March 27, 2007

UALR/First Tee Collegiate Classic Final Results
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Sophomore Justin Harding claimed medalist honors for the second straight tournament and Lamar University won its third straight team title following Tuesday's final round at the First Tee Collegiate Classic hosted by Arkansas-Little Rock at Chenal Country Club (Par-72, 7,115-yards).

A native of Cape Town, South Africa, Harding closed with a final round 1-under par 71 for a 54-hole score of 10-under 68-67-71--206. He also won last week at the Border Olympics with a 54-hole score of 10-under 206. Robert Gwin of Sam Houston State, who held the 36-hole lead, posted a 1-over 73 Tuesday and finished second at 9-under 207.

Lamar, who held the 36-hole lead, closed with a final round 5-under 283 for a 54-hole total of 33-under 277-272-283--832. The Cardinals, who have won five tournament titles this season, won their third straight tournament of the spring, which includes titles at the General Jim Hackler Invitational and at the Border Olympics.

Middle Tennessee State closed with a 281 to move into second place at 848, followed by Sam Houston State (857), Austin Peay (862) and Texas-San Antonio (864) to round out the top five in the 17-team field.

All five golfers in Lamar's lineup posted top 10 finishes. Dawie Van Der Walt, a junior from Cape Town, South Africa, fired a final round 2-under 70 to tie for third place at 7-under 71-68-70--209. Casey Clendenon, a junior from Katy, closed with a final round 1-under 71 and tied for fifth place at 5-under 73-67-71--211.

Dusty Smith, a senior from The Woodlands, carded a final round 1-over 73 and tied for seventh place at 4-under 69-70-73--212. Oliver Bekker, a sophomore from Stellenbosch, South Africa, also shot a final round 1-under 71 and tied for 10th place at 2-under 69-74-71--214. Ryan Kornmann, a senior from Kingwood, played as an individual for the Cardinals and his scores did not count toward Lamar's team total. He tied for 44th place at 70-74-79--223.

Lamar will try to make it four in a row April 8-9 at the Birkdale Intercollegiate hosted by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.