Sports > April 17, 2008

By Connor Swarbrick | Asst. sports editor

The Deacon golf team headed to Wallace, N.C., to play in the N.C. State Intercollegiate at River Landing Golf Club April 11-13. After the first round Wake Forest was in fourth place and senior Webb Simpson was tied for the individual lead after he posted a five-under 67.

That is his best round since he shot a 64 in the third round of the Western Refining All-American Classic, an event which he won.

The Deacs as a team shot 287 and trailed by three strokes behind co-leaders Duke and Florida State. Wake’s first round was the ninth best round as a team this season.

Tee times were delayed 90 minutes April 12 due to heavy fog in the Wallace area.

The Deacs teed-off at 9:30 a.m. instead of the originally scheduled 8 a.m. tee time.

The Deacons rose to third place in the standings after carding a six-over 294 in the second round.

This put them seven strokes behind tournament co-leaders N.C. State and Duke entering the final round.

Simpson again excelled and held sole possession of first place heading into the final round after posting an even-par 72.

Simpson recorded two birdies in the second round at the par-72, 7,112-yard River Landing Golf Course.

In the final round the Deacs matched their first round total of 287 but fell back into fourth spot.

The Deacs finished four-over par (868) for the tournament.

Simpson and Duke’s Michael Schachner were tied at the end of 54 holes in the race for individual honors, but Schachner’s birdie on the first playoff hole denied Simpson the win.

Simpson, a Raleigh, N.C., native missed a 13-foot birdie putt to continue the playoff. He was seeking his first individual victory in a team event on the season. He shot a two-under 70 and finished the tournament with a three-day total of 215 (-7).

Simpson’s seven-under on the tournament ties for second-best 54-hole score to par for the Deacs on the year.

Simpson was seven-under for the Bank of Tennessee at the Ridges in October.

Freshman Justin Bryant posted his second consecutive three-under 69 and finished the tournament tied for 20th competing as an individual.

Sophomore Travis Wadkins recorded his first top 20 finish of the year for the Deacs and the second of his career.

He carded a two-under 70 in the final round, one off his career best.

Junior Dustin Groves ended tied for 45th after a one-over 73. He posted a three-round total of 223 to finish seven-over par.

Senior Chris McCartin joined Groves in 45th after shooting a two-over 74 in the final round. He began the final round tied for 33rd.

Sopomore Brendan Gielow posted a five-over 77 to finish tied for 52nd.

The Deacs departed April 16 for the ACC Championship at the Old North State Golf Course.

Wake will have a practice round April 17 before trying for its 19th conference title.

The Deacs, ranked 25th in the nation, will then participate in the NCAA regional.