November 12, 1998

ATLANTA - Clemson is first and Georgia Tech's golf team remained fifth in the MasterCard Collegiate Golf top-25 ranking, the College Golf Foundation announced Wednesday. Tech has ranked among the top five in each of the three polls this season.

The Yellow Jackets, under the direction of third-year head coach Bruce Heppler, garnered 243 points to retain fifth place. Tech has placed fifth or better in four of its five tournaments this fall and averaged 73.20 strokes per round as a squad.

Bryce Molder (Conway, Ark.) was voted No. 3 among the top 25 individuals, and fell after being ranked No. 1 in the first two polls. Molder completed the fall season with a team-leading 71.53 stroke average and is the highest ranked player in the poll from the Atlantic Coast Conference. He had three top five finishes and was the co-runner up at the Red River Classic and the Golf World/Palmetto Dunes Invitational. He was under par in 10 of 15 rounds and had six rounds in the 60s. Junior Matt Kuchar (Lake Mary, Fla.) was voted No. 14 in the current edition after playing in only three of five tournaments due to a sprained back. He averaged 74.11 strokes per round and had one top 20 finish.

Tech is off until it starts its spring season at the Waikoloa Intercollegiate in Waikoloa, Hawaii Feb. 11-13.

MasterCard Collegiate Golf Rankings for Nov. 11

1. Clemson

2. Houston

3. Oklahoma State

4. Georgia

5. Georgia Tech

6. Texas

7. Minnesota

8. UNLV

9. Arizona State

10. UCLA

11. Florida

12. TCU

13. South Carolina

14. North Carolina

15. Oklahoma

16. North Carolina State

17. California

18. Brigham Young

19. (tie) Arizona

E. Tennessee St.

21. Nebraska

22. Northwestern

23. New Mexico

24. Oregon

25. Southern Methodist

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