Unproven: WFU golf team will have a different look

Coach Jerry Haas of the Wake Forest men's golf team calls this season one of his most challenging.

There's no real star of the team after the graduation of Webb Simpson and Chris McCartin, but Haas is hoping that one of his returning players can step into that role. Two possibilities are junior Brendan Gielow, who won the Northeast Amateur this summer and qualified for the U.S. Amateur, and senior Dustin Groves.

Gielow and Groves give Haas plenty of experience, but after that there are plenty of unknowns.

Gielow, who is from Muskegon, Mich., was the first player in the 47-year history of the prestigious Northeast Amateur to shoot under par in all four rounds (68-66-67-66). In Golfweek's preseason All-America team Gielow was a second-team selection.

The Deacons will open the season on Friday at the Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic in Rocky Face, Ga.

"We might not look as good on paper as in year's past, but I think we can be a really good team and that's the key," Haas said. "I just think that we'll have to be more of a team than in past years."

Haas, who is in his 12th season, said that without Simpson or McCartin there won't be as much room for error. He hopes that because of that the Deacons will create a sense of urgency in every tournament.

"Golf's a funny game and sometimes guys can really step up and show what they can do when there isn't a lot expected," Haas said.

The Deacons are ranked 20th by GolfWorld in its preseason rankings, but fared better in Golfweek with a preseason ranking of 15.

"I saw that ranking in GolfWorld and that sounds about right but I really think we can be much better than that," Haas said. "It's going to come down to who is the most consistent for us."

Last week Haas put his team through four rounds of qualifying to see who will be in the starting lineup for this week's opening tournament. Gielow and Groves were definitely in the starting lineup but the other three spots could be interchangeable all season.

Travis Wadkins, who was in the starting lineup late last spring and in the regional and the NCAA Championship, had some solid rounds last season. Haas also said that junior Marc Gladson, who redshirted last season because of a knee injury, is back and he has some experience.

Last season the Deacons had two wins and finished in the top five six times. One of their wins was the NCAA East Regional in which Gielow tied for second. He was second on the team behind Simpson in stroke average (72.7) last season.

"Brendan had a great summer and we're looking for him to really be a strength for us," Haas said.

Among the freshmen, Lee Bedford and Daniel Meggs have played solid since practice began and they will get chances to be in the starting lineup.

Haas said he has a deep roster, which is always helpful.

"It's going to be interesting to see how everything shakes out," Haas said. "We've got the makings of a good team and I just hope they all have the fire and the desire to improve each and every day."

Stone gets another ace

Bermuda Run's Charlie Stone, 69, has a knack for making a hole-in-one at least once a decade.

He has five career aces, with each of them being spread out over the last five decades.

"I guess I was running out of years in this decade but it finally happened," said Stone, who made a hole-in-one last week at Oak Valley's 16th hole. "I guess it's kind of noteworthy because I've had a hole-in-one in the 1960s, '70s,'80s,'90s and now this decade."

Stone, a 1961 graduate of N.C. State who played on the golf team, has trouble remembering all of his aces but remembers the first one pretty well.

In 1963 he made his first hole-in-one at Shamrock Golf Course in Burlington.

This latest ace came on the 165-yard 16th hole at Oak Valley. Stone's playing partners were J.C. Martin, Bob Owen and Bob Sharp.

Stone, a former engineer for Western Electric who has been retired since 1988, plays about three times a week. He is a 5 handicap who carries his bag every time he plays, choosing not to use a cart. "I love walking even when it's hot," he said.

As for his latest hole-in-one, he won a little money from his playing partners, but said: "It wasn't enough to cover the expenses." He was referring to the tradition of buying drinks in the clubhouse after making a hole-in-one.

Stone said he's looking forward to the challenge of continuing his streak.

"I guess I'll have to try for another one but that's the thing about them you never know when it might happen," Stone said.

Around the green

The players competing in the 47th Carolinas Senior Amateur this week will get a treat playing at Roaring Cap Club, one of the most underrated courses in the state. Defending champion Paul Simson of Raleigh is expected to compete with 240 others who are 55 or older. Also expected to play are former champions Bob Stringer of Blythewood, S.C., Vic Hannon of Camden, S.C., Gene Spencer of Blythewood, S.C., Larry Boswell of Jamestown and Bob Kulp of Winston-Salem, who won the tournament in 2001. The tournament will begin at the Donald Ross-designed course on Thursday….

The Executive Women's Golf Association, an organization that provides women a chance to play the game, has revamped its Web site. The new look at the Web site at www.ewga.com features free tips on linking business with golf, and it has a listing of more than 200 courses that provide discounts to members. There are more than 125 chapters of the EWGA throughout the country….

The Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn will be held this week in Hickory and one of the many stories is the season-long race for the Charles Schwab Cup. Heading into the tournament Jay Haas leads Bernhard Langer and Fred Funk by 98 points. Haas and Funk are in this week's field.

■ John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or at jdell@wsjournal.com.