Hokie golf drives home ACC championship
Charles R. Barrineau, CT Staff Writer
April 25, 2007
The Virginia Tech golf team won its first Atlantic Coast Conference co-championship Sunday, shooting a final-round 279 to tie the No. 13 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
"Winning was really insignificant," said head coach Jay Hardwick. "For the players to be able to compete was the important thing, and I was so proud of them to be able to do that. The special thing about winning is that it helps the healing back here on campus."
The tournament was held at the Old North State Club at Uwharrie, a 7,102-yard par-72 private golf course on Badin Lake.
The Hokies' nine-under-par round Sunday was their best of the tournament. In fact, the team's overall score got better each day of the championship. Tech shot a 10-under-par 854.
"I think if you looked at all the scores they got better; that's not atypical of college tournaments," Hardwick said. "We played well; guys just seemed to step it up. You get familiar with the golf course. It didn't play any easier, certainly. We did have better weather the second and third day than we did the first day · It was just an unbelievable last day, last nine holes and last hole."
The team co-championship marks Virginia Tech's first conference title since 2003 when it was in the Big East.
Virginia Tech's Ryan Sypniewski finished the three-round event with a six-under-par- 210, good for a tie for third place in the individual standings. He shot a - 4 (68), +3 (75) and a final round -5 (67).
"I wish I'd been one shot better," Sypniewski said jokingly. "It meant a lot thinking it was senior year, but more so knowing that when the team needed me I was able to put my best golf together."
For its efforts in the ACC Championship, the golf team was named the team of the week by Golfweek magazine.
"It's nice, we've got some good politicking in now don't we," Sypniewski said. "We got an opportunity and we're kind of making a name for ourselves. Hopefully it will help the team out in the future as well."
Despite the accolades, the team will have to wait until May 7 to find out if it qualifies for the NCAA Tournament.
"We're going to approach it as if we're going to be in it; it's the only way we can approach it, Īcause we've got to prepare," Hardwick said. "Obviously, I feel good about it. I think we're an excellent golf program. I think we can compete with anyone."
If the Hokies are selected to the 81 team NCAA field, they will play in one of three regional sites, with the closest being at the Golf Club of Georgia in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta.