Wake Forest Athletics
Jay Haas, Curtis Strange
Deacs Hold Six Stroke Lead After First Round at NCAA Championship
6/25/2020 4:00:00 PM | Men's Golf
COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 25, 1975)
– The Wake Forest men's golf team opened defense of its NCAA Championship with a two-under-par team total of 286 in the first round of the tournament being played at the Scarlet Course on the Ohio State University campus.
Florida State's Todd Crandall, playing as an individual, took the first round lead with a three-under 69, leaving him one stroke ahead of a pack of players that included Bob Byman of Wake Forest.
The Deacons as a team hold a six-shot lead over Oklahoma State after the first round. Wake Forest has a nine-shot lead on Florida, the team that finished second to the Deacons in 1974.
Curtis Strange and Jay Haas each shot 71 and were tied for sixth. Combined with Byman, Wake Forest's "Big Three" were a combined four-under par.
Head coach Jesse Haddock is coaching the Deacons for the 16th year and Wake Forest is makings its 12th NCAA Championship appearance under his guidance.
"I have to be very pleased," said Haddock. "We got off to a good start and that has got to give us confidence. However, when the field is as strong as this one is, a lead can vanish in a hurry if you do not continue to play well. I still feel like we can get our swings better."
A total of 28 players remained on the course after a thunderstorm delayed the tournament for nearly two hours. They will finish their first round before the start of the second round.
David Thore fired a two-over 74 and Tim Saylor carded a 77.
Strange, the defending individual champion, thought his score could have been better.
"Today was a day for a 65 and I did not take advantage of it," said Strange. "The course played short and the pin placements were easy, but I didn't drive well enough to take advantage of it. I only hit four fairways all day, and that killed my chances for the birdies on the par fives."
"If I had putted well, I could have shot in the 60s," said Jay Haas. "However, I was not as drained as I thought I might be after playing in the (U.S.) Open last week. I was really fired up to play."
"I had to rely too much on my short game," said Byman. "If I don't start driving better, it's going to be difficult to keep shooting scores like I did today."
A cut will be made after tomorrow's round and the top 15 teams and any individual within 10 shots of the leader will remain.
– The Wake Forest men's golf team opened defense of its NCAA Championship with a two-under-par team total of 286 in the first round of the tournament being played at the Scarlet Course on the Ohio State University campus.Florida State's Todd Crandall, playing as an individual, took the first round lead with a three-under 69, leaving him one stroke ahead of a pack of players that included Bob Byman of Wake Forest.
The Deacons as a team hold a six-shot lead over Oklahoma State after the first round. Wake Forest has a nine-shot lead on Florida, the team that finished second to the Deacons in 1974.
Curtis Strange and Jay Haas each shot 71 and were tied for sixth. Combined with Byman, Wake Forest's "Big Three" were a combined four-under par.
Head coach Jesse Haddock is coaching the Deacons for the 16th year and Wake Forest is makings its 12th NCAA Championship appearance under his guidance.
"I have to be very pleased," said Haddock. "We got off to a good start and that has got to give us confidence. However, when the field is as strong as this one is, a lead can vanish in a hurry if you do not continue to play well. I still feel like we can get our swings better."
A total of 28 players remained on the course after a thunderstorm delayed the tournament for nearly two hours. They will finish their first round before the start of the second round.
David Thore fired a two-over 74 and Tim Saylor carded a 77.
Strange, the defending individual champion, thought his score could have been better.
"Today was a day for a 65 and I did not take advantage of it," said Strange. "The course played short and the pin placements were easy, but I didn't drive well enough to take advantage of it. I only hit four fairways all day, and that killed my chances for the birdies on the par fives."
"If I had putted well, I could have shot in the 60s," said Jay Haas. "However, I was not as drained as I thought I might be after playing in the (U.S.) Open last week. I was really fired up to play."
"I had to rely too much on my short game," said Byman. "If I don't start driving better, it's going to be difficult to keep shooting scores like I did today."
A cut will be made after tomorrow's round and the top 15 teams and any individual within 10 shots of the leader will remain.
Wake Forest Women's Basketball: Marcy Carter Women's History Month Feature
Wednesday, March 11
Sebastian Akins Tough
Wednesday, March 11
Wake Forest Advances in 2026 ACC Tournament
Wednesday, March 11
2026 ACC Tournament Wake Forest Men's Basketball Highlights vs Virginia Tech (March 10, 2026)
Wednesday, March 11