Wake Forest University
U.S. Collegiate Championship
Webb Simpson Breaks Through With First College Title
4/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
April 11, 2007
ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- Wake Forest junior Webb Simpson, who began the golf season on the injured list, entered this week's U.S. Collegiate Championship with five career second-place finishes, but no collegiate tournament victories to his credit.
Apparently, Simpson was tired of being the bridesmaid.
The Raleigh (N.C.) native, highly successful on the amateur circuit, broke through with his first college tournament title Wednesday, beating one of the nation's strongest fields for a three-shot victory at the U.S. Collegiate Championship. Simpson entered the final round in a tie for first place, then shot a 1-under par 71 Wednesday in difficult conditions to win the individual championship by three strokes at 1-under par (215). Out of 78 players in the field, Simpson was the lone golfer to shoot under par.
Simpson will enter postseason play riding a wave of momentum. After his fifth career second-place finish two weeks ago at the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate, he captured the Azalea Amateur, a non-college event, a few days later. On Wednesday, Simpson overcame a stretch of four bogeys in five holes to birdie three of the final 10 holes to beat many of the nation's top-ranked college golfers. He beat No. 1-ranked Jamie Lovemark of Southern California by 14 strokes.
Simpson began his junior year on the shelf after breaking a bone in his hand last fall.
Simpson's performance overshadowed a third-place finish by junior teammate Chris McCartin and a solid third-place team finish by the 21st-ranked Demon Deacons.
McCartin matched his career-best finish, tying for third, after shooting a 72-73-74--219 (+3). If not for three bogeys on his final nine holes Wednesday, McCartin could have challenged Simpson for the individual crown.
As a team, Wake Forest shot a solid cumulative 5-over 293 Wednesday, climbing over three teams to finish third. The Deacons finished the tournament, played at the Golf Club of Georgia's Lakeside Course, 30-over par and 10 strokes behind team champion and second-ranked Georgia. Fifth-ranked UCLA finished third, two strokes in front of Wake Forest.
Deacon sophomore Dustin Groves and freshman Brendan Gielow both shot 2-over 74s Wednesday. Gielow finished the tournament 13-over and tied for 43rd. Groves finished 17-over and tied for 56th. Senior Sean Moore came in at 22-over and tied for 71st place.
Wake Forest's third-place effort at the USCC should only give the Deacons confidence heading into the April 20-22 ACC Championship at Uwharrie Pointe, N.C. The Deacons edged ACC heavyweights Georgia Tech (+32) and Clemson (+34). Wake Forest finished seven shots ahead of third-ranked Alabama and defending NCAA champion Oklahoma State.
U.S. Collegiate Championship
April 9-11, 2007
Golf Club of Georgia (Lakeside Course)
3rd of 15 / Par 72 / 7,017 Yards
Team Standings
Georgia 296 295 293 884 +20
UCLA 299 302 291 892 +28
Wake Forest 296 305 293 894 +30
Georgia Tech 292 306 298 896 +32
Georgia State 298 302 296 896 +32
Clemson 292 301 305 898 +34
East Tennessee St. 300 305 294 899 +35
Alabama 299 313 289 901 +37
Oklahoma State 298 302 301 901 +37
Florida 305 298 300 903 +39
BYU 310 297 302 909 +45
Southern California 304 301 305 910 +46
Texas 305 312 299 916 +52
TCU 309 306 302 917 +53
Florida State 310 306 305 921 +57
Top Individuals
Webb Simpson (WFU) 72 72 71 215 -1
Hudson Swafford (GA) 74 72 72 218 +2
Chris McCartin (WFU) 72 73 74 219 +3
Chris Kirk (GA) 70 77 72 219 +3
Joel Sjoholm (GSU) 71 75 73 219 +3
Wake Forest Scores
Webb Simpson 72 72 71 215 -1 1st
Chris McCartin 72 73 74 219 +3 t3rd
Brendan Gielow 73 82 74 229 +13 t43rd
Dustin Groves 79 80 74 233 +17 t56th
Sean Moore 79 80 79 238 +22 t71st
TEAM 296 305 293 894 +30 3rd
Players Mentioned
