February 21, 1999

SAN JUAN, P.R. - Georgia Techs golf team tied Clemson Sunday for the first round lead of the Puerto Rico Classic at the Rio Mar Country Club in Rio Mar, P.R. The two teams finished seven-under-par on the 6,945-yard, par 72 River Course, and four strokes ahead of Georgia.

Wake Forest is in eigth place at 291, one shot ahead of ninth-place UNC. Duke carded a first-round 306, 18 over par, to start off in 15th place.

Tech, ranked No. 6 in the Golfweek/Sagarin standings and No. 7 in the MasterCard Collegiate Golf Foundation ranking, continues to stay on a roll after winning the Waikoloa Intercollegiate in Waikoloa, Hawaii just seven days ago. The tournament field has 10 Top-25 teams, including six ranked in the Top 10.

Clemsons Michael Hoey leads the field with a five-under-par 67, while Tech junior Carlton Forrester (Gainesville, Ga.) and Georgias Nick Cassini were tied for second at four-under-par 68. Junior Matt Kuchar (Lake Mary, Fla.), ended the day tied for fourth with a 69, while freshman Kris Mikkelsen (Woodstock, Ga.) was tied for seventh at 70, and sophomores Bryce Molder (Conway, Ark.) and Wes Latimer (Woodstock, Ga.) eached carded 74 to finish tied for 33rd.

Senior Michael Capone (Cranston, RI) was the Deacs' top finisher on the day, firing a 1-under 71 to stand in a nine-way tie for 10th place individually. Capone stands six strokes back of the individual leader, Clemson's Michael Hoey.

Meanwhile, Wake Forest senior Thomas Parker (Laurinburg, NC) opened the tournament with an even-par 72 to stand in a tie for 19th place, while seniors Oscar Sanchez (Canary Island, Spain) and Juan Vizcaya (Madrid, Spain) both carded 74's and are tied for 33rd. Freshman Jay Morgan (Choctaw, OK) posted a 76 int he first round and is tied for 55th overall.

Max Harris and Brad Hyler were the low Tar Heels firing even par 72s and tied for 19th place. Paul Daniel carded a 73 and is tied for 25th place while Rob Simmons shot 75 and is tied for 50th and Don Hill struggled with an 82 and is tied for 81st place.

Paul Tucker turned in the low round for the Blue Devils on Sunday, firing a two-over par 74 to place in a tie for 33rd. Marc Chatelain and Kyle Elfers both carded 77s, placing them in a tie for 61st. Mike Christensen turned in a 78, currently in 66th place, while Jim Donnelly carded an 81 to place in 79th.

Second round play Monday will be held on the 6,782-yard, par 72 Ocean Course.

Team Results:

1. Georgia Tech      281
   Clemson           281
3. Georgia           285
4. Minnesota         289
   E. Tennessee St.  289
   Texas             289
7. Northwestern      290
8. Wake Forest       291
9. North Carolina    292
10. N.C. State       297
11. Penn State       299
12. Virginia         303
13. Florida State    304
    Columbus St.     304
15. Duke             306
16. Kent             311
17. Purdue           314
18. Missouri         316