Sunday, April 20, 2003

STATESBORO, Ga. (April 20, 2003) - Georgia Southern fired a final round 288 (even-par) on Sunday to claim a two-stroke victory in the 2003 Southern Conference Men's Golf Championships held at the par-72, 6,962-yard Forest Heights Country Club.

GSU outlasted second-place College of Charleston, while third-place East Tennessee State finished 12 strokes back and was denied an opportunity to add to its record 16 SoCon Championships in men's golf. The Bucs finished with a three-day total of 884 (293-296-295).

Individually, ETSU's James Johnson (Barbados) led both the first and second rounds, but the senior struggled on Sunday and fired a 5-over-par 77. Charleston's Bruce McDonald took advantage by shooting a 3-under 69 to win medallist honors. Johnson and Charleston's Adam Grodhaus finished tied for second place at even-par.

As for the rest of the Buccaneers, sophomore Chase Baldwin (Plant City, Fla.) had the best day for any ETSU player, shooting a 2-under 70 to place in a tie for 5th (73-75-70=218 +2). Meanwhile, fellow sophomore Cennydd Mills (Cardiff, Wales) finished tied for 20th (77-74-74=225 +9) and freshman Derek McNamara (Galway, Ireland) ended the event tied for 25th (74-77-75=226 +10). Sophomore Jeremy Hobson (Thonotosassa, Fla.) placed 35th (79-77-76=232).

FINAL RESULTS -- Southern Conference Championships
Forest Heights CC; Statesboro, Ga.
Dates: 04/18 - 04/20 (Today:04-20-2003)
Par: 72; Yardage: 6962

Team Results
Fin.	Teams	Scores
1	Georgia Southern U.	294-290-288=872
2	Charleston, Coll. of	287-299-288=874
3	East Tennessee St.	293-296-295=884
4	Wofford College	291-302-297=890
5	N. Car.- Greensboro	298-299-295=892
6	Furman University	306-297-296=899
7	Davidson College	300-297-307=904
8	Citadel, The	307-307-296=910
9	Tennessee-Chattanoog	309-312-304=925
10	Appalachian State U.	316-304-306=926
11	Western Carolina U.	304-315-311=930

Individual Leaders
Fin.	Players	School	Scores
1	Bruce McDonald	Charleston	72-71-69=212
2	James Johnson	E Tenn. St	69-70-77=216
	Adam Grodhaus	Charleston	71-75-70=216
4	Jake Lowder	NC Greensb	72-73-72=217
5	Aron Price	Ga. South	75-70-73=218
	Chase Baldwin	E Tenn. St	73-75-70=218
	Jon David Kennedy	Ga. South	74-72-72=218
	Daniel Sloan	Wofford	70-78-70=218

ETSU Individual Results
3	East Tennessee St.	293-296-295=884
T 2	James Johnson	69-70-77=216
T 5	Chase Baldwin	73-75-70=218
T 20	Cennydd Mills	77-74-74=225
T 25	Derek Mcnamara	74-77-75=226
36	Jeremy Hobson	79-77-76=232