Four Blue Devils in Top-15 at Gordin-Myers Collegiate Classic

Monday, October 5

Durham, N.C.

All Day

Duke University

Day One

Paolini Wins Third Straight VSGA Amateur Championship

Four Blue Devils in Top-15 at Gordin-Myers Collegiate Classic

10/5/2009 7:30:00 PM | Men's Golf

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke has four players ranked in the top 15 after two rounds of play in the Gordin-Myers Collegiate Classic presented by Coca-Cola. Freshman Brinson Paolini is tied for second at even-par after firing a 72-72=144 on Monday at the Duke University Golf Club.

"Everybody that is in the top 11 is still within striking distance," head coach Jamie Green said. "Our guys are doing their best just to focus on the golf course. It should be another challenging test tomorrow."

Paolini was the only player in the field to shoot even-par or better in both rounds. The Virginia Beach, Va. native is tied for second with Joseph Flowers of Skidmore College, one shot back of N.C. State's Kent Copeland. Copeland is the lone player under-par through 36 holes after firing a 69-74=143 (-1).

"Brinson played really consistent golf with two even par rounds," coach Green said. "He hit some great golf shots out there. He probably didn't convert as many birdie opportunities as he would have liked, but he is only one shot behind the leader. I know he is looking forward to tomorrow's round."

Freshman Adam Sumrall had Duke's best round of the day, posting a one-under round of 71 in the morning. Sumrall followed up with a 76 in the afternoon, and finished the day at three-over par and alone in seventh place.

Two other freshmen had strong showings for the Blue Devils. Julian Suri enters tomorrow's final round tied for ninth after posting rounds of 74-75 (+5). Tim Gornik posted 24 pars en route to a 74-76=150. He closed the day tied for 11th overall.

Methodist University leads the Division III team portion of the Gordin-Myers Collegiate Classic with a 15-over 591 (288-303). Skidmore College is 16 shots back with a 304-301=605 (+29), while Huntingdon College (+33, 609), Oglethorpe University (+41, 617) and La Verne (+53, 629) round out the top five.

"No question that Methodist put together a terrific round in the morning with three rounds under-par compared to the rest of the field," coach Green said. "Huntingdon College came back with a stellar round in the afternoon. For Huntingdon to put together that round in the afternoon shows some awfully strong play and good fitness."

Flowers holds the individual lead in the Division III ranks with an even-par 144. Methodist's Liam Freidman and Josh Schrader are tied for fourth at two-over, while teammate Trey Howell is eighth at four-over. Skidmore's Matt Canavan rounds out the top five on the Division III ranks with a five-over 149.

The Gordin-Myers Collegiate Classic presented by Coca-Cola will complete play on Tuesday with an 18-hole final round. Final round action tees off beginning at 8:00 a.m. Live scoring, complete stats and tee times are available at www.golfstat.com.

DUKE NOTES

*** Paolini is tied for third in the tournament with seven birdies. He is also the tournament leader in par 4 scoring at even-par.

*** Sumrall is tied for the tournament lead with 27 pars through 36 holes of play.

*** Paolini recorded birdies the 399-yard par 4 fifth hole in both rounds on Monday. He played the front nine of the Duke University Golf Club at two-under par in the first two rounds.

*** Suri carded birdies in the first and second round on the 374-yard, par 4 13th hole.

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