Date Posted: 4/13/2007

Macon, Ga. – The Atlantic Sun Men’s Golf Championship makes its first stop ever at The Golf Club at Sanctuary Cove in Waverly, Ga. The 2007 event marks the first time since 1998 that the A-Sun has held its men’s championship in Georgia.

Last season, Jacksonville claimed its first ever team title with JU’s Duncan Stewart repeating as the individual champion.

Stewart returns in search of his third consecutive individual title, a feat that has never been accomplished in the men’s championship.

At the 2006 championship, Stewart won in a playoff against teammate Russell Knox. Stewart and Knox were two of three Jacksonville golfers to finish in the top-10 at the event, along with Jamie Kennedy, who finished in a fifth place tie with ETSU’s Rhys Davies.

Davies is an eight-time A-Sun Golfer of the Month recipient since ETSU joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2005 and enters the 2007 A-Sun Men’s Golf Championship ranked No. 1 in the nation by Golfweek.

During the regular season Davies captured three individual titles, with two of those coming during the month of March, and recorded a 54-hole stroke total of 202 at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate. His three-round total of 202 is the second-best in the Atlantic Sun this season, trailing only Campbell’s Kyle Spahr.

Spahr shot a 201 at the Hartford Hawks Invitational. Part of his 201 included a round of 65. His 18-hole, 65 is the second-lowest single round of the season behind ETSU freshman Seamus Power.

Power, tabbed the February Golfer of the Month in 2007, recorded a round of 64 at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate.

Also shooting rounds of 65 during the regular season were North Florida’s Jeff Dennis, Belmont’s Jeff Lanier, ETSU's Cian McNamara, and Davies.

ETSU’s Power will battle for a top spot along with several other newcomers. The journey will likely not be smooth for the new faces to the event as eight last season’s top-10 are returning to the competition.

Along with the defending champion, Stewart, Knox and Kennedy return for Jacksonville to help the Dolphins in their title defense.

North Florida finished second in 2006 and return Michael O’Neal and Michael Giammaresi, but lost Miguel Ordonez from the top 10. The Ospreys were fives strokes off of Jacksonville and all five of their 2006 golfers finished in the top-15.

ETSU garnered a third-place finish last season after earning three individual top-10 finishes. Jordan Findlay earned ETSU’s best finish, garnering a third-place spot. Davies finished in a fifth-place tie, followed by Gareth Shaw who grabbed a share of seventh place.

Following Shaw, ETSU’s last two competitors finished 24th and 40th. The Buccaneers have to be on the list of heavy favorites, but ETSU will need more production out of the entire group overall to over-power and out-last a veteran Jacksonville squad.

Also returning from the 2006 top-10 is Mercer’s Andrew An. In his junior season, An returns to the championship boasting Mercer’s lowest single round (69). At the 2006 championship, An was one of six golfers to shoot a round of 68. The only golfer to card a better round as that year’s event was North Florida’s Ordonez.

Making its Atlantic Sun Men’s Golf Championship debut is Kennesaw State. The Owls joined the A-Sun in 2005 and will be participating in their first conference event.

This season Kennesaw State received some senior leadership from Kris Shepherd, who garnered the Owls’ only individual title, winning the Poplar Hill Intercollegiate.

KSU also saw sophomore Michael Tulacz step into the spotlight. Tulacz carded the Owls’ lowest single round (66) and three-round (207) stroke totals. Both were shot at the Treasure Coast Classic.

Others looking to move up in the individual standings this year include the 2005 and 2006 Freshmen of the Year. North Florida’s Jeff Dennis was honored as the 2006 Freshman of the Year after finishing in a 12th place tie at last season’s championship event. In 2005, Campbell’s Fredric Sundberg was honored with the same award; he finished tied for 14th at the 2007 event.

Both will battle to improved their individual and team scores, but the field appears to be tight and unwilling budge with all of the top six golfers from a year ago returning.

BY THE NUMBERS
Lowest total of 2007 entering the tournament

Individual Low 18
Seamus Power, ETSU (64)
Individual Low 54
Kyle Spahr, Cambell (201)
Team Low 18
ETSU (272)
Team Low 54
ETSU (834)

Related Links:
 • Men's Golf Championship Page