Feb. 25, 2008

Hilton Head Island, S.C. -- Paced by junior Garrett Schneider, Furman holds a four-stroke lead in the team standings after Monday's opening two rounds of the third-annual Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate men's golf tournament, hosted by Francis Marion University on Hilton Head Island.

Furman carded team scores of 290 and 296 on Monday and leads Southern Confernece rival and second-place Elon University (298-292) by four strokes, 586-590.

Kennesaw State University is third (297- 298=595), followed by East Carolina University (299-298=597), Presbyterian College (298-301=599), Francis Marion (294-306=600) and Winthrop University (304-296=600), Wofford College (294-307=601), George Washington University (304-298=602), USC Aiken (307-296=603), Marshall University (306-304=610), Bowling Green State University (311-308=619), Northern Illinois University (310-314=624), Davidson College (317-309=626), and Oakland University (320-310=630).

Elon senior Jimmy Lytle leads the individual standings after firing consecutive rounds of 3-under-par 69. His 138 total leads Elon teammate Jayson Judy (73-69=142) by four strokes. Schneider is tied for third with Rob Varner of Presbyterian at even-par 144. Cipriano Ayala of Winthrop (71-74=145) rounds out the top five.

Furman freshman Austin Reeves (71-75=146) grabbed a share of third place at even par. Senior Ben Goforth used an even-par second round to hold 11th place while Jonathan Bowden (73-76=149) is in 15th place.

The final round of the two-day, 54-hole event will be played on Tuesday (Feb. 26). The tournament is being contested on the par 72, 6,828-yard Wexford Plantation course.

1 Furman 290 296 586

t3 Garrett Schneider 71 73 144

t6 Austin Reeves 71 75 146

11 Ben Goforth 75 72 147

t15 Jonathan Bowden 73 76 149