April 21, 2007

NEW LONDON, N.C. -- Wake Forest improved its score and slipped further from the lead at the same time Saturday in the second round of the ACC Men's Golf Championship at the Old North State Golf Club.

The 20th-ranked Demon Deacons, paced by a 3-under par 69 from senior Sean Moore, shot a cumulative 4-over 292 Saturday. Wake Forest's score was one shot better than Friday's opening round, but the Deacons fell to a tie for seventh place and 15 strokes behind tournament leader Georgia Tech.

The final 18 holes on the par 72, 7,102-yard course is scheduled for Sunday.

Wake Forest would need a near-flawless round Sunday for any chance of capturing its 19th ACC championship and first title since 1989.

Georgia Tech, ranked 13th, is 6-under par through 36 holes. The Yellow Jackets hold a two stroke lead over 26th-ranked Duke (-4) and a three shot advantage over eighth-ranked Clemson (-3). North Carolina (-1) and Virginia Tech (-1) are tied for fourth place. Florida State (+8) is in sixth place, one shot ahead of both Wake Forest (+9) and Virginia (+9). NC State (+14), Maryland (+27) and Boston College (+41) round out the 11-team field. Miami does not compete in men's golf.

Moore, the 2004 ACC Championship individual medalist, was a bright spot for the Deacons on Saturday. After shooting an opening-round 76 on Friday, Moore fired a 3-under 69 on Saturday and is 18th in the individual race. Moore played the final 10 holes at 4-under par.

North Carolina's Martin Ureta (-5) holds a one stroke lead over defending ACC medalist, Georgia Tech's Cameron Tringale (-4) and Clemson's Kyle Stanley (-4).

Wake Forest junior Chris McCartin improved his score by one stroke Saturday, going from a 74 to a 1-over 73. Sophomore Dustin Groves went from 77 to a 3-over 75.

Junior Webb Simpson, hurt by a double-bogey on the 16th hole, went from even par Friday to a 3-over 75 on Saturday. Freshman Brendan Gielow, who entered Saturday's round in seventh place at 1-under, struggled to a 5-over 77 today.

ACC Championship
April 20-22, 2007
Old North State Club/New London, NC           

7th (tie) of 11 / Par 72 / 7,102 Yards

Team Standings
Georgia Tech 287 283 x 570  -6
Duke 286 286 x 572   -4
Clemson 285 288 x 573  -3
North Carolina 287 288 x 575  -1
Virginia Tech 289 286 x 575  -1
Florida State 298 286 x 584  +8
Virginia 293 292 x 585  +9
Wake Forest 293 292 x 585  +9
NC State 295 295 x 590  +14
Maryland 300 303 x 603  +27
Boston College 310 307 x 617  +41

Top Individuals
Martin Ureta (UNC) 69 70 x 139  -5
Kyle Stanley (Clem) 68 72 x 140  -4
Cameron Tringale (GT) 72 68 x 140  -4
Roberto Castro (GT) 69 72 x 141  -3
Nick MacDonald (VT) 70 71 x 141  -3
Four players      -2

Wake Forest Scores
Sean Moore 76 69 x 145 +1 18th
Chris McCartin  74 73 x 147 +3 29th
Webb Simpson 72 75 x 147 +3 29th
Brendan Gielow 71 77 x 148 +2 33rd
Dustin Groves 77 75 x 152 +8 44th
TEAM 293 292 x 585 +9 7th