Clayton State fifth after two rounds of NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Southeast Regional
Lakers’ Wilcox tied for ninth overall at 3-over par 147

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – May 6, 2008 – The Clayton State Laker men’s golf team finds itself on the outside looking in for a potential NCAA Division II National Championship round berth after the second round of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals on Tuesday.

After shooting a 296 to open the Regional on Monday, the 20^th-ranked Lakers slipped in the second round with a 304 and now stand fifth with a 600 heading into Wednesday’s final round at The Point Lake and Golf Club. In the combined Southeast and Atlantic Regionals, the Lakers trail Barton by one stroke, Newberry by three strokes and 24^th-ranked Lander by four strokes in the battle for Division II National Championship berths.

Ninth-ranked Georgia College continues to lead the Southeast Regional with a 4-over par 580, the Bobcats hold only a slim four-stroke lead over fourth-ranked USC Aiken. In the Atlantic Regional, host Belmont Abbey holds a 12-stroke lead over Barton.

“Just like Monday, we once again had a bad finish to the round,” said Clayton State head coach Barry Harwell. “That one hole (the par-5 16^th) gave us fits, but we are still in it despite the sluggish play. There are six teams within about seven strokes between us that are vying for those final two spots for next week, so tomorrow is crucial.

“But this is a bonus for us. Back in the fall, no one believed we’d be here this week, but we are. Now all we need to do and cut loose tomorrow and take that spot.”

Clayton State at one point was tied for second place overall in the second round, but the Lakers once again struggled on the back nine holes. On the Par-5 16^th hole alone, Clayton State was 6-over par with a triple bogey, a double-bogey and bogey amongst its five players.

Individually, junior Will Wilcox overcame two double-bogeys on the front nine with a 2-over 74 to stand tied for ninth overall at 3-over 147 (73-74). The Peach Belt Conference champion is five strokes off the overall lead of Niclas Johannson from Georgia College and Armstrong Atlantic’s Chris Wolfe.

In addition to Wilcox, junior Neil McBride is tied for 18^th at 5-over 149 (75-74), while sophomore Wade Binfield slipped to 9-over with an 80 in the second round. He recorded back-to-back triple-bogeys on the holes No. 16 and 17 and is now tied for 27^th with a 153. Rounding out the Laker scoring is junior Jonathan Visconti and freshman Kevin Duncan both tied for 30^th at 10-over 154.

The final round of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional is set for Wednesday at The Point Lake and Golf Club.