Tuesday, March 06, 2001

Johnson City, Tenn. -- East Tennessee State senior Patrick Beste earned medalist honors in the Birkdale Collegiate Classic and led the Bucs to a five-shot victory at the Birkdale Golf Course in Huntersville, N.C.

The final round of the classic, set for Tuesday, was cancelled due to high winds and temperatures in the low 30’s.

As a team, ETSU fired a two-round, three-under par 573 (290-283), to win by five strokes over second-place Wake Forest University. Their second-round score set a team record for a round at the Birkdale Golf Course.

Beste carded a two-round 138 (70-68). His second round score missed the course record by three strokes.

All five of ETSU’s players finished in the top-14. Sophomores James Johnson (73-71--144) and Thomas Lee (73-71--144) tied for fourth. Johnson notched an eagle while Lee led the event with a -4 on par-4 holes. Senior Chris Wisler (71-76--147) tied for 10th while sophomore Adam Riddering (75-73--148) tied for 14th.

The victory is the Buccaneers first of the season and the first since winning the 2000 Southern Conference Championship from Lexington, Va. Beste also earned his last medalist honor in the 2000 SoCon Championships.

The Buccaneers return to action on March 24-25 as they compete in the Schenkel E-Z Go Invitational from Statesboro, Ga.