June 3, 2000

OPELIKA, Ala. -- The Wake Forest men's golf team completed the final round of play at the 2000 NCAA Championships at the Grand National Golf Club in Opelika, Ala., finishing in 15th place overall.

The Demon Deacons recorded a team score of 292, or 4-over par, in the fourth and final round for a 72-hole total of 1169 (+17). Wake finished 53 strokes behind the NCAA team champion, Oklahoma State (-36), who won a one-hole playoff with Georgia Tech to take the national title. Tech (-36) finished as the NCAA runner-up, followed by Arizona (-34), Houston (-30) and Texas (-27).

Freshman BRENT WANNER fired a 69 in the final round to earn a top 25 finish in his rookie season; his 72-hole total of 284 (-4) put him in a tie for 24th place individually. Wanner was 19 strokes behind the NCAA medalist, Oklahoma State's Charles Howell, who finished at 23-under to win the title by eight strokes.

Sophomore JAY MORGAN carded a 75 today and finished in a tie for 62nd place at 5-over, while freshman CHAD WILFONG shot a 70 to move up into a tie for 65th (+6). Rookie CHRIS YODER recorded a 78 and placed 83rd (+19), while classmate BUCK WILLIAMS withdrew from the final round of play for unspecified reasons.

The 15th-place showing caps an impressive season for Head Coach Jerry Haas' young Deacon squad, who went into the tournament as the 29th seed out of 30 teams. The appearance in the NCAA finals was the first for Wake Forest since thir runner-up finish in 1997. WFU won NCAA titles in 1974, 1975, and 1986.