April 17, 2004
SUFFOLK, VA (April 17, 2004) - UNC Wilmington fired a team second day score of 1-over par and surged to an eight-stroke lead after two rounds of the 2004 CAA Men's Golf Championship (288-289=577). The Seahawks were paced by senior Derek Brown (Walnut Cove, N.C./South Stokes), the individual leader, who backed up an opening round 71 with a 69 for a four-under par total of 140 over the 7,032-yard Nansemond River Golf Club layout.
Playing in windy conditions, Brown's effort included five birdies and one bogey and was only one of five sub-par rounds on the day. Junior teammate Bill Lewis (Westfield, Mass./ Westfield) chipped in with a one-under par 71 while junior Marc-Andre Roy (Boisbriand, Quebec) carded a 74 and junior Brian Joyce (Wilson, N.C./Greenfield School) added a 75.
The Patriots dropped from fifth place to tied with VCU for seventh after day two of the tournament after following a 299 with a 307 for a 607 two-day total. Senior Craig Mason (Lorton, Va./Hayfield) carded a consistent 74-74=148 to lead the Patriots along with Mike Cavanagh (Perham, Minn./Hibbing) who carded a 73-75=148.
First day co-leader and defending CAA champion Old Dominion University posted a 297 to fall eight strokes off the pace (288-297=585). The Monarchs were led by sophomore Greg Sampson (Warren, R.I./St. Raphael Academy) who recorded a 2-under par 70. Sampson's two-day total of 142 has him in third place behind Brown and Towson University junior Billy Wingerd (Baltimore, Md/Overlea). Wingerd, who finished third at the 2003 CAA Championship, matched the low round of the tournament with a 4-under par 68 and sits alone in second (141) . Drexel University freshman Joe April (Sewell, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) shot 70 for a two-day score of 143 and is the only other player under par in the 50-player field.
UNCW is bidding for its first CAA golf championship under first-year coach Jason Widener after runner-up finishes each of the past two seasons. The Seahawks, who are ranked #50 in the latest Golfstat poll, lost in a one-hole sudden death playoff to ODU last season at Independence Golf Club and have finished second at the conference championship in five of the past eight seasons.
Final round action in the three-day event begins at 7:20am on Sunday. The winner of the championship receives the CAA's automatic bid into the NCAA Championship.
Sunday Tee Times
7:20am - 7:52am - Delaware & Hofstra
8:00am - 8:32am - VCU & George Mason
8:40am - 9:16am - Drexel, JMU & W&M
9:25am - 10:01am - UNCW, ODU & Towson
Team Scores
UNCW 288-289=577 (+1)
ODU 288-297=585
Towson 295-298=593
Drexel 299-297=596
JMU 293-306=599
W&M 302-299=601
VCU 305-301=606
GMU 299-307=606
Delaware 308-313=621
Hofstra 325-332=657
Top Individuals
Derek Brown, UNCW 71-69=140 (-4)
Billy Wingerd, TOW 73-68=141 (-3)
Greg Sampson, ODU 70-72=142 (-2)
Joe April, Drexel 73-70=143 (-1)
Jeff Castle, Towson 71-73=144 (E)
Bill Lewis, UNCW 74-71=145 (+1)
Jeff Michner, Drexel 72-73=145 (+1)
Jens Fahrbring, VCU 74-72=146 (+2)
Brian Joyce, UNCW 71-75=146 (+2)
Nick Kenney, ODU 69-77=146 (+2)
Jay Woodson, JMU 68-78=146 (+2)
GEORGE MASON 299-307=606
Craig Mason, GMU 74-74=148
Mike Cavanaugh, GMU 73-75=148
Nick DeSimone, GMU 80-82=162
Ben Hogan, GMU 80-80=160
Mike Kirby, GMU 72-78=150
