March 25, 2004

PALADINS SET TO HOST 35TH ANNUAL FURMAN INTERCOLLEGIATE

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- This weekend at the Furman University Golf Course, the Hokies of Virginia Tech will attempt to claim a record fourth-straight Furman Intercollegiate title, while the host Paladins try to overcome three consecutive second place finishes in their home event, and claim the Intercollegiate team championship for the first time since 1986.

In 2003, the Paladins entered the final round of the Furman Intercollegiate one stroke behind the Hokies. Over the final 18 holes, Virginia Tech garnered a team score of 290, while the Paladins shot 293 to lose by four strokes 869 to 873. In 2002 Furman, along with Coastal Carolina, held a one stroke lead entering the final day, but the Hokies carded a four-under 284 as a team to win by four strokes over the Paladins and the Chants, who each shot 289 to tie for second.

In addition to Furman and Virginia Tech, 18 other teams will compete for this, the 35th annual Furman Intercollegiate Title. This year’s field includes the University of Michigan, University of Rhode Island, Marshall, and Northwestern in addition to Southern Conference teams Appalachian State, Davidson, Elon, UNC Greensboro, UTC, Western Carolina, and Wofford. Winthrop, Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, UNC Charlotte, UNC Wilmington, and a Furman “B” team round out the 20-team field.

Past champions in this event include Curtis Strange (Wake Forest), Jay Haas (Wake Forest), Jodie Mudd (Georgia Southern), Brad Faxon (Furman), Todd White (Furman), and Matt Kuchar (Georgia Tech). The team event has been won a record six times by Wake Forest. ETSU has won on four occasions, Clemson three times, and Virginia Tech three times, while Florida, Georgia Southern, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, and Virginia each have two titles to their credit. The host Paladins, Auburn, Mississippi State, Ohio State, South Carolina, and Virginia Commonwealth have all won one Furman Intercollegiate title.

Competition in the 35th annual Furman Intercollegiate begins on Friday at 8 a.m., with Appalachian State, Winthrop, Charleston Southern, Marshall, and 10 individuals teeing off the first and 10th tees. The Paladin team will go off No. 1 beginning at 12:40, while Furman’s “B” team tees off No. 10 at 11:50. Complete results will be available on the Furman website at www.furmanpaladins.com.