April 17, 1999

UWHARRIE POINT, N.C. - Georgia Tech ended the second day with a one-shot lead over Clemson and North Carolina Saturday in the 1999 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Golf Championship, which is being contested at the par-72, 7,102-yard Old North State Club. Despite a shooting a 2-over-par 74, Tech senior Mike Pearson (Snellville, Ga.) is in a three-way tie for the individual lead at 2-under 142 along with North Carolina's Max Harris and Clemson's John Engler.

"We played a very strong back nine to remain where we are," said head coach Bruce Heppler. "On the back nine, Bryce Molder shot a 33, Wes Latimer a 34 and Mike Pearson and Matt Kuchar 35s against a strong wind to keep us in contention. They played very well when they had to after a slow front nine. Pearson's 1-under on the back nine showed what kind of tournament he is having. After a double-bogey at eight and a bogey at nine, he was able to settle in and finish well."

Tech, ranked No. 4 in both the MasterCard and Golfweek national rankings, shot a combined 3-over 291 on the day and is now is an aggregate 2-over for the tournament but leads the Tar Heels and Tigers by one shot. The Yellow Jackets stand at 287-291=578, while No. 3 Clemson is at 290-289=579 and No. 15 North Carolina is at 287-292=579. Duke had the best team round on the day at 284 and stands four shots back at 298-284=582.

Pearson remained in the hunt for individual medalist honors as he stayed in the lead pack at 2-under after holding the first round clubhouse lead with a career-low 68. The Jackets stayed in the team lead by having three individuals in the top 10, as sophomore Bryce Molder (Conway, Ark.) shot a 71 to move to even par at 73-71=144, while sophomore Wes Latimer (Woodstock, Ga.) was also at even par with a 71-73=144. Junior Matt Kuchar (Lake Mary, Fla.) moved into the top 20 at 5-over with a 75-74=149 and junior Carlton Forrester (Gainesville, Ga.) was tied for 31st at 79-73=152.

Tech will be playing for its sixth team ACC Championship Sunday, and the first Heppler, who is in his fourth year at Tech. The Jackets captured league titles in 1985, and four straight from '91-94.

Team Results after 36 Holes (Par=576)
1.  Georgia Tech     287-291=578
2.  Clemson          290-289=579
    North Carolina   287-292=579
4.  Duke             298-284=582
5.  N.C. State       288-306=594
6.  Virginia         300-299=599
7.  Wake Forest      300-305=605
    Maryland         306-299=605
8.  Florida State    307-304=611

Top 10 Individuals (Par=144)
1.  Max Harris, N. Carolina    73-69=142
    John Engler, Clemson       70-72=142
    Mike Pearson, Ga. Tech     68-74=142
4.  Chris Mundorf, N.C. State  70-73=143
    Matt Krauss, Duke          75-68=143
6.  Marc Chatelain, Duke       74-70=144
    Bryce Molder, Ga. Tech     73-71=144
    Jonathan Bryd, Clemson     74-70=144
    Paul Daniel, N. Carolina   73-71=144
    Wes Latimer, Ga. Tech      71-73=144