June 17, 2005

PITTSFIELD, N.Y. - Lamar men's golfer Dawie Van Der Walt shot a 77 in Friday's third round and is still in 67th place at the 65th Monroe Invitational Championship (MIC) at Monroe Golf Club.

Van Der Walt, who was named Southland Conference Freshman of the Year and first-team All-SLC, shot a 7-over par 77 on Friday and remains in 67th place with a 54-hole score of 73-83-77--233. Playing conditions were much better on Friday, with temperatures in the low to mid-60s, cloudy and NWN winds at 15 mph.

A native of Cape Town, South Africa, Van Der Walt opened with a 3-over par 73 on Wednesday and entered the second round tied for 45th place. He shot an 83 on Thursday and entered Friday's third round in 67th place. He was named to the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-Region and All-Freshman Team and became the sixth Lamar golfer to earn Ping All-America honors.

Michael Sim of Australia fired a 4-under par 66 on Friday and shares the lead with 36-hole leader Mark Leon of Penn State. Sim has a 54-hole score of 6-under 68-70-66--204. Leon has posted three straight rounds in the 60s in posting his 54-hole total of 6-under 66-69-69--204. J.J. Killeen of TCU is third at 3-under 207.

John Holmes of Kentucky turned in Friday's best round, a 6-under 64, and has moved into a tie for eighth place. Jeff Overton of Indiana, who held the 18-hole lead after an opening round of 64, is in a tie for fourth at 208.

The MIC started in 1937 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious amateur events. The course, designed by Donald Ross, plays to a par-70 at 6,787 yards. This year's MIC features a field of 69 players and is a 54-hole event with no cut.

The tournament concludes today with tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. (EDT).