Monday, November 20, 2006

EL PASO, Texas - Atlantic Sun Conference standouts Rhys Davies and Russell Knox shined in one of the nation's premier fall collegiate events at the 32nd Western Refining College All-American Golf Classic.

ETSU senior and two-time All-American Rhys Davies (Bridgend, Wales) finished with three consecutive rounds in the 60s to place tied for fourth at 8-under par. Davies, who posted scores of 68-69-68=205 in the two-day event, finished fourth in the same tournament last season, which is played at the Par-71, 6,837-yard El Paso Country Club.

Russell Knox carded an even-par round of 71 and dropped into a tie for 13th. Knox entered the day tied for fourth at five-under par and finished at that number, 13 shots back of tournament champion Chris Kirk of Georgia.

Facing what is historically the toughest collegiate field in the country, Georgia’s Kirk tied the tournament record thanks to a blistering three-round effort. Kirk finished with rounds of 65-66-64 to end the event at 18-under-par 195. Kirk bested Florida’s Billy Horschel by five strokes and Vanderbilt’s Luke List – the reigning champion of the event – by seven strokes to take the title.

This year’s tournament featured eight Golfweek preseason first team All-Americans –Davies, Billy Horschel (Florida), Dustin Johnson (Coastal Carolina), Pablo Martin (Oklahoma State), Jonathan Moore (Oklahoma State), Cameron Tringale (Georgia Tech) and Dawie Van der Walt (Lamar). In all, 18 players in the field earned preseason All-America honors.

Last season, the Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic ranked as the No. 1 tournament in the country for the second consecutive season, according to the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index.