Photo by: Tim Cowie/Tim Cowie Photography
Deacon Sports Xtra: Wake Forest Coming Back to the Spotlight at the Right Time
5/28/2021 12:15:00 PM | Men's Golf
Back in Winston-Salem after a successful outing in the Cle Elum Regional, Wake Forest golfer Alex Fitzpatrick pounded one down the first fairway at Old Town Club as the Deacs prepared for the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships.
Wearing white pants with a bright pink shirt, Fitzpatrick drilled his tee shot a solid 320 yards.
"The boys are ready to go," Wake Forest coach Jerry Haas said.
Wake Forest finished third in the regional, behind East Tennessee State and San Francisco. The top five advanced to championship play, which begins May 28 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
"We had a nice stretch," Haas said about their play in Washington. "We played 14, 15 and 16 at 11-under and that saved us. We had some really good shots, then some really poor shots. We had a nice first day. The course was sort of a mix of all the various places we played this season, which is one of the things that's great about our schedule. It helps as we go on to Arizona."
Fitzpatrick finished second in the regional and led the Demon Deacons by shooting seven-under for the three-round tournament. Sophomore Mark Power was 19th in the tournament, coming in at three-over par.
"We got the result we needed, but from a performance perspective, it wasn't our best stuff," Power said. "We haven't shown exactly what we're capable of."
Scuffling all day long in the second round on Tuesday, the Deacs turned in a score of 287, while falling under the cut line at times during the day.
"We played poorly on Tuesday but were lucky that a couple other good teams didn't play well either," Haas said. "That saved us. All five guys birdied 18 (to finish the day)."
The Deacs flew out west Tuesday, with play beginning Friday. Much like the women's championship, it's very much a gauntlet — the Demon Deacons are hoping to play a lot of golf in the coming days.
"While in the desert, you're going to lose a ball or two," Haas said. "You have to keep it in play. We have a nice format, and know what to look for, seeing how the women's team does. We're one of just three schools to send both squads to the NCAA Championships. It makes for a great story for Wake Forest."
After playing the Arizona Collegiate in late January, the Deacs made a point to familiarize themselves with Grayhawk Golf Club.
"We're going to play golf, practice and work out," Haas said about the pre-tournament itinerary. "We'll get some practice rounds out in Arizona. We played in Arizona earlier this year, so we got to play the course."
There are 30 teams who advanced through the regionals who will play three full rounds before the field is cut to the top 15 teams. Those scores carry over for one more round before cutting to the top eight.
The team national champions will be crowned through match play, with the quarterfinals and semifinals taking place on Tuesday, June 1, with the championship scheduled for Wednesday, June 2.
"You have to rest up," Haas said. "All five guys need to be good. If you have all five guys playing down the stretch and playing well. If you only have four, then one bogey or double bogey is magnified.
"We do a lot of good things. We make a lot of birdies and eagles. If we make match play, that will be good for us."
Power is confident the Deacs will make a deep run toward a national championship.
"If we all manage to click in well, we have a really good chance," he said. "Everyone is in good spirits, looking forward to the week. It's going to be great."
Joining Wake Forest in Arizona are six other teams from the ACC: North Carolina, Louisville, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, Florida State and Clemson.
"I've touted that all year," Haas said. "I've always felt like we're in the best conference in the country. Seven teams got through and then a few others will be heard from in the coming years."
Haas wants his team to have fun and play loose in Arizona, believing they have the talent to make a deep run this year — while also having the program set up to get back the next several seasons.
"You have to play free," Haas said. "We're not just happy to be there, we want to win that thing. The only way to do that is if you play like you're at Old Town. They're pounding it into the fairway here today, but can you do that in the tournament in Arizona?
"We're in a good spot. The last four-to-five years, we've won a bunch. The scores have been remarkably better, and the talent is starting to come to Winston-Salem again. We have unbelievable facilities, right on campus. Recruiting, I'm very excited about the '21 class and we've got a couple of verbals in the '22 class that are exciting. We're in a good spot. I'm loving coaching here at Wake Forest."
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Wearing white pants with a bright pink shirt, Fitzpatrick drilled his tee shot a solid 320 yards.
"The boys are ready to go," Wake Forest coach Jerry Haas said.
Wake Forest finished third in the regional, behind East Tennessee State and San Francisco. The top five advanced to championship play, which begins May 28 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
"We had a nice stretch," Haas said about their play in Washington. "We played 14, 15 and 16 at 11-under and that saved us. We had some really good shots, then some really poor shots. We had a nice first day. The course was sort of a mix of all the various places we played this season, which is one of the things that's great about our schedule. It helps as we go on to Arizona."
Fitzpatrick finished second in the regional and led the Demon Deacons by shooting seven-under for the three-round tournament. Sophomore Mark Power was 19th in the tournament, coming in at three-over par.
"We got the result we needed, but from a performance perspective, it wasn't our best stuff," Power said. "We haven't shown exactly what we're capable of."
Scuffling all day long in the second round on Tuesday, the Deacs turned in a score of 287, while falling under the cut line at times during the day.
"We played poorly on Tuesday but were lucky that a couple other good teams didn't play well either," Haas said. "That saved us. All five guys birdied 18 (to finish the day)."
The Deacs flew out west Tuesday, with play beginning Friday. Much like the women's championship, it's very much a gauntlet — the Demon Deacons are hoping to play a lot of golf in the coming days.
"While in the desert, you're going to lose a ball or two," Haas said. "You have to keep it in play. We have a nice format, and know what to look for, seeing how the women's team does. We're one of just three schools to send both squads to the NCAA Championships. It makes for a great story for Wake Forest."
After playing the Arizona Collegiate in late January, the Deacs made a point to familiarize themselves with Grayhawk Golf Club.
"We're going to play golf, practice and work out," Haas said about the pre-tournament itinerary. "We'll get some practice rounds out in Arizona. We played in Arizona earlier this year, so we got to play the course."
There are 30 teams who advanced through the regionals who will play three full rounds before the field is cut to the top 15 teams. Those scores carry over for one more round before cutting to the top eight.
The team national champions will be crowned through match play, with the quarterfinals and semifinals taking place on Tuesday, June 1, with the championship scheduled for Wednesday, June 2.
"You have to rest up," Haas said. "All five guys need to be good. If you have all five guys playing down the stretch and playing well. If you only have four, then one bogey or double bogey is magnified.
"We do a lot of good things. We make a lot of birdies and eagles. If we make match play, that will be good for us."
Power is confident the Deacs will make a deep run toward a national championship.
"If we all manage to click in well, we have a really good chance," he said. "Everyone is in good spirits, looking forward to the week. It's going to be great."
Joining Wake Forest in Arizona are six other teams from the ACC: North Carolina, Louisville, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, Florida State and Clemson.
"I've touted that all year," Haas said. "I've always felt like we're in the best conference in the country. Seven teams got through and then a few others will be heard from in the coming years."
Haas wants his team to have fun and play loose in Arizona, believing they have the talent to make a deep run this year — while also having the program set up to get back the next several seasons.
"You have to play free," Haas said. "We're not just happy to be there, we want to win that thing. The only way to do that is if you play like you're at Old Town. They're pounding it into the fairway here today, but can you do that in the tournament in Arizona?
"We're in a good spot. The last four-to-five years, we've won a bunch. The scores have been remarkably better, and the talent is starting to come to Winston-Salem again. We have unbelievable facilities, right on campus. Recruiting, I'm very excited about the '21 class and we've got a couple of verbals in the '22 class that are exciting. We're in a good spot. I'm loving coaching here at Wake Forest."
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