round on Sunday to hold on to a second-place finish at the Cleveland Golf/Augusta State Invitational, held at the par-72 Forest Hills Golf Club.

The Demon Deacons finished five strokes back of team champion Tennessee, who also shot a final-round 286. Wake finished three strokes ahead of third-place Clemson and five ahead of NC State and Florida, who finished tied for fourth. The Deacs' performance marked the first time this season they have carded three straight rounds under par in one event.

Wake Forest has posted two straight second-place finishes after capturing the team title at the Birkdale Collegiate last month. After opening the 2001-02 season with an eighth-place finish at The Ridges, the Deacs have reeled off eight straight top-five finishes, including four second-place showings.

Wake Forest sophomore Bill Haas (Greer, S.C.) recorded his sixth top-10 finish of the season, using a final round 68 to place sixth. His nine-under 207 (69-70-68) ties his career-best 54-hole score. Junior Brent Wanner (Chatham, Mass.) also finished among the 20 on the leaderboard, placing 15th with a six-under 210 (69-68-73). It was his sixth top-20 showing of the year,

Senior Jay Morgan (Choctaw, Okla.) finished under par for the second time this season, carding three-under 213 (71-70-72) and placing 21st. Junior Cortland Lowe, playing in his hometown of Augusta, turned in a 73 on Sunday to go with a pair of 72s in the opening rounds, placing 35th with a one-over 217. Another Deacon junior, Chris Yoder (Ashland, Ohio) finished 47th with a three-over 219 (73-71-75).

The Wake Forest men's golf team, which is currently ranked second by the GCAA and GolfWorld and third in the GolfWeek/Sagarin rankings, resumes action next weekend at The Intercollegiate in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Cleveland Golf/Augusta State Invitational
Forest Hills GC * Augusta, Ga.
par 72 * 6,840 yards

2nd Wake Forest 281-279-286 846 -18
t6th Bill Haas 69-70-68 207 -9
t15th Brent Wanner 69-68-73 210 -6
t21st Jay Morgan 71-70-72 213 -3
t35th Cortland Lowe 72-72-73 217 +1
t47th Chris Yoder 73-71-75 219 +3