May 18, 2000

MOSSIC, Pa. - The Wake Forest men's golf team posted a solid first-round score of 294 in the first round of the NCAA East Regional at Glenmaura National Golf Club in Moosic, Pa. earlier today. When play was suspended due to darkness, the Deacons were in fifth place with nine of the 27 teams still on the course.

The three-day event continues Friday and concludes on Saturday. The top 11 teams and two individuals from the East Regional will advance to the NCAA Championship, held May 31-June 3 at the Grand National Golf Course in Auburn (Ala.).

With two-thirds of the first round completed, Wake Forest is in fifth place and just three strokes off the pace set by first place East Tennessee State (291). Clemson (292) is in second place, followed by Mississippi State and Virginia (293), who are tied for third. Nine teams will complete first-round play early Friday morning.

Individually, Wake Forest was led by sophomore Jay Morgan, who shot a 72. Freshmen Chad Wilfong and Chris Yoder both shot 73's. Freshman Brent Wanner turned in a 76. Freshman Buck Williams' first-round score of 83 did not count in the Deacons' total. Morgan is just three shots off the individual pace. Virginia's James Driscoll and Georgia's Michael Morrison both shot two-under par 69's to share the lead for medalist honors.

Wake Forest is trying to qualify for the NCAA championship for the 40th time in school history. The Deacons qualified for that event nine out of 10 years in the 1990s. Wake won the NCAA title in 1986.