The Demon Deacon men's golf teams looked to continue their hot play, but instead found out what happens when they don't bring their "A" game to an event. The men were at the Carpet Capital Collegiate held in Rocky Face, Ga., at The Farm, a par-72 course on Sept. 29.

The Deacs had their impressive two-tournament winning streak snapped. No one on the team other than junior Bill Haas, who once again reigned supreme, played particularly well.

For the tournament, the team finished in 11th place at 10-over par and well back of Clemson, who captured the title.

For the Deacs, the finish was as much a disappointment as it was a shock. Coming off of two impressive victories, the team seemed to be very confident and poised to continue to dominate. However, with most of the team struggling, the Deacs were unable to stay within a shout of the leaders throughout the event.

"We want to win every week," Head Coach Jerry Haas said. "Maybe it's a good wake-up call, since it reminded us that each and every day you have to prove yourself. We're as physically gifted as any other team in the country. Mentally, we just have to be stronger from top to bottom."

The one Deac who stayed in contention and pulled out another individual victory was Haas. The junior posted rounds of 66, 70 and 69 to finish at 11-under par and in a tie for first place with Georgia Tech star Troy Matterson. It was the second straight week that Haas was able to capture co-medalist honors and the win was the fourth of his career.

"There's no panic in his game," Coach Haas said. "If he makes a couple of bogies, he knows he can make a couple of birdies." Coach Haas also noted that the All-American has gotten better at holding onto leads and finishing well in tournaments that he has been in the hunt. After Bill Haas, the next best Deacon finish was by senior Brent Wanner, who posted a total of six-over par, good enough for a tie for 48th place. On a positive note, Wanner shot a final round one-under- par 71, one of two sub-par rounds that the Deacs had outside of Haas.

Seniors Cortland Lowe and Chad Wilfong both ended up at nine-over par and in a tie for 61st place. Rounding out the Deacon lineup was senior Chris Yoder, whose final round struggle landed him in a tie for 80th place at 16-over par.

Though Coach Haas wasn't happy with the performance, he was very realistic about the situation acknowledging that the field of competition was very strong and understanding that bad weeks are part of the game. "You can't play great every week," Haas said of the team's performance. "These guys should be able to rebound though."

Rebounding to the level of play that won the team its first two events is exactly what the Deacons will try to do against another strong field at the Ping Preview in Karsten Creek in Stillwater, Okla., Oct. 7-8.