Wednesday, April 21, 2010

BRASELTON, Ga. – Championship Medalist Seamus Power carded a final round 5-under par 67 to lift ETSU to the 2010 Atlantic Sun Men’s Golf title contested at the Legends at Chateau Elan.

After Power became one of four Bucs to post a score of bogey or worse on the 452-yard, par 4 8th hole, the senior played the final 10 holes at 4-under par to seal the individual title. Power becomes the fifth player in the 32-year history of the championship to earn medalist honors twice joining 1983 PGA Championship winner Hal Sutton (Centenary // 1979-80), Southeastern Louisiana Oliver Thomson (1992, 1994), Troy’s Josh Broadaway (1999, 2000) and Jacksonville’s Duncan Stewart (2005-06). Power won as a freshman in 2007.

Three other ETSU student-athletes finished in the top-10: Paul O’Kane (T-6th // even-par 216), Rhys Enoch (T-6th // even-par 216) and Michael Stewart (8th // 1-over par 217). The Buccaneers captured their second Atlantic Sun Men’s Golf Championship, pairing this title with a victory in 2007 at Santuary Cove.

The 31st-ranked Bucs needed every birdie to fend off hard-charging FGCU Eagles who closed to within two strokes of the team lead late in the final round. Brandon Pena signed for a 7-under par 65, the lowest third round total in A-Sun Championship history, to help lead the rally. Over an seven-hole stretch from No. 7 to No. 13, Pena posted five birdies and an eagle to vault from a tie for 18th up to second in the individual standings. The amazing hot stretch helped propel the Eagles back into contention before the FGCU settled for a runner-up finish, four strokes behind the champs. Patrick Williams and Alex Medinis each made it around at even par to help the team to its best finish at the A-Sun Championship.

No. 20 UNF slipped back into third place despite Jordan Gibb’s 1-under 71 which helped him finish in a tie for fourth overall.

USC Upstate’s Josh Gallman (third) and Campbell’s Matt Moot (tied for fourth) joined Power, Pena and Gibb in the top-five and on the All-Tournament team. Both players shot a 3-under 69 in the final round to make the big move into the top-five. Wednesday proved to be a volatile day for the leaderboard as five players went from outside the top-10 to at least a tie for 10th. Pena made the most impressive leap, but Campbell’s Vaita Guillaume went from a tie for 21st to a tie for 9th. The sophomore used one of the most dramatic shots of the day to fuel his surge as Guillaume aced the 125-yard par 3 7th hole with his pitching wedge. Ironically, Power recorded the last hole-in-one in A-Sun Championship play back in his title winning season of 2007.

ETSU earns the conference’s automatic bid into NCAA Regional play while UNF expects to receive an at-large selection when the NCAA Championship field is announced on Monday, May 10.

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.