April 18, 2007

KERRVILLE, Tex. - Lamar continued its torrid pace on Wednesday and ran away with the 2007 Southland Conference Men's Golf Championship by 33 strokes over second-place Southeastern Louisiana. The Cardinals shot a minus-15 on the final day to finish with an 825 (284-268-273), 39 strokes under par on the 7,103-yard Comanche Trace Golf Course. Their team score breaks the old 54-hole mark of 830 established by the 1985 Lamar Cardinals.

Led by junior Dawie Van Der Walt, Lamar individuals finished in the top four spots and all five Cardinals placed in the top six. Van Der Walt, a Cape Town, South Africa, product opened with an even-par 72 before bouncing back to score rounds of 65 and 66 to finish with a 13-under-par 203, one stroke off the Southland record. His second-round score of 65 was also one off the Southland record for a round.

Lamar teammates Oliver Bekker (71-67-68--206), Casey Clendenon (70-69-70--209) and Dusty Smith (76-67-69--212) finished second through fourth among the 50 individuals. Bekker's mark was good for 10-under par while Clendenon went minus-7 and Smith minus-4.

Southeastern Louisiana's Hugo Leon tied Smith for fourth place to keep Lamar from taking the top five spots. He put together rounds of 71-71-70 for a four-under-par 212.

Lamar's Justin Harding placed sixth, one under par with a 71-70-74--215.

Overshadowed by Lamar's domination was a solid tournament by Southeastern Louisiana as the Lions finished second at minus-6 (290-386-273--858). The Lions' 858 total would have been good enough to be the SLC's second-lowest 54-hole championship total ever, behind the 1985 mark of 830 by Lamar.

Texas-San Antonio (877), Sam Houston State (886) and Texas-Arlington (890) rounded out the top five teams, while Texas State (892), McNeese State (915), Stephen F. Austin (917), Central Arkansas (928) and Nicholls (946) filled out the remaining tournament field.

Marty Reed, who shot even par in Wednesday's final round, led all Colonel golfers in a tie for 21st place with a 225. James Terrebonne (237) finished in 44th place and Donny Schmitt (239) closely followed in 46th place. Nat Bhanthumachinda and Brandon Henry tied for 48th place with a 250 each.

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