Wake Forest University
Golfweek Conference Challenge
Men's Golf Finishes Runner-Up At Golfweek Conference Challenge
9/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 18, 2012
By Gary Petit (@GaryWFU), Wake Forest Athletic Communications
BURLINGTON, Iowa - Behind a sensational 6-under 66 from senior Evan Beck, the Wake Forest men's golf team finished runner-up at the Golfweek Conference Challenge in Burlington, Iowa on Tuesday.
The Demon Deacons came into the final round three shots behind 36-hole leader Missouri. The Tigers got off to a good start and opened-up as much as an 11-shot lead over the Deacs midway through the round. But Wake battled-back with some birdies midway through the second nine and cut the deficit to just five shots. However, Missouri was too much down the stretch and pulled-away for an 8-shot victory.
"These were by far the toughest conditions of the three days and you have to give Missouri credit for playing really well down the stretch," said Wake Forest head coach Jerry Haas. "Overall, I was pleased with how we played. The difference between us and Missouri this week were the big numbers. We counted at least one or two big numbers each round and that was the difference. But I'm proud of the way we played this week and there was a lot of good to come out of this event."
The Demon Deacons posted rounds of 294-281-290 to finish at 1-over par. Missouri won the event at 7-under par while Tulsa finished third at 3-over.
Beck fired the lowest round of the tournament on Tuesday with a 6-under 66. He birdied the opening hole and would make a total of five birdies in the round. Beck closed the round in style with an eagle-3 on the par-5 second to post the lowest round of his career. His 66 was not only the lowest round of the tournament, but it was also the lowest round of the day by three shots. Beck finished the tournament in a tie for seventh at 1-under par.
"That was an outstanding round today from Evan," Haas said. "In these conditions, it was probably one of the top five or ten best rounds for a Wake Forest golfer since I've been here. He had a tough start to the year but he kept grinding and he really played with a lot of confidence this week."
Junior Thomas Birdsey and senior Charlie Harrison each finished the tournament tied for 10th at even-par. After battling through up-and-down rounds on both Sunday and Monday, Harrison played a steady round on Tuesday, making one birdie and 15 pars en route to a 73. Birdsey countered a couple of double-bogeys with a couple of birdies and would post a 4-over 76. That round came after he carded a pair of 70s in the first two rounds.
Junior Beau Cutts rebounded from an opening round 84 to card rounds of 72-75 and finish tied for 53rd. Cutts made four birdies in his final round on Tuesday.
One day after carding a 3-under 69, freshman Davis Womble was bitten by the big number on Tuesday, making three double-bogeys and settling for a round of 79. Despite the round on Tuesday, Womble finished his first career event in a tie for 21st at 6-over par.
Missouri All-American Jace Long shot his sixth-straight round under-par and picked-up his second individual title of the season. Long shot rounds of 68-69-70 to finish at 9-under par. That was two-shots clear of his closest competitors.
The Demon Deacons will return to action on Monday, Oct. 8, when they play in the first Payne Stewart Match Play event at Pinehurst. Wake Forest will go head-to-head with SMU, Stewart's alma mater, on the famed Pinehurst No. 2.
| Wake Forest | 294 | 281 | 290 | 865 | +1 | 2nd |
| Evan Beck | 77 | 72 | 66 | 215 | -1 | t-7th |
| Thomas Birdsey | 70 | 70 | 76 | 216 | E | t-10th |
| Charlie Harrison | 73 | 70 | 73 | 216 | E | t-10th |
| Davis Womble | 74 | 69 | 79 | 222 | +6 | t-21st |
| Beau Cutts | 84 | 72 | 75 | 231 | +15 | t-53rd |
Players Mentioned
