April 3, 2008

KENNESAW, Ga. - On the heels of their first win of the season, a commanding 22-stroke victory at the Larry Nelson Collegiate Invitational, the Kennesaw State men's golf team moved up 17 spots to No. 84 in Golfstat.com's latest poll.

"It is great to make a jump into the top 100 coming off the Nelson win," said Kennesaw State head coach Blake Smart. "We've played well all spring and have been rewarded with a nice move up the rankings."

The Owls have steadily climbed up the rankings this fall, turning in two top three finishes and a tie for eighth at the prestigious Linger Longer Invitational to go along with their Nelson win. They are the second-highest rated team in the Atlantic Sun Conference, trailing only defending champion ETSU (31).

They finished third at the spring opening Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate in Hilton Head, S.C. Oliver West led the Owls with the first of his four-straight spring top 10's, finishing second with a three-over par 219.

The Owls improved in their second spring event, finishing just a stroke behind champion Memphis at the Charleston Southern Spring Kick-Off Classic in North Charleston, S.C. J.P. Putnam led KSU with a second place finish, while West came in just a stroke behind in a tie for third.

In their third tournament of the spring, the Linger Longer Invitational, the Owls finished in a respectable tie for eighth in a field that included seven top 50 teams. The Owls bested then No. 32 Michigan by four strokes and No. 29 Mississippi State by 18.

The Owls led wire to wire for their Larry Nelson win, placing four golfers in the top 15 for the dominating victory. Putnam led the Owls for the second time since transferring from Darton Junior College, finishing fifth with a 219. West turned in his fourth top 10, coming in just a stroke behind Putman for solo sixth.

"Our quality spring and subsequent ranking gives us an outside chance at an at-large bid to the National Tournament," added Smart. "We still have a long way to go and hope to finish off the season with some great play down the stretch."

Kennesaw State will travel to Scottsdale, Ariz. on April 7th-8th for the Wyoming Cowboy Classic before returning to Chateau Élan on April 21st-23rd to play host to the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament.