April 27, 2003

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Competing in its final tournament of the 2002-03 season, George Mason finished strong as it had three players place among the top 20 individuals following the final round of the Rutherford Intercollegiate, held at the par 72, 6,535-yard Penn State Blue Course on the Penn State campus. The Patriots carded a three-day total of 869 (298-289-282) to finish in fifth place - one-stroke ahead of CAA rival James Madison (870). Host Penn State won the event with a team score of 852, followed by Liberty (860) and Maryland (862). Western Kentucky was fourth overall (864).

George Mason's 869 score ties the Patriot record set this season for lowest team score at a three-round (54 holes) event. Mason also carded 869 at the James Madison Invitational held Sept. 21-22, 2002. The team's final round 282 is a one-day (18 holes) record. The Patriots were tied for sixth following action on day one, but fell into a tie for eighth after the second round, before rallying on day three.

Junior Craig Mason (Lorton, VA/Hayfield) and senior Chris Barr (Springfield, VA/West Springfield) each tied for ninth overall out of 80 individuals to lead George Mason. Mason (72-70-72=214) and Barr (74-73-67=214) both fired in at two-under. Barr's final round of 67 and 214 three-day totals are both career bests, as he leaped from a tie at the No. 29 position following round two to finish in the top 10. Senior Brian Marfori (Fairfax Station, VA/Bishop Ireton) also turned in an outstanding performance, rallying from a tie at the 41st position after day two, to card a career-low 67 in the final round; he placed in a tie for 15th with a career-low three-round total of 217 (75-75-67). Robby Shaw of Western Kentucky won the individual title after firing a 62 in round three (68-71-62=201).

Freshman Mike Cavanagh (Perham, MN/Hibbing) and senior Ben Hogan (Centreville, VA/Centreville) completed the field for Mason. Cavanagh dropped in 224 (77-71-76) to tie for 41st overall, Hogan chipped in 236.

George Mason returns five letterwinners to next year's squad that finished in the top 10 in nine of 10 tournaments and placed in the top five twice.

Final Results- 2003 Rutherford Intercollegiate(Agate) (par 72, yardage- 6,535, Penn State Blue Course, University Park, PA) (1) Penn State 292-276-284=852; (2) Liberty 293-279-288=860; (3) Maryland 295-277-290=862; (4) Western Kentucky 287-292-285=864; (5) George Mason 298-289-282=869; (6) James Madison 302-280-288-870; (7) Temple 294-285-295=874; (8) Georgetown 298-289-292=879; (9) Towson 304-282-302=888; (10) Bowling Green 305-293-291=889; (11) Akron 311-288-292=891; (T12) Richmond 312-297-296=905; (T12) St. Joseph's 305-300-300=905; (14) St. Bonaventure 318-293-295=906; (15) Villanova 300-306-302=908

Select Individual Results: (1) Robby Shaw, W Kent. 68-71-62=201; (2) Jim Fuller, Penn State 71-67-69=207; (3) Nick Cook, GU 70-69-69=208; (4) Jay Lindell, SBU 72-70-70=212; (T9) Craig Mason, GMU 72-70-72=214; (T9) Chris Barr, GMU 74-73-67=214; (T9) Paul Carey, LU 71-71-72=214; (T15) Brian Marfori, GMU 75-75-67=217; (T41) Mike Cavanagh, GMU 77-71-76=224; (T72) Ben Hogan, GMU 78-79-79=236.