Georgia Tech leads going into final round of ACC Conference Championships

21 Apr 2012
see also: Charlotte Country Club, Richy Werenski Rankings
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Richard Werenski

New London, N.C. (April 21, 2012) -- Richard Werenski fired a 6-under-par 66 and Georgia Tech continued its torrid pace with a 14-under-par team score of 274 Saturday, expanding its lead to 11 strokes after the second round at the Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Golf Championship, which concludes Sunday, April 22, at The Old North State Club at Uwharrie Point.

The 8th-ranked Yellow Jackets have a two-day total of 544, which is 32 shots under par and one short of the 54-hole ACC Championship record score of 33-under-par, set last year by Tech in winning its third consecutive ACC title. No. 20 Virginia has a 21-under 555 total after shooting a 9-under 279 on Saturday. No. 24 Florida State shot 8-under-par 280 Saturday and holds third place at 17-under 559.

All-American James White, winner of this year's Byron Nelson Award as the nation's top senior player, and freshman Anders Albertson each shot 68 for the Yellow Jackets, while Bo Andrews added an even-par 70. Ollie Schniederjans shot a 73 Saturday and did not count for Tech.

If head coach Bruce Heppler's squad can hold its lead Sunday, Tech will have captured four straight ACC crowns, the first for an ACC school since the Yellow Jackets reeled off consecutive titles in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. Tech has led the ACC Championship since the opening round of the 2009 tournament, and has shot the low round of the day in nine of the 11 rounds, and each of the last eight.

"We got off to a little slower start today, but we hung in there and had some guys play really well on the back nine," said Heppler. "James (White) had a good round, and as our senior, he needs too. The younger guys played better yesterday and hung in there today. But so far, everyone is in the game and it is a pretty special round that Richy (Werenski) played. It should be a great day tomorrow."

Werenski, a sophomore from South Hadley, Mass., had seven birdies and a bogey on his card Saturday and moved into the individual lead after the second round of play with a total of 9-under 135. It is his highest standing in an event since he tied for ninth at the fall Carpet Capital Collegiate.Three players are tied at second place with an 8-under 136, including Virginia Tech's Blake Redmond (Sr., Sugarland, Tex.), Wake Forest's Lee Bedford (Sr., Cary, N.C.) and Virginia's Denny McCarthy (Fr., Rockville, Md.). McCarthy fired the low round of the day, a 7-under 65, which also tied the ACC course record with five other players, the most recent was Duke's Adam Long in 2010.

Albertson, a freshman from Woodstock, Ga., who had five birdies and one bogey Saturday, is tied for fifth with two others at 7-under-par 137, while Andrews and White are tied for eighth at 6-under 138. Schniederjans is tied for 11at at 139 (-5).

Florida State remained in third place with a two-day total of 17-under 559. The Seminoles are led by Daniel Berger (Fr., Jupiter, Fla.) who is tied for fifth place at 7-under 137.

Clemson moved up to fourth place with a two-day total of 11-under 565, Duke is at fifth place (567, -9), North Carolina sixth (569, -7), Virginia Tech and Maryland tied for seventh (570, -6), NC State ninth (573, -3), Wake Forest at 10th (574, -2), and Boston College in 11th (598, +22). conclusion of play) on TheACC.com.

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