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2003-04 Laker Season

Clayton State golfers place 11th at
season-opening Kiawah Island Invitational
 

Kiawah Island, SC --- September 8, 2004 --- Playing in harsh conditions due to the remnants of Hurricane Frances, the Clayton College & State University men’s golf team finished 11th in the season-opening Kiawah Island Invitational in Kiawah Island, S.C. Tuesday. 

The Clayton State team shot a first round score of 343 on Monday, followed by a 355 on the second day in the inaugural event, hosted by the University of South Carolina Aiken. at the 6,887-yard, par 72 Cougar Point Golf Course. 

Defending national champion and Peach Belt Conference opponent USC-Aiken ran away with the event, shooting a second round score of 299, the only team round under 300 for the tournament. The Pacers were tied with the University of North Carolina Pembroke after the first day with rounds of 308. 

UNCP was the runner-up after a second round of 319, while Georgia College & State University finished third after rounds of 316 and 312. 

Sophomore Matt Beall (Newnan, GA) had the low finish for the Lakers, tying for 16th after rounds of 81 and 77. Andrew Dagneau (Kit chener, Canada) tied for 42nd with two rounds of 85, followed by junior Steve Sanders (Snellville, GA), finishing 53rd with rounds of 85 and 90. Freshman Sebastian Sevillano (Cali, Colombia) placed 54th after rounds of 92 and 103. 

USC-Aiken’s Scott Brown and James Browning tied for low medalist honors with three-over par scores of 147 for the two rounds. Browning shot a tourney best 69 in the final round, the only round under 70 for the tournament. 

Clayton State will return to action on Sept. 20-21 in the Johnny Palmer/Old North State Invitational at the Old North State Golf Club in Badin, N.C. 

---LAKERS---


 

Francis Marion wins 2004 Peach Belt Conference Championship, six shots ahead of USC Aiken

Jonesboro, GA --- April 20, 2004 --- Defending NCAA Division II national champion and first day leader Francis Marion University shot a final round 297 Tuesday to capture the 2004 Peach Belt Conference Golf Championship held at Lake Spivey Golf Club in Jonesboro, GA. 

Leading by seven strokes after Monday’s play, ninth-ranked FMU shot a 9-over par in the final round to finish six shots ahead of sixth-ranked the University of South Carolina Aiken. USC-Aiken, the 2003 PBC champion, made a final round charge to finish second (308-304-294), carding the low round of the tournament, a six-over par 294. 

The Peach Belt Conference Championship is the third league title for Francis Marion in the 13 years of the event after winning the championship in 1999 and 2001. Before today’s round of 297, the Patriots fired rounds of 305 and 298, en route to the title. 

Fifth-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University, who entered the final round in second place, shot a third round score of 298 to finish third (307-303-298), two shots behind USCA. 

Armstrong Atlantic junior Chris Epperson took low medalist honors in the event after shooting a one-under par 71 in the final round to finish with a three-under par score of 213 (72-70-71) on the par-72 6,815 yard course. Trailing by one shot after Monday’s play, Georgia College & State University junior Carter Collins shot a 5-over par 77 to finish in second place at four-par 220 (72-71-77). 

The Francis Marion duo of senior Fredrik Ohlsson and sophomore Luke Hart tied for third place with a six-over par score of 222. USCA sophomore Dane Burkhart and FMU sophomore Battle Hartman tied for the fifth position with eight-over par scores of the 224. The top five finishers in the tournament were named to the 2004 PBC All-Tournament team. 

Behind AASU in the team scores, GC&SU finished fourth with rounds of 305, 305 and 310, followed by Kennesaw State University in fifth after rounds of 313, 299 and 310. 

The University of North Carolina Pembroke finished sixth with rounds of 311, 307 and 313, followed by Columbus State University in seventh after rounds of 312, 313 and 309. Host Clayton College & State University finished eighth after rounds of 322, 320 and 319.     

Individually for Clayton State, freshman Matt Beall (Newnan, GA) led Clayton State tying for 27th after rounds of 78, 75 and 81. Senior Jess Shirley (Newnan, GA) shot rounds of 82, 78 and 75 and tied for 27th, followed by sophomore Jason Armour (Raymond, IL) placing 35th after rounds of 82, 83 and 80.

Sophomore Jimmy Beebe (Peachtree City, GA) finished in 37th after rounds of 80, 84 and 86, followed by sophomore Steven Sanders (Snellville, GA) in 38th after rounds of 82, 86 and 83.



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Clayton State to host 13th annual Peach Belt Conference Golf Championships April 18-20 at Lake Spivey 

Morrow, NC --- April 16, 2004 --- Several of the top NCAA Division II men’s golf teams will tee off Sunday thru Tuesday at Lake Spivey Golf Club, as Clayton College & State University will host the 13th annual Peach Belt Conference men’s golf Championship at the course in Jonesboro, GA. 

Host Clayton State along with seven other Peach Belt schools will compete for the championship title. Teams will begin on Sunday with a practice round, followed by playing two 18-hole rounds on Monday, and the final 18-hole round on Tuesday. Play begins Monday with a “shotgun” start at 8 a.m. and on Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. 

In addition to Clayton State, other teams in the tournament will be Armstrong Atlantic State University, Columbus State University, Francis Marion University, Georgia College & State University, Kennesaw State University, the University of North Carolina Pembroke and the University of South Carolina Aiken. 

The tournament features several of the top programs in the country with five of the schools ranked in the top 25 in the nation.  Armstrong State is ranked fourth in the country, followed by USC Aiken at sixth, Francis Marion, ninth; GC&SU, 16th; and Columbus State, 23rd

Armstrong State, who tied enters as the tournament favorite in only their fourth year of play, having won five tournaments this season, including a stretch of four straight tournament victories earlier this month. 2003 All-PBC player Thomas Whittaker leads the Pirates with five top-five individual finishes this year, including low medallist honors at the Amoco Intercollegiate. He led the conference with a 72.86 stroke average. 

USC Aiken, who has won the last two Peach Belt Conference titles and captured five conference championships in the PBC’s 13-year history, is also one of the favorites with six runner-up tournament finishes this year. USCA’s Dane Burkhart leads the Pacers with two individual wins this year and has the conference’s third lowest scoring average. 

Francis Marion, who won the 1999 and 2001 titles, will be gunning for its third conference trophy after winning the NCAA Division II National Championship last year, an indication of the conference’s strength, as the Patriots placed fourth in the 2003 PBC Championship. 2003 All-PBC player Fredrick Ohlsson leads the Patriots with one victory and one runner-up finish this year along with league’s second lowest scoring average. 

GC&SU and Columbus State are also both nationally ranked and cannot be overlooked. GC&SU is coming off a second place finish in the Valdosta State Invitational earlier this month and had three runner-up finishes this year. The Bobcats, led by Carter Collins, have won two straight tournaments. Four-time conference champion Columbus State has four top-five team finishes this year. 

UNC Pembroke and Kennesaw State, who tied for second last year, have also played well at times this year. UNCP has one tournament victory and a runner-up finish, while the Owls have three top-five finishes. 

Clayton State enters the tournament, coming off two of its top tournaments, placing 11th in the UNCP Invitational and ninth at the Rendleman Invitational. The Lakers are led by senior Jess Shirley, whose top individual finish this year was a third place at Rendleman tournament. 

---LAKERS---


 

 Clayton State places 10th at Carolina Sands Intercollegiate; to host PBC Championships April 19-20  

Whitelake, NC --- April 5, 2004 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s golf team shot rounds of 309 and 308 to place 10th in the Carolina Sands Intercollegiate Saturday and Sunday at Carolina Sands Golf Club in White Lake, NC. 

Presbyterian College won the 14-team tournament, shooting rounds of 293 and 295 on the par-72, 6,925 yard course. Peach Belt Conference opponent the University of South Carolina Aiken placed second, one shot back, followed by Pfeiffer University, seven strokes behind. 

Freshman Matt Beall (Newnan, GA) and sophomore Jimmy Beebe (Peachtree City, GA) were the top finishers for the Lakers tying for 20th in the event. Beall had rounds of 75 and 76, while Beebe finished with rounds of 78 and 73. 

Senior Jess Shirley tied for 49th with rounds of 75 and 82, while sophomore Steve Sanders (Snellville, GA) tied for 58th with rounds of 81 and 78. Sophomore Jason Armour tied for 74th with rounds of 82 and 81. 

Presbyterian’s Jimi Brindell took home low medallist honors, shooting a two-under par 142 for the event with rounds of 72 and 70. Aiken’s Scott Brown placed second with rounds of 71 and 73 to finish even par. 

The Lakers will return to action on April 19-20 in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. CCSU will host the conference event at the Lake Spivey Golf Club in Jonesboro, GA.  

---LAKERS---


Clayton State golfers finish 15th at Bobcat Invitational; to play in Carolina Sands Intercollegiate April 3-4 

Eatonton, GA --- March 30, 2004 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s golf team shot a third-round score of 323 on Tuesday and placed 15th in the Bobcat Invitational at the Golf Club at Cuscowilla in Eatonton, GA. 

Peach Belt Conference opponent and first day leader Armstrong Atlantic State University won the event with a third round score of 284, giving the club a 855 total, 12 strokes better than second place finisher Carson-Newman College. 

The University of West Florida placed third in the event one stroke behind Carson-Newman. The Lakers finished with a team score of 970 after team rounds of 330, 307 and 323 on the par-70 6,847-yard course. 

Senior Jess Shirley (Newnan, GA) had the top performance for the Lakers tying for 63rd with rounds of 80, 77 and 77. Freshman Matt Beall (Newnan, GA) placed 71st with rounds of 78, 76 and 84, followed sophomore Jimmy Beeebe (Peachtree City, GA) in 74th with rounds of 83, 80 and 78. 

Sophomore Steve Sanders (Snellville, GA) finished 77th with rounds of 93, 76 and 84, followed by freshman Jason Adams (Carrollton, GA) is in 78th place with rounds 89, 78 and 94. 

Carter Collins, off host Georgia College & State University’s squad, birdied the second play-off hole to break a three-way tie with AASU’s Thomas Whittaker and Carson Newman’s Josh Coley to take home individual medallist honors. He finished with rounds of 70, 69 and 73 to finish 2-over par.

Clayton State will return to action on April 3-4 in the Carolina Sands Intercollegiate at the Carolina Sands Golf Course in Whitelake, N.C.

---LAKERS---


Clayton State’s Shirley places third in 2004 Richard Rendleman Invit.; Laker golfers finish 9th  

Salisbury, NC --- March 9, 2004 --- Clayton College & State University’s Jess Shirley fired a 1-over par 143 to tie for third in the 2004 Richard Rendleman Invitational Tuesday at the Country Club of Salisbury in Salisbury, NC. 

Shirley, a senior, (Newnan, GA) shot a 1-under par 70 in the second round of the event, after shooting a 2-over par 73 on the first day. He finished four shots off the lead and his round of 70 was the third best round of the tournament. Carson-Newman’s Matthew Cram-Smith won low-medalist honors with a three-under par 139 on the par-71, 6,665 yard course. 

As a team, the Lakers finishe 9th in the 14-team event with a two-round team score of 616. Carson-Newman won the tournament with a two-round score 582, followed by Peach Belt Conference opponent the University of North Carolina Pembroke at 595. Defending NCAA Division II national champion and PBC foe Francis Marion University rounded out to the top three with a score of 601. 

Behind Shirley’s two-round total, which ranked in the top-10 all-time at Clayton State, freshman Matt Beall (Newnan, GA) tied for 39th with rounds of 75 and 79. Senior Sergio Prieto (Manizales, Colombia) tied for 42nd with rounds of 79 and 76, followed by sophomore Steve Sanders (Snellville, GA) tying for 71st with rounds of 85 and 79. Sophomore Jimmy Beebe (Peachtree City, GA) tied for 78th with rounds of 89 and 84. 

The Lakers will return to action on March 29-30, playing in the Bobcat Invitational, hosted by Georgia College & State University at the Golf Club at Cuscowilla in Greensboro, GA.

---LAKERS---


Clayton State golfer place 15th at Outback Intercollegiate

Panama City FL, --- March 11, 2004 --- The Clayton College & State University men's golf team shot rounds of 335 and  347 to place 15th in the Outback Intercollegiate at the Hombre Golf Course in Panama City, FL. West Florida was the only team to post a sub-300 score in the two-round event, winning with rounds of 296 and 303. 

Freshman Matt Beall (Newnan, GA) led the Lakers, tying for 45th in the event with rounds of 80 and 85. Senior Jess Shirley (Newnan, GA) finished 52nd with rounds of 77 and 90. 

Sophomore Jason Armour (Raymond, IL) tied for 57th with rounds of 86 and 84, followed by sophomore Steven Sanders (Snellville, GA), tying for 70th with rounds of 92 and 88. Freshman Jason Adams (Carrollton, GA) rounded out the scoring for Clayton State with rounds of 99 and 93. 

Individually, the University of South Carolina Aiken's Dane Burkhart won low medalist  honors with rounds of 74 and 69. 

Clayton State will return to action on March 7-9 in the Richard Rendleman Invitational at the Country Club of Salisbury in Salisbury, N.C. 


Clayton State golfers finish 15th at
North Shore Intercollegiate
 

Sneeds, Ferry, NC --- The Clayton College & State University men’s golf team shot its two best rounds of the fall season Monday and Tuesday to finish 15th in the North Shore Pfieffer Intercollegiate at North Shore Beach and Golf Course in Sneeds Ferry, NC. 

The Lakers shot a round of 302 on Monday, followed by shooting a 298 on Tuesday on the par-72, 6,866-yard course. Peach Belt Conference’s Armstrong Atlantic State University won the event with rounds of 279 and 295 by one stroke over Guilford College. 

Senior Jess Shirley (Newnan, GA) had the top finish for the Lakers, shooting a two-over par 146 after shooting rounds of 73 on consecutive days. Shirley tied for 28th in the event. 

Sophomore Jason Armour (Raymond, IL) tied for 55th in the tournament with rounds of 76 and 74, followed by freshman Matt Beall (Newnan, GA) tying for 59th with rounds of 78 and 73. 

Freshman Jason Adams (Carrollton, GA) rounded out the scoring for Clayton State with rounds of 75 and 78, tying for 71st. Senior Sergio Prieto (Manizales, Colombia) tied 97th with rounds of 81 and 83.  

Individually, Nova Southeastern University’s Josh Green shot a second round 67 on Tuesday to receive low medallist honors with a two-round score of six-under par 138. The tournament concludes the fall season for the Clayton State team. 

---LAKERS---


Clayton State golfers finish 19th in Presbyterian Intercollegiate Tuesday

 CLINTON, SC --- The Clayton College & State University men’s golf team shot a round of 312, its lowest round of the season and 12 strokes better than its opening round score to place 19th in the Presbyterian Intercollegiate at Musgrove Mill Golf Course in Clinton, S.C. Tuesday. 

Coker College outlasted two other teams in a three-team playoff to win the 11th annual golf tournament held at the par 72, 6,680-yard course. 

Clayton State sophomore Jason Armour (Raymond, IL) had the top finish for the Lakers, tying for 81st with rounds of 77 and 82, followed by senior Jess Shirley (Newnan, GA) tied for 84th with rounds of 81 and 79. 

Freshman Matt Beall (Newnan, GA) and freshman Jason Adams (Carrollton, GA) tied for 89th in the event with rounds of 81 and 80 and 85 and 76, respectively. Adams’ second round score of 76 was the team’s lowest round of the tournament. Senior Sergio Prieto (Manizales, Colombia) tied 94th with rounds of 89 and 77.  

Coker won the team title in a in a playoff with defending Division II national champion Francis Marion University and Carson-Newman College after all three schools shot 587 for the two-day tournament. Francis Marion was eliminated from the playoff on the first hole after shooting even par as a team while the Cobras and Eagles both shot two-under par. Coker won the tournament by shooting one-under-par on the second playoff hole. 

Individually, Catawba College's Steven Harvey won the individual title with a two-round score of 6-under par 138, followed by Armstrong Atlantic State's Jonathan Cox and Belmont Abbey’s Ryan Bates tied for second at 3-under par 141.

 Clayton State will return to action on October 20-21 in the North Shore/Pfeiffer Intercollegiate at the North Shore Country Club in Sneads, Ferry, N.C.

---LAKERS---


 Clayton State golfers in 19th place after
first round of Presbyterian Intercollegiate
 

Clinton, SC --- October 6, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s golf team shot a team score of 324 on Monday and is tied for 19th place after the first round of the Presbyterian Intercollegiate at Musgrove Mill Golf Course in Clinton, S.C. 

Clayton State sophomore Jason Armour (Raymond, IL) had the top round for the Lakers and is tied for 19th, shooting a 5-over par 77 on the 6,680 yard, par-72 course. Peach Belt Conference rival the University of North Carolina Pembroke leads the event at even par 288, one shot ahead of Georgia College & State University. 

Behind Armour’s 77, senior Jess Shirley (Newnan, GA) and freshman Matt Beall (Newnan, GA) are both tied for 82nd with rounds of 81. Freshman Jason Adams (Carrollton, GA) is tied for 96th with a round of 85, followed by senior Sergio Prieto (Manizales, Colombia) tied for 103rd after a round of 89. 

UNC Pembroke’s Mark Long leads the event after shooting a 4-under par 68 in the first round. Nova Southeastern’s Stephen Conrad, GC&SU’s Johan Cronvall and UNCP’s Greg Dobbins all are one shot back at 3-under par 69.

 The final round of the 36-hole tournament will be played on Tuesday.

  

---LAKERS---  


Shirley fires 73 in final round of AFLAC/Cougar
Invit.; Lakers tie for 14th in the event

 Columbus, GA --- September 30, 2003 --- Clayton College & State University’s Jess Shirley shot a final round score of two-over par 73 on Tuesday and rallied to finish tied for 15th in AFLAC/Cougar Invitational at the Country of Columbus in Columbus, GA.

 Shirley’s round of 73 tied for the third best round of the day and came on the heels of two rounds of 78 to give him a three-round total of 229 on the par-71, 6,515-yard course. As a team, Clayton State tied for 14th in the event with a three-round score of 970 (324-323-323).

 Defending NCAA Division II National Champion Francis Marion overcame a three stroke deficit entering the final round today and shot a tournament low, team round of 293 to win by 10 strokes. Armstrong State, the first round leader, placed second with a team score of 908, followed by host Columbus State at 909.

 Behind Shirley (Newnan, GA), freshman Matthew Beall (Newnan, GA) tied for 62nd with rounds of 81, 78 and 86, followed by sophomore Jason Armour (Raymond, IL) tied for 65th with rounds of 81, 86 and 79.

 Senior Sergio Prieto (Manizales, Colombia) tied for 69th with rounds of 84, 81 and 86, while freshman Jason Adams (Carrollton, GA) placed 75th with rounds of 86, 87 and 85. 

 FMU’s Fredrik Ohlsson’s won the event by six strokes and shot a two-under par 71 in the final round to finish with a three-over par score of 216. Carson-Newman’s Matthew Cram-Smith finished second with a three round total of 222.

 Clayton State will return to action on October 6-7, competing in the Presbyterian Intercollegiate at Musgrove Mill Country Club in Clinton, S.C.

  

---LAKERS---


 

 Clayton State golfers in 15th place entering
final round of Cougar Invitational Tues.

 Columbus, GA --- September 29, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s golf team shot scores of 324 and 323 in the first two rounds of the AFLAC/Cougar Invitational and is currently in 15th place with the final round of the tournament scheduled to be played today at the Country of Columbus.

 Armstrong Atlantic State University is the leader after the first 36 holes, shooting a combined 602 with rounds of 301 and 301. Francis Marion University and Columbus State University are tied for second place, three shots back with a combined score of 605 after each squad shot rounds of 301 and 304.

 For Clayton State, senior Jess Shirley (Newnan, GA) is tied for 34th place after rounds of 78 and 78, while freshman Matthew Beall (Newnan, GA) had rounds of 81 and 78 and is tied for 47th.  Senior Sergio Prieto (Manizales, Colombia) is tied for 64th after rounds of 84 and 81. 

 Sophomore Jason Armour (Raymond, IL) is tied for 67th with rounds of 81 and 86, while freshman Jason Adams (Carollton, GA) is tied for 73rd after rounds of 86 and 87.

 Francis Marion’s Fredrick Olhsson leads the event at 4-over par, shooting rounds of 74 and 72 on the par 71, 6,515 yard course. 

 The final round of the 54-hole tournament will be played today (Tuesday).

  

---LAKERS---


 Clayton State golfers place 20th in
Johnny Palmer/
Old North State tournament
 

Badin, NC --- September 17, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s golf team shot a final round of 328, up 15 strokes from its opening round, to finish 20th in the Johnny Palmer/Old North State tournament at Old North State Club in Badin, N.C. 

Clayton State entered the final round on Wednesday in 17th place after a first round score of 313 before falling back three spots to 20th. Guilford College won the tournament with rounds of 293 and 296, overtaking first round leader the University of South Carolina Aiken, who shot a final round 307 after a first round of two-under par 286.

 Senior Jess Shirley (Newnan, GA) led the Lakers in the event, tying for 29th after rounds of 73 and 80. Freshman Matthew Beall (Newnan, GA) had an impressive debut in his first collegiate tournament, shooting rounds of 77 and 79, tying for 51st place.

 Sophomore Jason Armour (Raymond, IL) tied for 82nd spot with rounds of 83 and 78, while senior Sergio Prieto (Manizales, Colombia) tied for 105th with rounds of 80 and 91. Sophomore Jimmy Beebe (Peachtree City, GA) finished 110th with rounds of 83 and 92.

 Coker’s Blaine Rogers and Barton’s Courtney Fairlcoth tied for low medallist honors with 1-under par scores of 143 on the par-72, 7,102-yard course.

 Clayton State will return to action on Monday, September 29, competing in the Cougar Invitational hosted by Columbus State University at the Country Club of Columbus. 

---LAKERS---


 CCSU golfer Shirley fires 73 in opening
round of Old North State tournament

 Badin, NC --- September 16, 2003 --- Clayton College & State University senior golfer Jess Shirley opened the 2003 fall season with a bang, firing a 1-over par 73 in the first round of the Johnny Palmer/Old North State tournament being played at Old North State Club in Badin, N.C.

 Shirley’s round, under windy conditions, ties him for 14th in the tournament of 110 golfers, and only four strokes off the lead, held by Barton College’s Courtney Fairclott and USC Aiken’s Clint Smith at 3-under par 69.

 As a team Clayton State is currently in 17th place out of 22 teams but only nine strokes from cracking the top-10. USC-Aiken leads the tournament with a team score of 2-under par 286. The second and final round on the par-72, 7,102-yard course will be played on Wednesday.

 Behind Shirley (Newnan, GA), freshman Matt Beall (Newnan, GA) shot a round of 77 in his first collegiate tournament and is tied for 44th, while senior Sergio Prieto (Manizales, Colombia) shot an opening round 80 and is tied for 74th.

 Sophomores Jason Armour (Raymond, IL) and Jimmy Beebe (Peachtree City, GA) each shot opening rounds of 83 and are tied for 95th.

  

---LAKERS---