April 20, 2004

PALADINS, MATT DAVIDSON WIN SOUTHERN CONFERENCE GOLF TITLES;
SATTERFIELD NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR

JONESBOROUGH, Tennessee -- After coming back to the field during the back nine of the second round, the Paladin golf team used the final nine holes on Tuesday to bury the competition and claim their first Southern Conference Title since 1997, with a final round 289 and three-round 880. In addition, senior Matt Davidson (West Windsor, N.J.) posted a final-round 67 to win the individual title with a four-under 212.

The Paladins, which entered the final round tied with Georgia Southern for the lead, trailed UNC Greensboro by one stroke at the turn, but the Spartans were nine over on the back, while Furman recorded 10 team birdies and were six under on the final nine holes. The Paladin turnaround completed a 14 stroke victory over both GSU and UNC Greensboro, and catapulted the Paladins to their 12th all-time SoCon men’s golf title, and second under coach Todd Satterfield, who was named SoCon Coach of the Year for the third time in his career.

Davidson entered the final round one stroke off the lead, but birdied holes seven, eight, nine, 14, and 17, with a bogey on two for his final round five-under. The win was the second of the year and third of Davidson’s career. In addition, the team win was Furman’s third victory in the last four tournaments, and marks the first time since 1996 that the Paladins have posted three wins in a single season.

“I think playing with a lead and being around the lead in the last few tournaments was key to our win today,” said coach Todd Satterfield. “In the last few years we have been close a number of times, but pulling out wins in our tournament and the Wofford Invitational helped give us confidence that we could close, and that confidence showed today.”

Another key to Furman’s win was the play of seniors Buddy Davis and Matt Davidson. Davis, who was playing in the fifth spot for the Paladins on Tuesday made the turn at four over, but posted three back nine birdies to ignite the Furman comeback. In addition, the steady play of Davidson kept Furman in the hunt, despite rough going on the front nine.

“I kept expecting Buddy to come through today and he did, despite getting off to a start that he was not very happy with,” said Satterfield. “Once he got on the back nine he got his confidence going and the other guys sensed his attitude and that things were going well for us. They also knew Matt was a couple under and expected him to post a good score.”

Davis and junior Rob Langley were named second team All-Southern Conference, while Davidson represented the Paladins on the first team. In addition, Langley took fourth in the individual standings with a three-round 219, Shane Birckbichler placed sixth at 222, T.J. Blandford finished 31st at 230, and Buddy Davis took 41st with a 232 total.

Furman Results
1 Furman 285-306-289=880
Furman Individuals
1. Matt Davidson 70-75-67=212
T4 Rob Langley 72-74-73=219
T6 Shane Birckbichler 69-77-76=222
31 T.J. Blandford 74-80-76=230
41. Buddy Davis 78-81-73=232

All Southern Conference: Matt Davidson (First Team), Rob Langley (Second Team), Buddy Davis (Second Team)

SoCon Coach of the Year: Todd Satterfield