Two consecutive 7-over-par rounds to start off the ACC Championships proved to be too much to overcome for N.C. State, as its four-under on the final day could only lift the team to a seventh-place finish.
Just three teams had a score lower than the final-round 284 the Wolfpack fired, but nonetheless it could not dig them out of the hole already created, and it resulted in the lowest finish in the ACC Championships since State finished seventh in 1997.
Sophomore Nathan Spoon led all Pack golfers competing in New London, N.C., at the Old North State Club, finishing 1-under par for the tournament. Spoon had a solid final round with just one bogey and two birdies.
Spoon was one of just 11 participants to finish under par, and tied for ninth on the leaderboard.
For senior Garry Hill, his final ACC Championship was also his worst. Hill finished with an 11-over score for the tournament, but he salvaged some of that on what was an eventful final day.
“Nothing changed about the course, and normally the final day is the hardest day. I didn’t play much different than what I did the first couple days,” Hill said. “I holed a couple of putts, which made a difference. And that’s pretty much what it came down to. There wasn’t that big of a difference if you can believe it.”
In the final round alone, Hill had three bogeys, five birdies and an eagle to card the best one-round score of any State golfer in the tournament with a 4-under 68.
Fellow senior Jerry Richardson had a similar experience. Richardson had never shot worse than 3-over at any previous ACC Championship, but couldn’t stay below par — wrapping up with a score of 9-over par.
The experience wasn’t pleasant for a group that figured to do well and had done so in the past. In the three previous years, State had finished no lower than fourth.
“We were expecting more obviously, it’s a bit disappointing. We finished very well today considering. We had a great day today so we look at it as a positive event,” Hill said.
Entering the ACC Championship, players said they knew they needed a strong performance in order to make the trip back to NCAA Regionals. But by finishing in the lower half of the league, the chances look dim.
“I don’t think it’s looking very good. If we get to Regionals, it’ll pretty much be a surprise,” Hill said. “We’re not expecting to get in — I’ll put it to you that way. It’ll be great if we do, but it’s not looking good unfortunately.”
Sophomore Andrew Byrd finished in the top 20 with a 2-over-par performance, and sophomore Chase Duncan finished 5-over to round out the Pack’s golfers.
Virginia Tech, one of just five unranked ACC teams, moved into a tie for first, as an impressive 9-under team score on the final day shot them to the top of the leaderboard. The Hokies and Georgia Tech were declared co-champions.
