April 10, 2007

April 10, 2007

SIMPSON TIED FOR FIRST, McCARTIN IN THIRD AFTER TWO ROUNDS Wake Forest tied for sixth, 10 strokes back at U.S. Collegiate Championship

ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- On a day when none of the 15 highly-touted teams at the U.S. Collegiate Championship came within seven shots of breaking par, Wake Forest juniors Webb Simpson and Chris McCartin rose to the top.

Simpson and Clemson's Tanner Ervin are tied for first place with identical 36-hole totals of even par 144. Simpson shot his second round of even par 72 on Tuesday. Today's round included four birdies and a pair of double-bogies.

McCartin is in sole possession of third place, just one stroke off the pace. After an opening-round 72, McCartin shot a 1-over par 73 on Tuesday. He has closed both rounds with a birdie on the 18th hole.

Five players are tied for fourth place at 2-over par 146.

In the race for the team championship, the 21st-ranked Demon Deacons slipped from third place into a tie for sixth place but remain just 10 strokes out of the lead. With the final 18 holes remaining Wednesday at the Golf Club of Georgia, Wake Forest is 25-over par (601). The Deacons shot a 17-over 305 on Tuesday, about the average team score under difficult conditions at the par 72, 7,017-yard Lakeside Course.

No. 2-ranked Georgia is in first place through 36 holes at 15-over par. Clemson, ranked 12th, is just two shots back at 17-over. Six teams are within 10 shots of the lead.

Other Wake Forest contributors include freshman Brendan Gielow, who followed his opening-round of 73 up with a difficult 10-over 82 on Tuesday, is 11-over par for the tournament and tied for 50th. Sophomore Dustin Groves and senior Sean Moore own identical scores of 79-80--159 (+15) and are tied for 66th place.

The second annual USCC, a unique stop on the schedule with players provided with caddies, continues Wednesday with the final 18 holes.

The U.S. Collegiate Championship is Wake Forest's final tune-up before the April 20-22 ACC Championship at Uwharrie Pointe, N.C.

U.S. Collegiate Championship
April 9-11, 2007
Golf Club of Georgia (Lakeside Course)
---- of 15 / Par 72 / 7,017 Yards

Team Standings
Georgia 296 295 591 +15
Clemson 292 301 593 +17
Georgia Tech 292 306 598 +22
Georgia State 298 302 600 +24
Oklahoma State 298 302 600 +24
Wake Forest 296 305 601 +25
UCLA 299 302 601 +25
Florida 305 298 603 +27
East Tennessee St. 300 305 605 +29
Southern California 304 301 605 +29
BYU 310 297 607 +31
Alabama 299 313 612 +36
TCU 309 306 615 +39
Florida State 310 306 616 +40
Texas 305 312 617 +41

Top Individuals
Tanner Ervin (Clem) 70 74 144 E
Webb Simpson (WFU) 72 72 144 E
Chris McCartin (WFU) 72 73 145 +1
Five players tied 146 +2

Wake Forest Scores
Webb Simpson 72 72 144 E t1st
Chris McCartin 72 73 145 +1 3rd
Brendan Gielow 73 82 155 +11 t50th
Dustin Groves 79 80 159 +15 t66th
Sean Moore 79 80 159 +15 t66th
TEAM 296 305 601 +25 t6th