No. 20 Wake Forest Travels to Florida for Valspar Collegiate

PALM CITY, Fla. – The No. 20 Wake Forest men's golf team is set to take part in the Valspar Collegiate, starting Monday at The Floridian in Palm City, Fla.

There will be four fellow Atlantic Coast Conference schools in the field as the Demon Deacons will be joined by No. 4 North Carolina, No. 21 Clemson, No. 26 Florida State and No. 53 Duke. The Deacs will also be one of six top-25 teams in the tournament along with No. 4 North Carolina, No. 5 Texas Tech, No. 10 Pepperdine, No. 17 Texas A&M and No. 21 Clemson.

The Demon Deacons will be in search of their second tournament victory as a team this season after winning the Old Town Club Collegiate Invitational at the end of September.

Last year at the Valspar Collegiate, Wake Forest was led by Alex Fitzpatrick, who took home medalist honors. Fitzpatrick led the field for most of the event. With a 12-under score of 201, Fitzpatrick took home his first collegiate title and fifth top five finish of his career. He carded scores of 67, 66, and 68 with a bogey-free final round. The Demon Deacons finished second in the tournament at 17-under-par.

Within the last five weeks, two different Demon Deacons have made their PGA Tour debuts. Sophomore Michael Brennan was the lone amateur at the Genesis Invitational after winning a spot on that Monday. By virtue of winning the 2021 Valspar Collegiate, Fitzpatrick earned an exemption to the Valspar Championship earlier this month where he was one of just two amateurs in the field.

Tomorrow's first round is scheduled for a 8:30 a.m. ET shotgun start with the Demon Deacons, teeing off between hole No. 8 and No. 10. Wake Forest will play with Clemson and Florida State in the opening two rounds.

THE DEACS' LINEUP FOR THE VALSPAR COLLEGIATE

Michael Brennan

Brennan, who has now risen to No. 16 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, made his PGA Tour debut at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in February. That Monday, he earned a spot in the field as the only amateur, setting a Collegiate Showcase record Monday, shooting a five-under-par 66. He will look to claim potentially his fifth individual title, trying to join elite company in Wake Forest history.

Alex Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick also is the current No. 6 ranked player in the World Amateur Golf rankings and is No. 6 on the PGA Tour University rankings. He is looking for his third top-15 finish after a tie for 13th finish at the Colonial Collegiate. Fitzpatrick also tied for medalist honors with Brennan at the Old Town Club Collegiate. He also tied for 16th at the Watersound Invitational, his fifth top-20 finish in his last six starts. Most recently, he competed in the Valspar Championship, making his PGA Tour debut.

Mark Power

Power helped the team to a title at the Old Town Club Collegiate Invitational, tying for 35th on the individual leaderboard. He was helped by a 66 (-4) in the second round of the tournament. He was one of three Demon Deacons to compete at the Genesis Collegiate Showcase, playing alongside fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy.

Parker Gillam

Gillam was the Demon Deacons top finisher at the NCAA Championships as he tied for 13th on the individual leaderboard. The performance helped him earn PING All-America Honorable Mention honors. He finished tied for 26th at the Old Town Club Collegiate Invitational. Gillam also just qualified for the 2022 Canadian Tour, tying for seventh in qualifying school last month.

Scotty Kennon

Kennon had an impressive showing at the Old Town Club Collegiate Invitational. He was par or below in all three rounds of the tournament, finishing the week tied for ninth and nine-under par, his highest finish to date and first career top-10 finish. Kennon most recently finished tied for 13th at the Wake Forest Invitational at Pinehurst No. 2.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS AT VALSPAR COLLEGIATE (14)

No. 4 North Carolina
No. 5 Texas Tech
No. 10 Pepperdine
No. 17 Texas A&M
No. 20 Wake Forest
No. 21 Clemson
No. 26 Florida State
No. 65 Houston
No. 32 USF
No. 33 Ohio State
No. 53 Duke
No. 96 Marquette
No. 101 USC
No. 139 Minnesota

COURSE INFORMATION

Valspar Collegiate

The Floridian - Palm City, Fla. – Par 71 - 6921 Yards

LIVE SCORING

Valspar Collegiate

GolfStat.com

TEE TIMES

Monday, March 27 - First & Second Round - Play begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. ET with continuous play through the second round

Tuesday, March 28 - Third Round - Play begins at 8:30 a.m. ET