Deacons Turn In Promising 1999-2000 Campaign
6/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
June 14, 2000
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Despite an extremely young roster, the Wake Forest men's golf team turned in a very promising 1999-2000 campaign. The young Deacs continued to improve throughout the year, capturing two tournament titles while using an all-sophomore and freshman lineup every event but three. In the fall, the Deacs struggled in their first and last tournaments but did well in the other three. Wake won its first team trophy in four years at Cavalier Classic, as three Deacs finished in the top five, including sophomore individual medalist Jay Morgan. Wake Forest enjoyed a fine spring season, finishing in the top half of the field in seven of nine events and taking home another team title at The Intercollegiate at MacGregor Downs. The Deacs earned a fourth-place showing at the ACC Championship to secure a postseason bid and placed 11th at the NCAA East Regional to advance to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1997. Seeded 29th out of 30 teams, Wake Forest made a strong showing at the NCAAs, finishing 15th.
Wanner Earns Accolades
Freshman Brent Wanner earned several honors after an outstanding rookie
campaign. Wanner was named to the 2000 All-ACC Men's Golf Team, becoming
the first Deacon rookie to do so since Bobby Collins in 1991, and was one
of five players named to the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA)
All-Freshman Team. Wanner played in 13 of the Deacs' 14 events this year
and led the team with a 72.7 stroke average. He collected six top 10
finishes and finished the season ranked No. 42 in the nation in the
Golfweek/Sagarin ratings.
WFU at the NCAAs
Wake Forest advanced to the NCAA Championships by finishing 11th at the
East Regional in Moosic, Pa., on May 18-20. Only 11 teams advanced from
the East, and the Deacs (294-308-294=896) edged South Carolina for the
final spot by just two strokes. They also got a helping hand from NC
State, who dropped from fifth to 14th place when Carl Pettersson, the
event's individual leader, was disqualified for an incorrect scorecard in
the final round. The Deacs were paced by freshman Brent Wanner, who shot a
career-low-tying 67 in the final round to finish in seventh place .
The Deacs continued their strong play at the NCAA Championships to earn a
15th-place finish in the 30-team field. Forced into a sudden-death playoff
for the 15th and final team spot after the 36-hole cut, Wake Forest
defeated Georgia on the second playoff hole to stay alive. The Deacs
completed the event at 17-over par (292-290-295-292=1169), 53 strokes
behind team champion Oklahoma State. Freshman Brent Wanner finished in the
top 25 individually, tying for 14th at 4-under par (73-71-71-69=284).
Demon Deacons at a Glance
| Head Coach: | Jerry Haas (Wake Forest '85), third season |
| Final Mastercard Team Ranking: | No. 26 |
| Final Golfweek/Sagarin Team Ranking: | No. 37 |
| 2000 ACC Championship Finish: | 4th of 9 |
| 2000 NCAA East Regional Finish: | 11th of 27 |
| 2000 NCAA Championship Finish: | 15th of 30 |
| ACC Championships: | 18 |
| NCAA Championships: | 3 (1974, 1975, 1986) |
A LOOK AT THE DEACS' 1999-2000 LINEUP
Bart DeLuca (So, Baltimore, MD) 75.0 avg
Played in his first and only collegiate tournament in the fall ... placed
46th at the Carpet Capital Collegiate, finishing 9-over (76-74-75-225).
Jamie Gallacher (Sr, Surrey, England) 77.0 avg
The Deacs' lone senior ... competed in two events in the fall, tying for
69th at The Ridges and tying for 67th at The Purina Missouri ... low round
of 73 came at the Purina ... has a career stroke average of 76.0.
Cortland Lowe (r-Fr, Augusta, GA) 75.0 avg
Tied for third-lowest in stroke average on the year ... competed in six
tourneys (4 fall, 2 spring) ... best finish was a 24th-place showing at the
Carpet Capital in the fall ... tied with Jay Morgan as WFU's top finisher
there ... shot a career-low 69 in the final round of that event ... best
spring showing was a 38th place finish at the Cleveland Golf Championship
... had a 75.5 fall average and a 74.2 spring mark.
Jay Morgan (So, Choctaw, OK) 73.5 avg
Team MVP in 1999-2000 ... played in every event (14 tournaments) ... the
team's top finisher six times ... ranked second in stroke average on the
year ... had three top 10 finshes and one other top 20 ... won his first
career tournament in the fall, taking medalist honors at the Cavalier
Classic ... helped WFU to the team title in the that event as well ... tied
for fourth at the Purina Missouri Classic ... shot a career-low 66 in the
final round of that event and posted a career-low 54-hole score of 209 ...
tied for eighth in his first ACC Championship appearance ... tied for 15th
at The Intercollegiate at MacGregor Downs (another WFU team win) ... tied
for 43rd at the NCAA East Regional ... tied for 62nd at the NCAA
Championships ... led the Deacs in the fall with a 72.6 average in five
events ... had a 73.9 average through nine spring tourneys ... 17 of his 42
rounds on the year were at or under par, with four rounds in the 60s ...
second on the team in percentage of rounds counted (.957).
Ryan Peiffer (Jr, Winston-Salem, NC) 78.0 avg
Competed in one spring event ... tied for 61st at the Birkdale Collegiate
Classic (77-76-81=234) ... has a career stroke average of 77.7.
Brent Wanner (Fr, Chatham, MA) 72.7 avg
An All-ACC pick ... named to the GCAA All-Freshman Team ... the first
Deacon rookie to earn All-ACC honors since Bobby Collins in 1991 ... ranked
No. 42 in the nation in the final Golfweek/Sagarin ratings ... led the team
in stroke average ... played in 13 events, sitting out just one fall
tourney ... had six top 10 finishes, five of which were top 5 showings ...
had one other top 20 finish ... tied for second at the Birkdale Collegiate
... tied for third at the Cavalier Classic and The Intercollegiate at
MacGregor Downs ... shot a career-low 67 in the final round at MacGregor
Downs to help Wake secure the team title ... tied for fourth at the
Cleveland Golf Collegiate ... fired back-to-back rounds in the 60s to open
that event (69-68) and had a career-low 54-hole total (210) ... tied for
fifth in his first collegiate event, The Ridges Intercollegiate ... tied
for 14th in his first ACC Championship ... tied his career-low score with a
67 in the final round of the NCAA East Regional to place seventh ... Wake's
top finisher at the NCAA finals, tying for 24th ... posted a 73.2 fall
stroke average, second-best on the team ... had a team-low 72.6 spring
average in nine tourneys ... WFU's top finisher six times ... 18 of his 39
rounds this year were at or under par, with five rounds in the 60s (all in
the spring) ... led the team in percentage of rounds counted (.962).
Chad Wilfong (Fr, Thomasville, NC) 75.0 avg
Posted the third-lowest stroke average on the team ... competed in 12
events ... had three top 20 showings ... best finish was a tie for 11th
place at the Purina Missouri Classic ... closed that event with a
career-best 67 and had a career-low 54-hole score of 213 ... tied for 15th
at the Iron Duke Classic and The Intercollegiate at MacGregor Downs ...
team's top finisher at the Iron Duke ... 8 of his 36 rounds were at or
under par ... tied for 31st at the ACC Championship ... tied for 66th at
the NCAA East Regional ... tied for 65th at the NCAA Championships ...
posted a 74.5 fall average over four events ... had a 75.2 spring average
(eight events) ... 74.2 percent of his rounds counted on the year.
Buck Williams (Fr, Raleigh, NC) 75.3 avg
Experienced highs and lows in the 1999-2000 season ... shot 11 rounds under
par, the most of any Deac, but also carded the most rounds in the 80s (7)
... sixth in stroke average (fifth of players who competed in more than one
event) ... competed in 13 tournaments as a rookie ... had two top 5
finishes and one other top 20 showing ... tied for third at the Cavalier
Classic ... tied for fourth in the Puerto Rico Classic ... carded a
career-low 54-hole score of 212 in that event ... tied for 19th in his
first ACC Championship ... tied for 99th at the NCAA East Regional ...
withdrew in the final round of the NCAA Championship ... shot a career-low
69 in the opening round of the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate and in the second
round of The Intercollegiate at MacGregor Downs ... had a 76.1 fall average
in four events (including one played as an individual) ... improved to a
75.0 spring average (seven events).
Chris Yoder (Fr, Ashland, OH) 75.4 avg
Ranked seventh in stroke average (sixth of players competing in more than
one event) ... had one top 20 finish ... tied for 20th place at The
Intercollegiate at MacGregor Downs, helping the Deacs to the team title ...
tied for 29th in his first ACC Championship ... tied for 50th at the NCAA
East Regional ... 83rd at the NCAA finals ... competed in nine events ...
recorded a career-low 70 in the second round of the Cleveland Golf/Augusta
State Invitational ... his 221 in that event was also a personal best for
54 holes ... shot 3 of 28 rounds at or under par ... had a 76.2 fall
average (two events) ... improved to 75.2 in six spring events.
Head Coach Jerry Haas
Completed his third season at the helm of the WFU men's golf program ... a
1985 graduate of Wake Forest ... the younger brother of PGA Tour star (and
fellow WFU alum) Jay Haas ... a four-time collegiate All-American ...
played nine years of professional golf, including four years on the PGA
Tour ... playing career was highlighted by a 31st-place finish at The
Masters in 1985.
1999-2000 Wake Forest Results
| Sept. 11-12 | The Ridges Intercollegiate | 13th of 15 |
| Sept. 19-20 | Cavalier Classic | 1st of 15 |
| Oct. 1-3 | Carpet Capital Collegiate | 7th of 15 |
| Oct. 11-12 | Purina Missouri Classic | 8th of 17 |
| Oct. 17-18 | Iron Duke Classic | 14th of 18 |
| Feb. 27-29 | Puerto Rico Classic | 7th of 15 |
| Mar. 11-12 | Birkdale Collegiate Classic | t-5th of 18 |
| Mar. 20-21 | Cleveland Golf Collegiate Championship | t-6th of 15 |
| Apr. 1-2 | Cleveland Golf/Augusta State Invitational | 14th of 19 |
| Apr. 14-15 | The Intercollegiate at MacGregor Downs | 1st of 12 |
| Apr. 21-23 | ACC Championship | 4th of 9 |
| May 18-20 | NCAA East Regional Championship | 11th of 27 |
| May 31-Jun 3 | NCAA Championship (Opelika, Ala.) | 15th of 30 |
1999-2000 Player Statistics
| Name | Events | Rounds | Strokes | Avg/18 | Avg/54 | Best 18 | Best 54 | Best Fin |
| Brent Wanner | 13 | 39 | 2837 | 72.7 | 218.2 | 67 | 210 | 2nd |
| Jay Morgan | 14 | 42 | 3086 | 73.5 | 220.4 | 66 | 209 | 1st |
| Chad Wilfong | 12 | 36 | 2699 | 75.0 | 224.9 | 67 | 213 | 11th |
| Bart DeLuca | 1 | 3 | 225 | 75.0 | 225.0 | 74 | 225 | 46th |
| Cortland Lowe | 6 | 17 | 1275 | 75.0 | 225.0 | 69 | 218 | 24th |
| Buck Williams* | 13 | 38 | 2863 | 75.3 | 226.0 | 69 | 212 | 3rd |
| Chris Yoder | 9 | 28 | 2112 | 75.4 | 226.3 | 70 | 221 | 20th |
| Jamie Gallacher | 2 | 6 | 462 | 77.0 | 231.0 | 73 | 226 | 67th |
| Ryan Peiffer | 1 | 3 | 234 | 78.0 | 234.0 | 76 | 234 | 61st |
| Team | 14 | 42 | 12350 | 294.0 | 882.1 | 279 | 864 | 1st |
* includes competition as an individual
Percentage of Rounds Counted
| Name | Played | Counted | Percent |
| Brent Wanner | 39 | 37.5 | .962 |
| Jay Morgan | 42 | 40.2 | .957 |
| Chris Yoder | 28 | 21.5 | .768 |
| Chad Wilfong | 36 | 26.7 | .742 |
| Cortland Lowe | 17 | 11.7 | .686 |
| Buck Williams | 36 | 24 | .667 |
| Bart DeLuca | 3 | 2 | .667 |
| Jamie Gallacher | 6 | 3 | .500 |
| Ryan Peiffer | 3 | 1.5 | .500 |
| TEAM | 210 | 168 | .800 |
(does not include rounds played as an individual competitor)
Individual Top 20 Finishes
| Name | Event | Score | Place |
| Jay Morgan | Cavalier Classic | 70-68-72=210 | 1st |
| Brent Wanner | Birkdale Collegiate Classic | 72-71-69=212 | t-2nd |
| Brent Wanner | Cavalier Classic | 71-71-72=214 | t-3rd |
| Buck Williams | Cavalier Classic | 70-71-73=214 | t-3rd |
| Brent Wanner | Intercollegiate @ MacGregor Dns | 75-72-67=214 | t-3rd |
| Jay Morgan | Purina Missouri Classic | 71-72-66=209 | t-4th |
| Brent Wanner | Cleveland Golf Collegiate | 69-68-73=210 | t-4th |
| Buck Williams | Puerto Rico Classic | 71-70-71=212 | t-4th |
| Brent Wanner | The Ridges Intercollegiate | 73-72-72=217 | t-5th |
| Brent Wanner | NCAA East Regional | 76-74-67=217 | 7th |
| Jay Morgan | ACC Championship | 72-69-75=216 | t-8th |
| Chad Wilfong | Purina Missouri Classic | 73-73-67=213 | t-11th |
| Brent Wanner | ACC Championship | 74-73-72=219 | t-14th |
| Chad Wilfong | Iron Duke Classic | 75-74=149 | t-15th |
| Jay Morgan | Intercollegiate @ MacGregor Dns | 73-76-70=219 | t-15th |
| Chad Wilfong | Intercollegiate @ MacGregor Dns | 73-76-70=219 | t-15th |
| Buck Williams | ACC Championship | 79-71-71=221 | t-19th |
| Chris Yoder | Intercollegiate @ MacGregor Dns | 77-72-72=221 | t-20th |
1999-2000 Boxscores
THE RIDGES INTERCOLLEGIATE Sept. 11-12
The Ridges Golf and Country Club, Johnson City, TN
Team: 907 Place: 13th of 15 Par 72, 7055 yds
| Brent Wanner | 73- | 72- | 72= | 217 | t-5th |
| Jay Morgan | 79- | 72- | 77= | 228 | t-47th |
| Chris Yoder | 78- | 80- | 74= | 232 | t-63rd |
| Chad Wilfong | 82- | 77- | 76= | 235 | 68th |
| Jamie Gallacher | 77- | 81- | 78= | 236 | t-69th |
| Buck Williams (I) | 81- | 73- | 83= | 237 | t-71st |
| TEAM | 307- | 301- | 299= | 907 | 13th |
Team Champion: Oklahoma 286-290-294=870
Individual Champion: Max Harris, North Carolina 71-69-71=213
THE CAVALIER CLASSIC Sept. 19-20
Birdwood Golf Course, Charlottesville, VA
Team: 857 Place: 1st of 15 Par 72, 6820 yds
| Jay Morgan | 70- | 68- | 72= | 210 | 1st |
| Brent Wanner | 71- | 71- | 72= | 214 | t-3rd |
| Buck Williams | 70- | 71- | 73= | 214 | t-3rd |
| Chad Wilfong | 77- | 70- | 75= | 222 | t-32nd |
| Cortland Lowe | 74- | 75- | 75= | 224 | t-42nd |
| TEAM | 285- | 280- | 292= | 857 | 1st |
Team Champion: Wake Forest 285-280-292=857
Individual Champion: Jay Morgan, Wake Forest 70-68-72=210
CARPET CAPITAL COLLEGIATE Oct. 1-3
The Farm Golf Club, Dalton, GA
Team: 877 Place: 7th of 15 Par 72, 6906 yds
| Cortland Lowe | 73- | 76- | 69= | 218 | t-24th |
| Jay Morgan | 69- | 75- | 74= | 218 | t-24th |
| Brent Wanner | 73- | 75- | 73= | 221 | t-33rd |
| Bart DeLuca | 76- | 74- | 75= | 225 | 46th |
| Buck Williams | 71- | 80- | 77= | 228 | t-54th |
| TEAM | 286- | 300- | 291= | 877 | 7th |
Team Champion: Georgia Tech 279-288-283=850
Individual Champion: Bryce Molder, Georgia Tech 68-68-68=204
THE PURINA MISSOURI CLASSIC Oct. 11-12
Missouri Bluffs Golf Club, St. Charles, MO
Team: 865 Place: 8th of 17 Par 71, 7047 yds
| Jay Morgan | 71- | 72- | 66= | 209 | t-4th |
| Chad Wilfong | 73- | 73- | 67= | 213 | t-11th |
| Chris Yoder | 74- | 79- | 72= | 225 | t-64th |
| Cortland Lowe | 79- | 72- | 75= | 226 | t-67th |
| Jamie Gallacher | 77- | 73- | 76= | 226 | t-67th |
| TEAM | 295- | 290- | 280= | 865 | 8th |
Team Champion: Kansas 290-280-282=852
Individual Champion: Ryan Vermeer, Kansas 72-67-68=207
IRON DUKE CLASSIC Oct. 17-18
Duke Golf Club, Durham, NC
Team: 612 Place: 14th of 18 Par 72, 7045 yds
| Chad Wilfong | 75- | 74= | 149 | t-15th |
| Jay Morgan | 72- | 80= | 152 | t-31st |
| Brent Wanner | 77- | 76= | 153 | t-43rd |
| Buck Williams | 80- | 78= | 158 | t-72nd |
| Cortland Lowe | 80- | 82= | 162 | t-80th |
| TEAM | 304- | 308= | 612 | 14th |
Team Champion: Duke 291-295=586
Individual Champion: Wayne Raath, Florida Southern 70-71=141
MERCEDES-BENZ COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP Feb. 21-22
Sawgrass Country Club, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Team: 908 Place: 11th of 15 Par 72, 6895 yds
| Jay Morgan | 73- | 81- | 71= | 225 | t-29th |
| Buck Williams | 69- | 78- | 78= | 225 | t-29th |
| Chris Yoder | 74- | 80- | 76= | 230 | t-45th |
| Brent Wanner | 74- | 82- | 75= | 231 | t-50th |
| Chad Wilfong | 79- | 85- | 75= | 239 | t-67th |
| TEAM | 290- | 321- | 297= | 908 | 11th |
Team Champion: Florida 280-294-297=871
Individual Champion: David Bennett, North Florida 67-72-72=211
PUERTO RICO CLASSIC Feb. 27-29
Rio Mar Country Club, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Team: 874 Place: 7th of 15 Par 72, 6945 yds
| Buck Williams | 71- | 70- | 71= | 212 | t-4th |
| Jay Morgan | 72- | 71- | 77= | 220 | t-29th |
| Chad Wilfong | 72- | 72- | 78= | 222 | t-35th |
| Chris Yoder | 75- | 73- | 75= | 223 | t-45th |
| Brent Wanner | 72- | 75- | 78= | 225 | t-53rd |
| TEAM | 287- | 286- | 301= | 874 | 7th |
Team Champion: Georgia Tech 284-282-287=853
Individual Champion: Luke Donald, Northwestern 70-69-68=207
BIRKDALE COLLEGIATE CLASSIC Mar. 11-12
Birkdale Golf Club, Huntersville, NC
Team: 897 Place: t-5th of 18 Par 72, 7013 yds
| Brent Wanner | 72- | 71- | 69= | 212 | t-2nd |
| Chad Wilfong | 77- | 77- | 72= | 226 | t-30th |
| Jay Morgan | 77- | 71- | 79= | 227 | t-33rd |
| Ryan Peiffer | 77- | 76- | 81= | 234 | t-61st |
| Buck Williams | 84- | 75- | 81= | 240 | t-79th |
| TEAM | 303- | 293- | 301= | 897 | t-5th |
Team Champion: Virginia Commonwealth 286-287-300=873
Individual Champion: Erik Knudsen, VCU 66-70-72=208
CLEVELAND GOLF COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP Mar. 20-21
Palmetto Golf Club, Aiken, SC
Team: 871 Place: t-6th of 15 Par 71, 6380 yds
| Brent Wanner | 69- | 68- | 73= | 210 | t-4th |
| Buck Williams | 78- | 70- | 71= | 219 | t-26th |
| Cortland Lowe | 75- | 73- | 74= | 222 | t-38th |
| Jay Morgan | 75- | 74- | 74= | 223 | t-42nd |
| Chad Wilfong | 75- | 75- | 74= | 224 | t-47th |
| TEAM | 294- | 285- | 292= | 871 | t-6th |
Team Champion: Augusta State 283-280-286=849
Individual Champion: Mike Mitchell, Virginia 71-67-69=207
CLEVELAND GOLF/AUGUSTA STATE INVITATIONAL Apr. 1-2
Forest Hills Golf Club, Augusta, GA
Team: 879 Place: 14th of 19 Par 72, 6875 yds
| Brent Wanner | 73- | 74- | 73= | 220 | t-42nd |
| Jay Morgan | 71- | 75- | 74= | 220 | t-42nd |
| Chris Yoder | 78- | 70- | 73= | 221 | t-47th |
| Cortland Lowe | 73- | 75- | 75= | 223 | t-56th |
| Buck Williams | 75- | 77- | 73= | 225 | t-67th |
| TEAM | 292- | 294- | 293= | 879 | 14th |
Team Champion: Augusta State 287-279-288=854
Individual Champion: William McGirt, Wofford 69-69-69=207
THE INTERCOLLEGIATE AT MACGREGOR DOWNS Apr. 14-15
MacGregor Downs Country Club, Cary NC
Team: 864 Place: 1st of 12 Par 72, 6776 yds
| Brent Wanner | 75- | 72- | 67= | 214 | t-3rd |
| Jay Morgan | 73- | 76- | 70= | 219 | t-15th |
| Chad Wilfong | 73- | 76- | 70= | 219 | t-15th |
| Chris Yoder | 77- | 72- | 72= | 221 | t-20th |
| Buck Williams | 75- | 69- | 79= | 223 | t-29th |
| TEAM | 296- | 289- | 279= | 864 | 1st |
Team Champion: Wake Forest 296-289-279=864
Individual Champion: Chris Wisler, East Tennessee State 69-68-69=206
ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS Apr. 21-23
Old North State Club at Uwharrie Point, Badin Lake, NC
Team: 875 Place: 4th of 9 Par 72, 7102 yds
| Jay Morgan | 72- | 69- | 75= | 216 | t-8th |
| Brent Wanner | 74- | 73- | 72= | 219 | t-14th |
| Buck Williams | 79- | 71- | 71= | 221 | t-19th |
| Chris Yoder | 75- | 77- | 73= | 225 | t-29th |
| Chad Wilfong | 73- | 77- | 76= | 226 | t-31st |
| TEAM | 294- | 290- | 291= | 875 | 4th |
Team Champion: Clemson 290-288-278=856
Individual Champion: Bryce Molder, Georgia Tech 72-67-67=206
NCAA EAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP May 18-20
Glenmaura National Golf Course, Moosic, PA
Team: 896 Place: 11th of 27 Par 71, 6847 yds
| Brent Wanner | 76- | 74- | 67= | 217 | 7th |
| Jay Morgan | 72- | 81- | 73= | 226 | t-43rd |
| Chris Yoder | 73- | 77- | 77= | 227 | t-50th |
| Chad Wilfong | 73- | 79- | 78= | 230 | t-66th |
| Buck Williams | 83- | 78- | 77= | 238 | t-99th |
| TEAM | 294- | 308- | 294= | 896 | 11th |
Team Champion: Clemson 292-289-290=871
Individual Champion: Michael Morrison, Georgia 69-74-69=212
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP May 31-Jun. 3
Grand National Golf Club, Opelika, AL
Team: 1169 Place: 15th of 30 Par 72, 7003 yds
| Brent Wanner | 73- | 71- | 71- | 69= | 284 | t-24th |
| Jay Morgan | 73- | 71- | 74- | 75= | 293 | t-62nd |
| Chad Wilfong | 72- | 75- | 77- | 70= | 294 | t-65th |
| Chris Yoder | 78- | 73- | 79- | 78= | 308 | 83rd |
| Buck Williams | 74- | 76- | 73- | WD= | WD | WD |
| TEAM | 292- | 290- | 295- | 292= | 1169 | 15th |
Team Champion: Oklahoma State 281-276-275-284=1116
Individual Champion: Charles Howell, Oklahoma State 67-66-63-69=265
