Oct. 24, 2001
Draper, Va. - The Western Carolina men's golf team placed three individuals in the top 15 and to finish second out of 18 teams at the Chris Cothran Radford Intercollegiate.
The Catamounts' total of 580 set a school two-round record, surpassing the previous mark by four strokes, and the team score of 289 tied for the lowest single-round score in school history, while the 291 first-round score ranks as the sixth (tied) lowest.
Freshman Chase Kress (Big Stone Gap, Va.) led the way for the Cats, placing sixth (tied) with rounds of 73-71 and an even par total of 144. His two-round score was the third-lowest total in WCU history and his 71 in round two was a season best. Senior Greg Lewis (Stanley, N.C.) came in at one over par for two days, with a total of 145 (75-70) to tie for eighth. His 70 tied a career-low for one round and his 145 ties for eighth on the WCU two-round all-time list. Freshman Andrew Paduch (Johnson City, Tenn.) was one shot behind Lewis (72-74=146) to tie for 13th in the 90-player field. His even-par round of 72 was one stroke better than his previous season best.
WCU sophomore Clay Kilgore (Nebo, N.C.) was one-under par after the first day and finished tied for 31st (150), while senior Lee Cline placed 51st (tied) with a two-day total of 153 (79-74).
South Carolina-Aiken (577) edged the Catamounts by three strokes to claim the team title. They were led by the individual medalist, Dave Brown, who fired a seven-under 137 (71-66). Virginia (582), Appalachian State (585) and Murray State (587) rounded out the top five.
"This was a tremendous boost for our team," said WCU head coach Johnny Wike. "In two of our three events we have come back on the second day and played well to move up, winning our tournament and placing second in this one. We have a lot of confidence right now and our players are determined to come out with the same focus on the first round as they do in the second."
In each of the last two tournaments, Western Carolina has posted team scores that are the best in school history. In addition to shaving four strokes off the school two-round record at Radford, the Cats shot an all-time low for a three-round tournament at Chattanooga with an 891, two strokes better than the previous mark.
The WCU men's golf team will complete the fall portion of its schedule Nov. 10-11 when it hosts the Shoot-Out at Burning Ridge. The two-day event will be played in Myrtle Beach S.C., at Burning Ridge Country Club.
Chris Cothran Radford Intercollegiate Draper Valley Golf Course - Draper, Va. Oct. 22-23, 2001 - Par 72 TEAM Day 1 Day 2 TOTAL 1. USC-Aiken 289 288 577 2. WESTERN CAROLINA 291 289 580 3. Virginia 285 297 582 4. Appalachian State 288 297 585 5. Murray State 291 296 587 6. Concord 290 300 590 7. Presbyterian 294 298 592 8. Glenville 298 295 593 9. Radford "Red" 296 301 597 10. Radford "White" 305 298 603 11. Longwood 305 300 605 12. Spartanburg Methodist 306 301 607 13. Fairmont State 303 310 613 Roanoke 313 300 613 15. Bluefield 307 312 619 16. Limestone 318 309 627 17. VMI 327 326 653 18. Hampton 341 338 679
Individual Leaders Day 1 Day 2 Total 1. Dave Brown (USC-Aiken) 71 66 137 2. Brandon Henson (Murray) 68 72 140 3. Shivin Kwarta (Virginia) 66 75 141 4. Greg Shaw (Concord) 72 70 142 5. Adam McLaughlin (App St.) 69 74 143 6. CHASE KRESS (WCU) 73 71 144 Wes Byers (USC-Aiken) 72 72 144 8. GREG LEWIS (WCU) 75 70 145 Scott George (Concord) 73 72 145 Eric Hooke (Raford) 72 73 145 Trent Roush (Glenville) 78 67 145 Michael Gault (SMC) 73 72 145
OTHER CATAMOUNT SCORES 13th-t Andrew Paduch 72 74 146 31st-t Clay Kilgore 71 79 150 51st-t Lee Cline 79 74 153
