Stamey's 73 gives him fourth; Spartans place seventh at SoCon Men's Golf Championship

HOLLYWOOD, S.C. – Nathan Stamey shot a 73 in the final round to finish fourth as UNC Greensboro placed seventh at the 2006 Southern Conference Men’s Golf Championship held at The Links at Stono Ferry.

Stamey, a sophomore from Canton, NC, finished the tournament with a tournament total of 217, one-over par. The fourth place finish is his first Top 5 finish this season and the second of his career. Stamey, whose best finish this season had been a 10th-place showing at the Orange County National back in March, won the 2004 Mid-Pines Intercollegiate in Pinehurst, NC for the best finish of his career. His fourth place showing was the best by a Spartan since 2003, when Jake Lowder finished fourth with an identical tournament total of 217.

Stamey, who finished 16th at last year’s SoCon Championship, finished six shots back of Western Carolina’s Matt Cook, who shot a 69 on Tuesday to hold on to the lead he grabbed in Monday’s second round. Cook was three shots better Georgia Southern’s Bryan Jones, who placed second after also shooting 69 on Tuesday.

Georgia Southern won the team title, firing a 286 on Tuesday to card a tournament total 867 and win the conference title by 12 shots over College of Charleston. Chattanooga was third at 883. Despite Stamey’s strong play, UNCG struggled Tuesday as a team. The Spartans shot 308 in the final round to fall to seventh place after starting the day in third just seven shots back. UNCG finished with a team score of 896.

AGATE

TEAM SCORING: Georgia Southern 867, College of Charleston 879, Chattanooga 883, Elon 885, Davidson 890, Wofford 891, UNCG 896, Furman 901, Western Carolina 903, Appalachian State 933.

TOP 10: 1. Matt Cook (Western Carolina) 70-72-69=211; 2. Bryan Jones (Georgia Southern) 74-71-69=214; 3. Drew Bowen (Georgia Southern) 76-68-71=215; T-4. Scott Larkin (College of Charleston) 69-75-73=217; T-4. Neil O’Briain (Wofford) 71-77-69=217; T-4. Nathan Stamey (UNCG) 73-71-73=217; 7. Ryan LeFerve (Georgia Southern) 69-76-73=218; T-8. Tim Dillon (Davidson) 75-73-71=219; T-8. Tucker Ervin (College of Charleston) 75-72-72=219; T-10. Adam Dox (Wofford) 78-72-70=220; T-10. Lance Johnson (Elon) 74-73-73=220; T-10. Bryce Ledford (Chattanooga) 69-78-73=220.

OTHER UNCG GOLFERS: T-18. Jake Lowder 73-76-74=223; T-30. Burton Wood 73-74-81=228; T-41. J.D. Bass 73-83-80=236; 47. Kent Copeland 80-75-87=242.

- UNCG -