Wanner takes medalist honors at Ohio tourney
By Jordan Webster
Sports Editor

Junior Brent Wanner grabbed his second career tournament championship and led the Demon Deacons to a second-place overall finish at The Ping-Golfweek Preview Invitational, held Sept. 28-30 at the Scarlet Course at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

Wanner actually played his poorest round in the third and final round of the event, carding an even-par 71, but it was enough to hold off a triumvirate of competitors that finished in a three-way tie for second, a group that included a Deacon teammate, sophomore Bill Haas. Haas, Clemson’s D.J. Trahan and Doug Wade of host Ohio State finished just one stroke behind Wanner, shooting a two-under 210 for the tourney.

Trahan’s Clemson Tigers claimed the team title, fending off a final-round charge from Wanner, Haas and company to edge the Demon Deacons by just one stroke. Clemson had a 10-stroke lead on Head Coach Jerry Haas’ club going into the final day, but the Deacs blistered the Buckeyes’ home course to the tune of a two-under 282 as a team on the tournament’s final day, forcing the Tigers to birdie the final hole to avoid dropping into a first-place tie with the Deacs.

Clemson managed only a seven-over 291 in the third round of the tournament, but it was just good enough to maintain the lead they had held after each of the tournament’s first two days. Texas finished third, trailing the Deacons by one stroke, and the home-standing Buckeyes placed fourth. The only other ACC team that participated was Georgia Tech, which finished in 10th-place in the 15-team field. The Deacs had been in fifth place after two rounds of play.

Wanner’s best round was his first, as he opened play on Sept. 28 with a two-under 69. The junior from Chatham, Mass., Then carded a one-under 70 in the second round before finishing with his 71. Haas stuck with Wanner for the most part, shooting 70-71-70 for his two-under 211. The title was the second of Wanner’s collegiate career – he took last year’s Duke Classic – although this one was a bit unexpected.

“I was in the pack going into the final round, and there were about six of us that had a chance to win,” Wanner said. “I didn’t think much about it going into the final round; I was thinking more of helping the team. When I finished, I didn’t even know I won.”

According to Wanner, his victory was more a result of trying to help the team finish strong, something the Deacons have struggled with in the past, as well as in the season’s first tournament, the Ridges Intercollegiate, when they topped 300 in the final round.

“We were 10 behind (going into the final round),” Wanner said. “It was kind of a long shot for us to have a chance, but we knew if we played well we could put some pressure on them. We’ve had trouble with our final rounds. Coach Haas just told us ‘Let’s prove we can play well in the final round.”

Senior Jay Morgan and juniors Chad Wilfong and Cortland Lowe rounded out the five-man Deacon contingent, with Wilfong having the most success, thanks to a sparkling final round in which he carded a career-low two-under 69. Wilfong’s superb play over the final 18 holes was integral to the Demon Deacons’ third-round push, and with it Wilfong, the defending North Carolina amateur champion hurdled from 48th to 19th in the individual standings. Wilfong shot a five-over 76 in the first round, and improved to three-over 74 in the second before going low with his final-round 69, which put him at six-over for the tournament.

Morgan finished in a tie for 43rd place with an 11-over 224, having shot 75-77-72 during the three-day event. Lowe carded a 12-over 225, one stroke back of Morgan, and in 49th place, after carding 75-77-73.

Haas, the player, also made a bit of history in the event, excluding his second-place finish. Haas’ brother, Jay Haas, Jr., teed it up for Augusta State in the tournament, marking the first time that brothers had competed in the same collegiate event. Jay Jr. carded a 10-over 223, earning him a tie for 37th. The brothers are sons of Deacon alum and PGA Tour pro Jay Haas, and the nephews of Coach Haas.

The Deacs’ successful showing bodes well for the conclusion of the team’s season, as the 2002 NCAA Championships will be held at the Scarlet Course as well, May 29-June 1.

“It’s definitely a confidence builder for us,” Wanner said. “That’s a really good course for us – we’re one of the longer teams off the tee and that’s one of the longer courses in the country.

“We know we’re one of the best teams in the nation,” he said. “We believe we’re a top five team, if not better.”