Friday, May 20, 2005

            KINGSTON SPRINGS, Tenn. (May 20, 2005) - Heading into the final day of play at the NCAA East Regional, the East Tennessee State University men's golf team is in good position as it vies for a spot in the NCAA Championships.

Thanks in great part to sophomore Rhys Davies (Bridgend, Wales), who currently leads on the individual leaderboard with a score of 11-under par 131 (66-65), the Bucs finished the first two rounds of play at the Golf Club of Tennessee Friday with a score of 2-under par 566 (281-285). That score put ETSU in sixth place by one stroke over Alabama, and the Bucs trail first-place Wake Forest by 12 strokes. Davies leads Duke's Michael Schachner by one stroke for the individual championship.

"It was solid, but it wasn't great," said ETSU head coach Fred Warren, whose team is trying to make its 11^th trip to the NCAAs in 19 seasons under his direction. "It could have been better, but it could have been worse also. Sixth is a good place to be, but we're only four strokes out of 11^th and that's what you have to be concerned with."

The top 10 teams following Saturday's final round will receive bids to the NCAA Championships, while the other 17 teams in the event will see their seasons come to an end.

Davies' efforts so far only reinforce what has been a record-setting 2004-05 season for the Welshman. The sophomore already holds the ETSU record for individual championships with five victories this year, while also enjoying a total of 12 sub-70 rounds. The nation's third-ranked player, Davies also finds himself in good position for at least an individual invitation to the NCAAs.

"The top 10 teams and the two (individual low scorers) from the remaining teams make the NCAAs," Warren said. "Obviously, Rhys played well and continues to be very consistent for us."

Other notable ETSU results at present include freshmen Cian McNamara (Limerick, Ireland) and Gareth Shaw (Lisburn, Northern Ireland). McNamara is currently 1-under and tied for 24^th, while Shaw is 1-over and tied for 39^th.

The NCAA East Regional will continue with third and final round play scheduled for Saturday. For up-to-date results from the event, click on the LIVE STATISTICS link provided under the Info Center on the men's golf home page located at ETSUBucs.com.

NCAA East Regional
Golf Club of Tennessee (Kingston Springs, Tenn.)
May 19-21, 2005; Par: 71, Yardage: 6864
Friday - Second Round
Team Leader Board

Player Leader Board