March 28, 2004
PALADINS SWEEP 35TH ANNUAL FURMAN INTERCOLLEGIATE
GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- The Furman golf team carded a final round 305 on Sunday to earn a two-stroke victory over the Hokies of Virginia Tech with a three-round 883 total at the 35th annual Furman Intercollegiate Golf Tournament. In addition, senior Matt Davidson (West Windsor, N.J.) fired a final-round 73 to tie for first with fellow Paladin Rob Langley (Atlanta, Ga.), then dispatched Langley on the first hole of a playoff to earn his second collegiate title, and first since 2001.
Furman entered the final round on Sunday with a four stroke cushion over the Hokies - a team that had won the Intercollegiate a tournament record three times entering 2004. Davidson and Langley each fired final-round 73s at the 6,800-yard, par 72 Furman Golf Course, while sophomore T.J. Blandford (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) posted a seven-over 79. Senior Buddy Davis (Orlando, Fla.) went seven over on the back nine to finish with an 80 and freshman Robert Jamieson recorded a final-round 85, giving Furman its highest one day total of the tournament.
The Hokies, meanwhile, were having problems of their own. Ryan Sypniewski, who was four over after two days, had to withdraw due to injury, and the Hokies counted a 73 by Ryan Stinnett, a 74 by Scott Wise, a 77 by Carl Wakely, and a 79 by Joel Kraner - the individual leader entering day three. Virginia Tech finished the day two strokes better than the Paladins at 303, but it was not good enough to overcome Furman’s four-stroke lead. Adding to the drama of the day was the fact that Furman has finished second in its own tournament the last four years - and all four times saw Tech take the title.
“This team championship was a long time coming,” said Furman coach Todd Satterfield. “And I am really proud of our team for holding it together today when things weren’t really going our way on the golf course.”
If the team championship was close, the individual race was a real nail-biter. When Davidson bogeyed holes 13 and 14, Langley had the title in hand with a two stroke lead entering the 16th hole. On the par three 16 Langley made his first bogey since No. 9, then bogeyed again at 17 to move from one under to one over and into a three-round tie with teammate Davidson. Davidson, on the other hand, finished with pars on the final four holes and continued his streak into the playoff, hitting his drive on hole No. 1 right down the middle, while Langley pulled his into the rough on the right. Langley was forced to punch out and pitch on in three, while Davidson pitched to the back of the green in two and two-putted for the victory. The win was the second of Davidson’s collegiate career - along with a win in the 2001 Carolina First Intercollegiate.