April 3, 2004

PALADIN GOLFERS IN LEAD AT LSU SPRING INVITATIONAL

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Coming off a victory in the Furman Intercollegiate, the Paladin men’s team is in the lead entering the final round of the LSU Spring Invitational with rounds of 278-283 under their belt. Furman’s 561 two-day total is four strokes better than Middle Tennessee State, which sits in second, and six better than Charlotte, which is in third. In addition, Furman sophomore T.J. Blandford (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) leads the individual standings with a two-day 10-under total of 134 at the 7,190 yard, par 72 University Club.

The Paladins’ first round 278 (10-under) ties the second best round in school history, which was set and tied in 1983, then matched again in 2001. The round one tally came compliments of a 66 by Blandford, a 69 by Matt Davidson (West Windsor, N.J.), a 71 by Rob Langley (Atlanta, Ga.), and a 72 by Shane Birckbichler (Travelers Rest, S.C.).

In the second round Blandford put up a four-under 68, while Davidson added a 70, Langley contributed a 73, and Buddy Davis (Orlando, Fla.) pitched in with a 72. Birckbichler’s 81 was the team’s non-counter on the day.

Blandford enters the third round with a three stroke lead over Tulane’s Michale Thompson, and a five stroke cushion over teammate Davidson, who came from behind to win the Furman Intercollegiate a week ago.

If the Furman team holds on for the win on Sunday it would mark the first time since 1996 that the team had multiple victories in the same season.

Furman Results
1st Furman 278-283=561

Furman Individuals
1st T.J. Blandford 66-68=134
T6th Matt Davidson 69-70=139
T26th Rob Langley 71-73=144
T52nd Buddy Davis 75-72=147
T79th Shane Birckbichler 72-81=153