April 19, 2008

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA. - The University of Alabama men's golf team is 18 holes away from something it hasn't done in 29 years: win a Southeastern Conference Championship.

Head coach Jay Seawell's Crimson Tide golf team continues to lead the field after two rounds, entering Sunday's third and final round of the 54-hole tournament with a three-shot lead against its nearest threat after 36 holes, the No. 2-ranked University of Georgia Bulldogs.

Alabama emerged as the first round leader on Friday, besting the field with a three-under par 285 score on the par-72 course at Frederica Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Ga. On Saturday, Alabama shot 5-over par 293, a higher round score but low enough to hold on to the lead.

"It was a grind," said Seawell of Saturday's second round for the nation's No. 1-ranked team. "We had a tough start. We all were just kind of misfiring just enough. But I was really proud of how we hung together. I thought we showed our class today. I thought their attitudes were great, and for them to be able to finish like they did is a tribute to their attitude. I'm very proud of that and look forward to tomorrow."

Alabama leads the 12-team field that includes six squads ranked among the nation's top 13 in collegiate golf. Going into the final round on Sunday the team standings read: Alabama (578), Georgia (581), Florida (582), South Carolina and Tennessee (583), Mississippi State (585), Ole Miss (588), LSU (589), Vanderbilt (592), Kentucky (598), Arkansas (600) and Auburn (602).

Tide senior Joseph Sykora of Daphne held on to the lead in the individual standings, leading the field of 60 golfers at 3-under 141, shooting 4-over par on Saturday. He's a shot ahead of two men who are tied at second at 2-under, LSU's Jarrod Barsamian and Tennessee's David Holmes.

Also in title contention is Tide senior Michael Thompson who is tied for fourth at 1-under 143. Matt Hughes is tied for 12th at 1-over for Alabama, shooting 72-73/145. Tied for 35th for the Tide is Matthew Swan who is 6-over after shooting 76-74/150 and at 8-over par and tied for 44th is Mark Harrell, shooting 75-77/152.

Alabama has won the SEC golf championship once, in 1979. It has produced only one SEC medalist and that was 56 years ago when Bobby Hill won the SEC individual championship in 1952.