Wake Forest University are the ACC Men’s Championship winners after they beat Georgia Tech 3-2 in the final on Monday at Shark’s Tooth Golf Course.
The win seals an Irish double as Mark Power joined Lauren Walsh in lifting the ACC Championship after the Castlewarden native sunk the winning putt for the women’s team a fortnight ago.
Power was beaten in his final match but he was celebrating at days end as Alex Fitzpatrick came through a 21-hole thriller to secure the winning point for the Deacs.
After inspiring his team to a dramatic semi-final win over North Carolina, Power was given the responsibility of leading the team out in the decider but things did not go the way of the Kilkenny man.
The 22-year-old was beaten 5&4 by Georgia Tech’s Christo Lamprecht in the top match.
Wake Forest rallied in their next two matches with Parker Gillam and semi-final hero Michael Brennan securing narrow wins before Bartley Forrester eased past Scotty Kennon to level the tie at 2-2.
That queued up a dramatic finale between Fitzpatrick and Benjamin Reuter to decide the destiny of the championship.
Fitzpatrick, the brother of Ryder Cup player Matthew hit the front on the opening hole before doubling his advantage on the sixth.
Reuter halved the deficit on the 11th before Fitzpatrick replied instantly on the 12th to go 2UP again. Birdies on 14 and 17 saw Reuters level the match and force extra holes.
Fitzpatrick came out on top on the third extra hole after the Englishman made a four on the 21st while Reuter could only make a six.
The title is heading home to Winston and it’s a championship double for Wake Forest after the women’s golf team was victorious a fortnight ago.
Leave a comment