10.12.2011

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University men's golf was idle from competition this past week. The Lancers, coached by 15th-year head coach Kevin Fillman, return to action this weekend, October 15-16, at the Barnabas Health Intercollegiate hosted by Seton Hall University, a 36-hole event at the Fiddler's Elbow Country Club in Bedminster Township, New Jersey.

A Quick Look Back At The Joe Agee Invitational
Longwood won its second-straight tournament, posting 871, and senior Austin Gray|Midlothian (Monacan) won his second consecutive event as well, posting 217.  Gray was followed by senior Ross Sumner|Callao (Northumberland) (219, 3rd), freshman Blake Carter|Bassett (Bassett) (223, t-10th), senior Kenny Leech|Boca Raton (Grandview Prep) (227, t-17th), and sophomore Dylan Jensen|Martinsville (Carlisle) (231, t-31st).  Carter posted a new collegiate-best for both 36 (145) and 54 (223) holes while playing in only his second college tournament. 

Head Coach Kevin Fillman
“Since the tournament at William & Mary, we've worked on a couple areas in which we need to improve and played three team-qualifying rounds.  We still need to do a better job of getting what we work on in practice onto the golf course.  We only have one day left to prepare before leaving for Seton Hall, so we'll continue working on those key areas.  I'm excited to get Kyle Bodin back in the lineup this week.  He did a great job for us last fall, but he's been out since then with a wrist injury that required two surgeries last spring.  He just started hitting balls again a little over two months ago.  Kyle's been able to play all but one of our qualifying rounds this fall, and he's getting stronger and stronger.  It's time we got him back in to see where his game stands.”

In The Rankings
Longwood is ranked 161st among 272 Division I men's golf teams in this week's Golfstat Rankings.  The Lancers' ranking is based upon their 47.649 winning percentage through four tournaments. The University of Texas is the top-ranked program this week with its 94.544%.  Longwood is ranked 146th in this week's Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings with a rating of 73.97.  Stanford is top-ranked this week with its rating of 68.56.

In The Zone: Three-In-A-Row?
Entering the tournament hosted by Seton Hall, Austin Gray has averaged 70.83 over his last six rounds while winning back-to-back tournament titles.  His respective rounds have been 68, 71, 69, 71, 71, and 75 during his consecutive medalist honors at the Bucknell Invitational (9.16-17) and the Joe Agee Invitational (10.3-4), respectively.

Close At The Top | Season Statistics
Through three tournaments and nine rounds of golf, only one shot separates the top two golfers for Longwood.  Austin Gray (647) is averaging 71.89 with a low round of 68, while Ross Sumner (648) is averaging 72.00 with a low round 69.  Kenny Leech (661) is averaging 73.44 with the team's low round of 67, followed by Blake Carter (448-74.67, 70), freshman Jason Schumacher|Glen Allen (Deep Run) (225-75.00, 70), and Dylan Jensen (687-76.33, 71).  The Lancers are averaging 290.00 as a team through three events, and while early, still well ahead of the school-record scoring average of 295.10 established during 2008-09.

In The Record Book
In addition to tying the school record for 54-holes (208) while winning the Bucknell Invitational (9.16-17), Austin Gray also tied for the fifth-best 36-hole score (68-71--139).  His two-under-par 208 matched that of Chris Shuford posted in 2004, though Shuford's total was at eight-under, while the one-under 139 was most-recently posted by Scooter Buhrman in 2009 (-5).  Kenny Leech tied the sixth-best round in school history with his second-day, three-under-par 67, equaling that posted most-recently by both Buhrman (-5) and Adam Webb (-3) in 2008.

A Look At The Barnabas Health Intercollegiate
The two-day, 36-hole tournament will include 18 holes on Saturday, Oct. 15 and 18 holes on Sunday, Oct. 16.  Last year, the Fiddler's Elbow Country Club River Course played 7,014-yards and as a par 72 layout.  Binghamton University is the defending champion after posting a 587 last year.  Longwood will be making its first appearance in the event hosted by Seton Hall, and the Lancers' lineup will include Austin Gray, Ross Sumner, Kenny Leech, Blake Carter, and sophomore Kyle Bodin|Austin, Texas (McNeil) will be making his 2011-12 debut this weekend.

Up Next
Longwood will participate in the OBX Collegiate Invitational hosted by Old Dominion University Oct. 23-25, a 54-hole tournament at the Kilmarlic Golf Club in Powells Point, North Carolina.