1975 Wake Forest men's golf team
Wake Forest Preparing for 1975 NCAA Golf Championships
6/24/2020 3:49:00 PM | Men's Golf
This year marks the 45th anniversary of Wake Forest's 1975 NCAA Men's Golf Championship. GoDeacs.com will re-live that journey to the national championship by re-telling the story of each round on the corresponding date. The Deacons started on the road to the national title with the first round on June 25, 1975.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Defending champion Wake Forest and 1974 runner-up Florida are the top two favorites in the NCAA Golf Championship which starts June 25 at the Scarlet Course on the Ohio State University campus. The field consists of 37 teams and an additional 38 individual players for a total field of 223.
The Scarlet course is 6,800 yards and will be playing to par 72 for the 72-hole tournament. The Scarlet course will be hosting the NCAA Championship for the sixth time, most recently in 1970.
"It's the best course I've ever seen for an NCAA," said Wake Forest head coach Jesse Haddock. "I think it's playing even rougher than its 73.9 stroke rating."
"No way anyone will be under par," said Jay Haas. "I'd take 290 and never hit a single ball."
Wake Forest is the defending team champion, having defeated Florida by two strokes at the 1974 NCAA Championship in San Diego. The Deacons were five strokes off the lead after each of the first two rounds of the at Carlton Oakes Country Club in San Diego. The Deacons improved by one shot after the third round and entered the final round trailing the Gators by four strokes.
Coming on strong with a full-fledged team effort, the Deacons trailed by just one stroke after nine holes. Wake Forest passed the Gators on the back nine and held a one-stroke lead as Curtis Strange and Florida's Gary Koch approached the 18th hole.
Strange's play on the final hole of the championship not only determined the team title and clinched his one-stroke medalist win over Koch, but it will always be known as one of the finest moments in NCAA golf history. Strange and Koch hit nearly identical drives. After Koch's second shot sailed to the back of the green, Strange's one-iron from 250 yards landed within seven feet of the pin. Strange sank his putt for the legendary eagle that secured the first NCAA golf team title for Wake Forest.
Ohio State head coach Jim Brown includes Wake Forest among the team favorites for the 1975 championship.
"You've got to go with them from past records," said Brown in listing the favorites. "But there are people as good as them – Oklahoma State, Brigham Young, Texas, Houston."
Strange, a sophomore from Virginia Beach, Va., is back in 1975 as is his teammate Haas, a junior from Belleville, Ill. Haas was the low amateur at each of the last two U.S. Open Championships including last week at Medinah and in 1974 at Winged Foot. The two helped represent the United States at the Walker Cup matches at the Old Course at St. Andrews in May.
"The only difference here is that Medinah had more trees," said Haas on his U.S. Open experience. "The fairways are just as narrow, but the greens aren't as slick."
Strange is the defending NCAA individual champion though he is expected to be challenged by the last two U.S.G.A. Amateur champions in Jerry Pate of Alabama and Southern California's Crag Stadler. Strange played in the Masters at Augusta, Ga. in April.
The man Strange beat in 1974, Phil Hancock of Florida, is expected to be in contention again in 1975. Hancock recently won the Southeastern Conference championship while his teammate, Andy Bean, finished second.
Strange isn't bothered by the pressure.
"If you didn't have that pressure, you might not have the desire," said Strange on the eve of the NCAA Championship. "Sure, I feel it a little more than the others. My game is coming around. I need to start putting better. But I'm ready mentally."
Along with Strange and Haas, Wake Forest's five-man team includes Bob Byman of Boulder, Colo., David Thore of Reidsville, N.C. and Tim Saylor. Byman was the medalist at the 1974 ACC Championship and Thore has won two Big Four Tournament championships in his career. He finished 13th at the NCAA Tournament in 1974. Saylor came to Wake Forest as a walk-on but has played well, reaching the third round of the 1974 U.S. Amateur.
Bill Argabrite has been playing in the No. 5 spot for Wake Forest throughout the season. However, Coach Haddock decided to go with Tim Saylor as the No. 5 player for the NCAA Tournament. Argabrite has had a solid career, coming to Wake Forest as a walk-on before earning a scholarship. He won the Iron Duke tournament in the fall of 1974 and finished third at the ACC Tournament in the spring of 1975.
The tournament started on June 24 with the East-West matches. The top 36 players squared off in a team exhibition. Wake Forest's Curtis Strange teamed with East Tennessee State's Skeeter Heath to lead the East to a 12.5-5.5 decision over the West. Strange and Heath defeated Southern Cal's Craig Stadler and Oklahoma State's Jaime Gonzalez 2 and 1.
The NCAA Championship field will be cut to the low 15 teams and ties after 36 holes. Any team within 18 strokes of the team leader and any individual within 10 strokes of the individual leader will also qualify for the final 36 holes.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Defending champion Wake Forest and 1974 runner-up Florida are the top two favorites in the NCAA Golf Championship which starts June 25 at the Scarlet Course on the Ohio State University campus. The field consists of 37 teams and an additional 38 individual players for a total field of 223.
The Scarlet course is 6,800 yards and will be playing to par 72 for the 72-hole tournament. The Scarlet course will be hosting the NCAA Championship for the sixth time, most recently in 1970.
"It's the best course I've ever seen for an NCAA," said Wake Forest head coach Jesse Haddock. "I think it's playing even rougher than its 73.9 stroke rating."
"No way anyone will be under par," said Jay Haas. "I'd take 290 and never hit a single ball."
Wake Forest is the defending team champion, having defeated Florida by two strokes at the 1974 NCAA Championship in San Diego. The Deacons were five strokes off the lead after each of the first two rounds of the at Carlton Oakes Country Club in San Diego. The Deacons improved by one shot after the third round and entered the final round trailing the Gators by four strokes.
Coming on strong with a full-fledged team effort, the Deacons trailed by just one stroke after nine holes. Wake Forest passed the Gators on the back nine and held a one-stroke lead as Curtis Strange and Florida's Gary Koch approached the 18th hole.
Strange's play on the final hole of the championship not only determined the team title and clinched his one-stroke medalist win over Koch, but it will always be known as one of the finest moments in NCAA golf history. Strange and Koch hit nearly identical drives. After Koch's second shot sailed to the back of the green, Strange's one-iron from 250 yards landed within seven feet of the pin. Strange sank his putt for the legendary eagle that secured the first NCAA golf team title for Wake Forest.
Ohio State head coach Jim Brown includes Wake Forest among the team favorites for the 1975 championship.
"You've got to go with them from past records," said Brown in listing the favorites. "But there are people as good as them – Oklahoma State, Brigham Young, Texas, Houston."
Strange, a sophomore from Virginia Beach, Va., is back in 1975 as is his teammate Haas, a junior from Belleville, Ill. Haas was the low amateur at each of the last two U.S. Open Championships including last week at Medinah and in 1974 at Winged Foot. The two helped represent the United States at the Walker Cup matches at the Old Course at St. Andrews in May.
"The only difference here is that Medinah had more trees," said Haas on his U.S. Open experience. "The fairways are just as narrow, but the greens aren't as slick."
Strange is the defending NCAA individual champion though he is expected to be challenged by the last two U.S.G.A. Amateur champions in Jerry Pate of Alabama and Southern California's Crag Stadler. Strange played in the Masters at Augusta, Ga. in April.
The man Strange beat in 1974, Phil Hancock of Florida, is expected to be in contention again in 1975. Hancock recently won the Southeastern Conference championship while his teammate, Andy Bean, finished second.
Strange isn't bothered by the pressure.
"If you didn't have that pressure, you might not have the desire," said Strange on the eve of the NCAA Championship. "Sure, I feel it a little more than the others. My game is coming around. I need to start putting better. But I'm ready mentally."
Along with Strange and Haas, Wake Forest's five-man team includes Bob Byman of Boulder, Colo., David Thore of Reidsville, N.C. and Tim Saylor. Byman was the medalist at the 1974 ACC Championship and Thore has won two Big Four Tournament championships in his career. He finished 13th at the NCAA Tournament in 1974. Saylor came to Wake Forest as a walk-on but has played well, reaching the third round of the 1974 U.S. Amateur.
Bill Argabrite has been playing in the No. 5 spot for Wake Forest throughout the season. However, Coach Haddock decided to go with Tim Saylor as the No. 5 player for the NCAA Tournament. Argabrite has had a solid career, coming to Wake Forest as a walk-on before earning a scholarship. He won the Iron Duke tournament in the fall of 1974 and finished third at the ACC Tournament in the spring of 1975.
The tournament started on June 24 with the East-West matches. The top 36 players squared off in a team exhibition. Wake Forest's Curtis Strange teamed with East Tennessee State's Skeeter Heath to lead the East to a 12.5-5.5 decision over the West. Strange and Heath defeated Southern Cal's Craig Stadler and Oklahoma State's Jaime Gonzalez 2 and 1.
The NCAA Championship field will be cut to the low 15 teams and ties after 36 holes. Any team within 18 strokes of the team leader and any individual within 10 strokes of the individual leader will also qualify for the final 36 holes.
Football Media Availability (10/16/25)
Thursday, October 16
Wake Forest Field Hockey Inside the Circle: Episode Five
Wednesday, October 15
Head Coach Jake Dickert 10/6
Wednesday, October 15
Wake Forest Football vs Oregon State | Cinematic Recap
Wednesday, October 15