Thursday, March 08, 2007

Macon, Ga. -- The weather is warming and A-Sun golfers have pulled their clubs out of the closet as the spring season has already begun. Campbell junior Maite Ortiz de Pinedo claimed medallist honors at the Fighting Camel Spring Classic and ETSU freshman Seamus Power finished tied for second at the PING Arizona Intercollegiate en route to being selected as the women's and men's Atlantic Sun's Golfer of the Month, respectively.

Ortiz de Pinedo recorded her second collegiate win by one stroke over High Point's Kate O'Sullivan. The Valladolid, Spain, native recorded consecutive 74s on the par-72, 6012-yard Keith Hills layout.

At the Spring Classic, Ortiz de Pinedo finished with six birdies in the 36-hole event, second only to Gardner-Webb's Yayoi Garcia who finished tied for 14th. Ortiz de Pinedo ended the tournament at even-par on the eight par-three holes and one-under on par-fives.

Power recorded rounds of 69, 66 and 68 (203) at the PING Arizona Intercollegiate to finish in a second-place tie. The Waterford, Ireland, native also competed in the Puerto Rico Collegiate Classic. It that event Power finished tied for 24th and helped the Bucs to a sixth place overall finish. His stroke average for the month was 70 after posting three rounds in the 60s at the PING Arizona Intercollegiate and then rounds of 72, 72 and 73 (217) in Puerto Rico.

The Atlantic Sun Golfer of the Month is announced on Thursday during the first full week of the month.

The 12-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF and Stetson with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate beginning competition in 2007-08.