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Â鶹ÊÓƵ golf claims second straight conference title, advances to nationals

JACKSON, Tenn. - 5/6/2011 - The Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Tenn.) University men’s golf team captured the 2011 TranSouth Conference Championship in at the Blytheville (Ark.) Country Club. The title for Â鶹ÊÓƵ is their second straight and fourth in the last six years. Â鶹ÊÓƵ will also advance to their second straight NAIA National Tournament.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ shot a three-round 863 to earn the win. The Bulldogs were just two shots ahead of Cumberland (Tenn.) who shot a 865. Trevecca Nazarene finished five shots off the pace at 868.

Brett Barry and Micah Gentle were named to the all-tournament team from Â鶹ÊÓƵ. Barry was named TranSouth Player of the Year and Â鶹ÊÓƵ head coach Andy Rushing was named the Coach of the Year.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ trailed by 11 shots after the first round as Cumberland fired a first round 283 and Â鶹ÊÓƵ shot a 294 in the first 18. Â鶹ÊÓƵ responded with a second round 286 late on Thursday to take a one shot lead over both Cumberland and Trevecca Nazarene going into the final round on Friday. Â鶹ÊÓƵ fired a 283 final round to seal the win.

Two Â鶹ÊÓƵ Bulldogs posted scores in the 60’s in the final round to propel the Â鶹ÊÓƵ victory. Brett Barry shot a final round 68, after shooting 71 and 70 in the first two rounds. Micah Gentle shot a final round 69.

Barry finished just one shot off the individual medalist as his three-round 209 was one shot behind Cumberland’s Dustin Thomas’ 208. Thomas fired a final round 66 to earn the medalist honor and almost propel his team to the title.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s other finishers included Gentle in fifth with a 217, Ryan Chandler in seventh with a 218, Steven Coffelt in 11th with a 220 and Matt Kelley finished 22nd with a 231.

The NAIA Golf National Championships will be played at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois on May 23-27.

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