April 4, 2004

PALADINS FALL SHORT AT LSU SPRING INVITATIONAL

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The Paladin golf team fired a final round 291 Sunday at the LSU Spring Invitational, to total 852 for the tournament, one stroke off the winning pace of 851 set by the host LSU Tigers. The Tigers carded a 10-under 278 in the final round to pass both Middle Tennessee State and the Paladins en route to the tournament title.In addition, Furman sophomore T.J. Blandford (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) carded a final-round73 to finish the tournament at nine-under, but fell to Tulane’s Michael Thompson in a playoff, narrowly missing his first collegiate medalist honor.

In addition to Blandford’s 73 at the 7,190-yard, par 72 University Club, the Paladins counted a 71 by Matt Davidson (West Windsor, N.J.), who finished tied for fifth at six-under, a 73 by Rob Langley, who took 30th at one over, and a 74 by Buddy Davis, who placed 50th at plus five. Furman’s non counter on the day was Shane Birckbichler (Travelers Rest, S.C.), who fired a 75 and took 74th in the individual standings with a three-day total of 12 over par.

Furman Results
2nd Furman Tean 278-283-291=852

Furman Individuals
2nd T.J. Blandford 66-68-73=207
T5th Matt Davidson 69-70-71=210
T10th Rob Langley 71-73-73=217
T50th Buddy Davis 75-72-74=221
T74th Shane Birckbichler 72-81-75=228