Tulane University
NCAA East Regional
Wheeler, Thompson, Continue Strong Play at NCAA East Regional
May 20, 2005 | Men's Golf
May 20, 2005
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In a long day at the NCAA East Regional, Tulane's Chris Wheeler and Michael Thompson each shot two-under par 69 at the Golf Club of Tennessee to keep their hopes of earning a spot in the NCAA Championships alive heading into Saturday's final round. Both golfers were forced to complete the first round, which had been delayed by rain, prior to starting the second 18.
The Top 10 teams and top two individuals who are not members of one of the qualifying teams will advance to the NCAA Championships June 1-4 at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md. Wheeler's current score puts him in a group of three players who would play off for that final individual spot with plenty of golf left to be played Saturday.
Wheeler, a senior from Allen, Texas, finished his opening round Friday morning by completing a two-under 69 before heading back out on the course and coming in with the same score for the second round. Wheeler's 36-hole score of four-under par 138 is good for a tie for 13th. He carded four birdies and a pair of bogeys in his second round after finishing the first round with identical totals.
Thompson finds himself tied for 17th, in a group that is one stroke behind Wheeler entering the final round after pairing his first round 70 with a two-under par 69 Friday afternoon. The sophomore's second round included five birdies, a bogey and a double bogey.
Tulane head coach Tom Shaw said both of his golfers are playing well.
"Neither of them are doing anything spectacular," he said. "They are putting themselves in position to make birdies and are dropping some putts. Michael is going to make enough birdies to offset his bogeys and Chris has been very steady."
Rhys Davies of East Tennessee State leads the individual standings with a score of 11-under 131 after rounds of 66 and 65. He leads Michael Schachner of Duke, who fired 69-63, by one stroke. A quintet of players are at eight-under par 134.
Shaw, who watched his all-conference pair lead Tulane throughout the season, is enjoying taking his first golfers to Regionals as the Green Wave head coach.
"This is pretty easy for me, I'm just watching at this point," Shaw said. "Both Michael and Chris are where we wanted to be at the beginning of the week. They're both in position to have a solid round tomorrow and advance to the NCAA Championships, but they can't shoot even par and expect to make it."
Thompson and Wheeler are scheduled to be paired together for the final round Saturday and will tee off between 9:00 and 9:10 a.m. (Central).
Fans can follow the NCAA East Regional results live on the internet at www.golfstat.com.
-- Roll Wave --
