April 19, 2009

NEW LONDON, N.C. - Georgia Tech claimed its second ACC Men's Golf Championship in three years and fifth in last 10 years on Sunday with a three-stroke win over Clemson at the 2009 ACC Men's Golf Championship played at the Old North State Club at Uwharrie Point.

Three Yellow Jackets finished in the top six, led by Chesson Hadley and Cameron Tringale, who tied for third at nine-under (207), and James White (212).

"This is very satisfying as a head coach," said Georgia Tech's Bruce Heppler. "We knew this was coming. They (Clemson) beat us last week at home and knew that it could come down to the wire here. We have worked hard and stayed focus ever since missing regionals last year. So as a coach, today was very satisfying."

Tournament play on Sunday continued through a mild drizzle and 10 to 15 mile-per-hour wind gusts.

NC State's Matt Hill and Clemson's David May both registered 10-under par 206 scores to share the 2009 ACC Men's Golf individual honors.

Clemson and Georgia Tech traded the lead for most of the day on Sunday. "I didn't know where we were for most of the day," May, the Tiger senior said. "I figured if I could make a birdie or two and stay aggressive, then we could pull if off."

Hadley and May were two of only three players over the tournament's three days to tally a single-round score of 66 as both made the weekend's best round on the final day. Virginia's Will Collins earned the score on Saturday.

Virginia Tech's Drew Weaver placed fifth among ACC players with a six-under par 210 score, and paced 12 ACC players to under-par scoring in the 2009 tournament.

Duke, which started the second day of competition in a tie for seventh, finished third with a three-under par 861 score. Wake Forest and NC State shared the fourth-place finish at one-over par 865, while the Demon Deacons made the biggest team improvement, starting in 10th place on Saturday and jumping to fourth with an 11-under and five-over par showings.

"I figured the scores would be lower," said Hill, the Wolfpack sophomore. "Thank goodness the weather held off. I had some good par puts today and think that this will definitely motivate us for next year. I absolutely love this course and can't wait to be back here next year."

Six of the 11 ACC teams entered the three-day tournament ranked in the top 50 nationally in the Golfstat.com poll, including #3 Clemson and #9 Georgia Tech. Virginia Tech's Weaver, 35th nationally, is one of seven ACC golfers in the top 50, including Clemson's Kyle Stanley, ranked fourth, NC State's Hill, ranked seventh and Georgia Tech's Tringale, ranked eighth.

The 54-hole event began on Friday at the Old North State Club, which features a par 72, 7,102-yard layout. This year marks the eighth consecutive year and 13th overall that the ACC Men's Golf Championship has been held at the Old North State Club.