March 22, 2003
PALADINS TRAIL HOKIES BY ONE ENTERING FINAL ROUND
GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Virginia Tech moved one step closer to becoming the first team to win three consecutive Furman Intercollegiate titles on Saturday, firing a 289 to remain one stroke ahead of the host Paladins, with a two-round total of 579.
The Hokies’ Chris McKeel followed up a first round 67 with a 70 on Saturday and continues to lead the tournament with at 137, five strokes ahead of teammate and defending champion Brendon DeJonge and the Paladins’ Rob Langley. Furman junior Buddy Davis is also within striking distance, at 143, after shooting 71 in the second round, as is Old Dominion’s Geoffrey Harris, who carded a 70 on Saturday.
The Purdue Boilermakers were the team making the biggest move in the second round at the 6,800 yard, par 72 Furman University Golf Course. As a team, the Boilermakers fired a three-under 285 to move from seventh into third, five strokes off the Hokies’ pace. Peter Karmis led the Purdue effort with a three-under 69, while teammates Shiv Kapur, Chris Mason, and Ryan Barauskas each shot even par.
In addition to Langley and Davis, Furman’s T.J. Blandford carded a 76, Noble Judy shot a two-under 70, and Shane Birckbichler fired a six-over 78. The Furman “B” team was led by Wyman Whitesides and Hagan Jordan, who each fired 75, while Thomas Self added a 76 and Adam Resmini carded an 83.
Teams will begin teeing off at 8 a.m. Sunday in the third and final round of the Furman Intercollegiate. The host Paladins will be paired with Virginia Tech, Purdue, and Coastal Carolina, and will begin teeing off hole number one at 9:40 a.m.