Oct. 9, 2007
2007 Brickyard Collegiate Championship Team Results
2007 Brickyard Collegiate Championship Individual Results
PHOTO GALLERY
MACON, Ga. - Proving that they deserve their top 50 ranking, the 45th ranked Kennesaw State men's golf team culminated their climb up the leaderboard with a fifth place finish Tuesday at the inaugural Brickyard Collegiate Championship hosted by Mercer University at the par-72, 7,155-yard Brickyard at Riverside golf course.
Kennesaw State fell only to perennial golf powers as UGA, Clemson, Georgia Tech and South Carolina claimed the first four spots respectively. The Bulldogs and the Tigers have each won a national title in the past five years and the Gamecocks (4) and the Yellow Jackets (7) are both currently ranked in the top 10 nationally.
"After a disappointing first round, we needed to get our heads on straight and go to work so I am very proud of the way we came back to finish fifth," said Kennesaw State head coach Blake Smart on his team's resiliency. "A top five finish in such a great field is a testament to our men's desire to compete and we are starting to realize that we are good enough to play with the top tier schools."
The Owls, who posted a two-under par final round 286, were led by Michael Tulacz's fifth place individual finish. The 12th-ranked junior earned his second top five finish of the season after firing the day's second-lowest round (67) to finish fifth, only three strokes behind tournament champion Harris English of UGA who was playing as an individual.
"I think this tournament shows that we are a top 50 caliber team, especially our play over the final two rounds," said Tulacz on the Owls effort at the Brickyard. "Outscoring South Carolina the final two rounds was very satisfying."
Tulacz dropped in 12 birdies, an eagle and only five bogeys in 54-holes at the Brickyard to finish nine-under (207) for the tournament. Tulacz had his way with the frontside throughout the tournament, finishing a total of seven-under par for the first nine holes including recording three consecutive birdies on holes six, seven and eight on Tuesday.
"I am pleased with my start to the season, and I just want to keep the same momentum going for the rest of the fall and into the spring," added Tulacz. "Helping the team reach the postseason is mine and everyone else's goal. "
"Michael played great and hung in there to beat some of the best players in the country and to earn his top five finish," added Smart on Tulacz's play. "As good as he is playing right now, I still believe he has room to progress but he is very close to breaking out and really going nuts."
Wesley Sheard put together another solid day, posting a one-over par 73 to finish in a tie for 30th. Sheard finished the final round on a strong note, combining a pair of bogeys with birdies on the 11th and 12th for an even-par 36 on his final nine holes.
Chris Johnson also rode the momentum of an under-par second round into the final day, birdying his last two holes and completing his back nine in 33 to post an even-par 72. The junior from Glynn Academy in Brunswick, Ga., moved up nearly 20 spots to finish in a tie for 56th after finding himself in last place after the opening round.
"While I didn't have my best game, I was able to find a way to grind the last two rounds and contribute to the team effort," said Johnson on his ability to come back after a rough start.
Bryan Alred played the Owls other low round on Tuesday, posting a 74 to finish in a tie for 49th at +10. Oliver West played consistently but couldn't recover from two costly double bogeys and posted a final round 76 to finish in a tie for 59th, one stroke behind Alred.
The Owls bested No. 26 Middle Tennessee State (8th) by 14 strokes and conference rival and tournament host Mercer (11th) by 31.
Kennesaw State hopes that the momentum carries over as they return home for less than a week of practice before returning to the road to participate in the Mizuno Southbridge Intercollegiate in Savannah Ga. The tournament, hosted by Georgia Southern University, will be held at the 6,922-yard, par-72 Southbridge Golf Club on October 15-16.
