Men's Golf Southern Conference

GSU and Furman Fail to Qualify for NCAA Championships

Eagles Miss NCAA Championship Qualification By Three Shots

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Georgia Southern fired its best round of the
tournament with an 11-over-par 291 Saturday during the final day of the
NCAA East Regional, but fell three shots short of a top 10 finish and
automatic qualification to the NCAA Championships.

Junior Aron Price shot an even-par 70 during the final 18 holes and
completed play with a two-over 212 to earn a ninth-place finish and
advance to the NCAA Championship Tournament, June 1-4 at the Cascades
Golf Course, The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va.

The Eagles finished with an 885 (+45) total after carding a 302 on
Thursday and a 292 Friday to earn a 15th-place standing, 29 strokes
behind champion Clemson but just three shots off the pace of 10th-place
North Carolina, the last squad to earn a spot in the championship field

Other Georgia Southern scores include Bryan Jones, who tied for 59th at
223 (74-71-78/+13), Chase Jones (t85th/74-78-76=228/+18), Toshi Hirata
(t85th/80-75-73=228/+18) and Jon David Kennedy, who finished tied for
117th (84-79-72=235/+25) at the par-70, 6,749-yard The Course at Yale.

"We dug ourselves a big hole on the first day," said GSU coach Larry
Mays. "However, we played hard, gave a valiant effort and showed a lot
of character to fight back the way we did. Obviously, we are all proud
of Aron's accomplishments. He'll certainly have an opportunity to prove
his All-America credentials and stature."

Price's advancement marks the fourth time in Georgia Southern golf
history that an individual has advanced to the NCAA Championships on his
own, and first since Bo Fennell earned an 81st-place standing at the
1991 national tournament.

FINAL TEAM RESULTS:
1. Clemson, 288-291-277= 856 (+16)
2. Penn State, 290-285-287=862 (+22)
3. Georgia, 287-293-284=864 (+24)
3. Georgia Tech, 291-288-285=864 (+24)
5. Florida, 286-290-290=866 (+26)
6. Auburn, 294-286-287=867 (+27)
7. Georgia State, 288-300-283=871 (+31)
8. Rhode Island, 292-289-296=877 (+37)
9. Vanderbilt, 299-291-290=880 (+40)
10. North Carolina, 294-283-305=882 (+42)
10. North Carolina State, 299-290-293=882 (+42)
12. Louisiana State, 304-292-287=883 (+43)
12. Wake Forest, 296-288-299=883 (+43)
12. Duke, 294-295-294=883 (+43)
15. Georgia Southern, 302-292-291=885 (+45)
16. Jacksonville State, 306-282-299=887 (+47)
17. South Carolina, 299-293-297=889 (+49)
18. Tennessee, 297-292-302=891 (+51)
19. Augusta State, 304-292-301=897 (+57)
20. Maryland, 306-298-301=905 (+65)
21. Alabama-Birmingham, 294-303-313=910 (+70)
22. Georgetown, 304-307-303=914 (+74)
23. Army, 310-304-310=924 (+84)
23. Binghamton, 312-297-315=924 (+84)
25. Towson, 310-300-315=925 (+85)
26. Yale, 311-302-315=928 (+88)
27. Long Island-Brooklyn, 321-313-334=968 (+128)

FINAL GSU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:
t9. Aron Price, 74-68-70=212 (+2)
t59. Bryan Jones, 74-71-78=223 (+13)
t85. Chase Jones, 74-78-76=228 (+18)
t85. Toshi Hirata, 80-75-73=228 (+18)
t117. Jon David Kennedy, 84-79-72=235 (+25)



FURMAN MEN FINISH 18TH AFTER FINAL ROUND 317

SUNRIVER, Oregon -- The Furman Paladin golf team followed up rounds of
299-294 with a final round 317 Saturday at Sunriver?s Crosswater Course,
and placed 18th in the NCAA West Regional, with a three-round 910 total.

Senior Buddy Davis paced the Paladins on Saturday with a four over 76, and
tied for 33rd overall with a 222 total. Fellow senior Matt Davidson
finished in a tie for 57th at 225 after a final round 81, while sophomore
Shane Birckbichelr placed 95th following a final round 80. Junior Rob
Langley was the Paladins? non-counter on Saturday with an 82, while T.J.
Blandford contributed a 79 to the Furman effort.

Furman?s 18th-place finish means the Paladins did not earn a berth in the
NCAA Championships, June 1-4, in Hot Springs, Va. UCLA, winner of the
2004 women?s golf National Championship, also won the men?s NCAA West
Region. The Paladins missed a top 10 finish by 25 strokes.

Furman Results
T18th Furman Team 299-294-317=910

Furman Individuals
T33rd Buddy Davis 76-70-76=222
T57th Matt Davidson 72-72-81=225
T95th Shane Birckbichler 77-75-80=232
T103rd Rob Langley 74-77-82=233
T124th T.J. Blandford 79-81-79=239