Sunday, October 10, 2004

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Oct. 10, 2004) - East Tennessee State University sophomore Rhys Davies (Bridgend, Wales) posted a final round 73 and finished with a total score of 7-under-par 208 Sunday, placing himself third on the individual leaderboard and helping power the Buccaneer men's golf team to a fourth place finish in the Franklin Street Partners Invitational at the UNC Finley Golf Course.

Host team North Carolina captured the overall championship in resounding fashion, posting a score of 25-under-par 839. The rest of the top four included Georgia Southern (845), Virginia (859), ETSU (875) and Charlotte (877).

Davies, who led by one stroke heading into final-round play, was attempting to become the first ETSU player to win an individual tournament title since Chris Wisler captured the 2000 BellSouth Invitational. Instead, Georgia Southern's David Palm captured the championship by one stroke over UNC's Martin Ureta.

ETSU head coach Fred Warren said he was proud of Davies' efforts.

"This was Rhys' first tournament of the year and I think he played extremely well," said Warren, who noted Davies' first two rounds of 67 and 69. "I think Rhys obviously has a bright future."

As for the rest of the Bucs, fellow sophomore Stephen Arnold (Langhorne, Pa.) continued to play well and finished 19^th at 2-over for the tournament. In addition, freshman Cian McNamara (Limerick, Ireland) finished tied for 27^th, senior Cennydd Mills (Cardiff, Wales) placed tied for 31^st, and freshman Gareth Shaw (Lisburn, Northern Ireland) ended the event tied for 43^rd.

The Bucs will return to action on Monday, Oct. 18 in the UT Tournament of Champions in Knoxville.

Franklin Street Partners Men's Invitational

UNC Finley Golf Course
Chapel Hill, NC
Men's Championship
Dates: Oct 08 - Oct 10
Third Round - Sunday