Deacs Look To Continue Strong Start At VCU Shootout
9/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Wake Forest men's golf team has had success at the VCU Shootout over the past three years and it will look to keep the momentum rolling again this year. The first two rounds of the 54-hole event are scheduled for Monday, Sept. 27, with the final round coming on Tuesday, Sept. 28.
The Demon Deacons have finished no worse than third in any of their three years in the event. Wake won the tournament in 2008 and took third in both 2007 and 2009. Individually, the Deacs have enjoyed similar success as a total of six players have placed in the top-10 over the three years, including Brendan Gielow who claimed his first collegiate victory at the event in 2008.
UNC Wilmington is back to defend its title from 2009. The Seahawks emerged from the pack for a 1-shot victory over Virginia. Virginia Tech will also be in the field this week along with conference USA powers East Carolina and Charlotte.
The top of head coach Jerry Haas' lineup will be similar to the lineup that finished second at the season-opening Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic two weeks ago. Junior Lee Bedford, who won his second collegiate event at the Carpet Capital, will once again be at the top of the lineup followed by sophomores Evan Beck, Charlie Harrison and senior Justin Bryant. Beck finished runner-up to Bedford at the Carpet Capital.
The final two spots will be filled-out by a pair of rookies. Freshman John Varol will be making his Demon Deacon debut this week in the fifth spot while fellow freshman Beau Cutts will also be playing in his first event as an individual.
Bedford finished eighth at the VCU Shootout two years ago as a freshman. He opened with a round of 4-under 67 and would ultimately finish the event at 4-under par. Last year, he carded rounds of 75-72-75 and finished tied for 30th.
Beck closed with a pair of 73s last year in his first go-around on the Hermitage Country Club and finished in a tie for 24th at 5-over par.
This will also be Harrison and Bryant's second time teeing-it-up at the VCU Shootout. Bryant was on the victorious 2008 team and his final round 73 helped the team post a 16-shot victory. Harrison played as an individual last season and opened with rounds of 72-76 en route to finishing tied for 67th.
Wake Forest will be paired with UNC Wilmington and Iowa State for the first two rounds on Monday. Play will begin at 8:45 am with a shotgun start. Golfstat.com will have live scoring of all 54-holes.
Players Mentioned
