Sports > October 2, 2008

By Jordan Griesbeck | Contributing writer

Over 70 former Wake Forest golfers, including legends Curtis Strange, Lanny Wadkins, Scott Hoch and Len Mattiace, were in Winston-Salem Sept. 29 for the first ever Alumni Legacy Challenge Golf Tournament. Meanwhile in Manakin Sabot, Va., the men’s golf team was making a little history of its own.

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The men’s golf team tied the school record for lowest 54-hole score in route to its 16 stroke win in the VCU Shootout. Junior Brendan Gielow led the way. (Photo courtsey of Media Relations)

The Deacons fired a three-round total of 825 in the VCU Shootout at Manakin Golf Course on Sept. 29-30, earning their first victory of the season and posting the lowest 54-hole total in the school’s rich history.

Their dominant 16-shot victory over second-place teams Augusta State and VCU erased memories of lackluster performances in their previous two tournaments, as the Deacs finally lived up to their top 20 ranking in the Golf World/Nike Coaches poll.

Junior Brendan Gielow was co-medalist, tying with Witchita State’s Dustin Garza for his first collegiate victory.

He was solid throughout the event, making 15 birdies, one eagle and only five bogies for a 12-under total over the 54 holes.

Senior Dustin Groves was nearly as impressive, firing a 65 in the second round and finishing all three rounds under par for a -11 and third place finish.

Freshman Lee Bedford was also impressive playing as the No. 3 for the Demon Deacons, shooting steady rounds of 67-70-72 to finish in eighth place. It was the ­best performance of the year for the promising North Carolina native, who has scored for the team in all three tournaments he has played in thus far.

Rounding out the top-5 for Wake were junior Travis Wadkins and sophomore Justin Bryant. Though struggling, both showed promise at times.

Wadkins shot 2-under par 70s in his first two rounds, and Bryant closed with a 73 on Tuesday in his first tournament of the year.

It was a memorable showing for Wake Forest University, as their 273-269-283 performance was also the third-lowest Wake score ever in relation to par.

It also provides the team with some positive momentum heading into a break in which the Deacons will not compete again until Oct. 11-12 at the Brickyard Collegiate in Mason, Ga.