Sports > October 25, 2007

By Martin Rickman | Staff writer

After climbing to second place Oct. 22, the 17th-ranked Wake Forest men’s golf team shot a 10-over Oct. 23 to finish fifth at the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational in Windermere, Fla.

The 7,493 yard, Arnold Palmer-designed course, located at the Isleworth Country Club, played extremely long, giving most teams a hard time all weekend as only three teams finished under par for the tournament.

Sophomore Brendan Gielow, who led the Deacs with a final one-under 215, good for a tie at 13th place, said, “The course played difficult, mainly because it played very long. However, good scores were out there because the greens were soft.”

The University of Georgia posted a -23 to capture the team title for the third time in four years, helped out by Harris English, who shot scores of even, -5 and -6 to finish at 11-under to claim the individual title. The Bulldogs also got a great performance from Hudson Swafford, who shot -6 good for third place.

Clemson claimed second place at two-under, followed by -1 Southern California, Oklahoma State at +2 and the Deacons at +4.

The Deacons were in a prime position to contend for the title after shooting -3 Oct. 22, and were in second place just four strokes back from Georgia from an incredible performance by junior Dustin Groves, who shot 66. The Deacs could not capitalize though, receiving three scores of 75 or higher Oct. 23 which caused them to slip to fifth.

Despite the trouble, Wake got some great individual round performances Oct. 23 as both senior Webb Simpson and sophomore Brendan Gielow shot 69s.

Behind Gielow was Simpson at a 16th place even, Groves with a +4 for 30th place, senior Chris McCartin at a 40th place +6 and freshman Chris Cannon finishing in 76th place at 14-over.

The fifth place finish was their second best of the fall season, behind a third at the VCU Shootout in Manakin-Sabot, Va.

The Deacs will play their final tournament of the year Oct. 29-30 at the Bridgestone Invitational at Forest Oaks Country Club.