Bucs currently 19^th, need to move four spots to reach final round play Saturday

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (May 29, 2008) - The ETSU men's golf team improved on its first round score by 13 strokes and moved up three spots on the team leaderboard during Thursday's second round action in the NCAA Championships at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex's Kampen Course.

While the Bucs got a team-best even-par 72 from sophomore Seamus Power (Waterford, Ireland), senior Gareth Shaw (Lisburn, Northern Ireland) also continued his stay at the top of the individual leaderboard with a 1-over 73 to end the day tied for 13^th. As a team, the Bucs moved from a tie for 22^nd to a tie for 19^th heading into Friday's third round, and the team will need to make up seven strokes to earn a spot in the Top 15 and make the cut for Saturday's fourth and final round.
           

"We got off to a really good start and were actually under par as a team after 10 holes," said ETSU head coach Fred Warren. "Unfortunately we lost some shots on the back nine and that will make the hill tougher to climb tomorrow. We know the situation and know we've dug ourselves a hole, but the guys understand that and they'll go out there tomorrow to do their best. That's all we can do."

Clemson currently leads the championships with a score of 13-over 589, one stroke better than UCLA and two strokes ahead of Southern California. On the individual leaderboard, Florida's Billy Horschel stands a 5-under for the event, one stroke better than Clemson's Kyle Stanley.

Shaw, who is playing in his final event as a Buccaneer, said he has been feeling good about his game and hopes the team can come together to make the cut tomorrow and extend his collegiate career by one more round.

"Three years making it to nationals and missing the cut would be disappointing," Shaw said. "I know this could be my final round at ETSU, but I think all the boys want to go out there and make a go of it. We want to make it a memorable round."

Along with Power's 72 and Shaw's 73, senior Cian McNamara (Limerick, Ireland) finished with a 3-over 75 for the Bucs. Meanwhile, the freshman duo of Rhys Enoch (Cornwall, England) and Simon Doherty (Dublin, Ireland) struggled to scores of 80 and 83, respectively.

Already facing a challenge in the final round, Warren said the afternoon weather forecast was looking ominous and would not likely help the Bucs' chances.
           

"It's unfortunately not a good forecast late in the day and that's when we'll be heading out," Warren said. "But it's a tough course on everyone and every team out here has been making mistakes. We just have to play well."

Fans wishing to watch live scoring from the NCAAs may do so by visiting Golfstat.com, while a full wrap up of the day's action will be available at ETSUBucs.com following play.