Feb. 22, 2008

QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's men's golf team will travel to Daytona Beach, Fla. this weekend to compete in the Bethune Cookman Tournament at the Indigo Lakes Country Club. This is the first event of the 2008 spring season for the Red Storm.

The St. John's men's golf team had an amazing fall season as the squad finished in the top three in all six of the events in which it competed. This extraordinary run was capped off by the announcement of the final Golf World Collegiate Fall Top 25 Poll. For the first time in school history, the Red Storm and head coach Frank Darby received votes toward a Top 25 ranking.

Senior co-captain Keegan Bradley leads the squad after another outstanding fall season, winning the individual title at the Hartford Hawks Invitational at the International Golf Club in Bolton, Mass. Sophomore Mike Ballo Jr. shot a 15-under, 211 with an astounding 11 birdies in round one, en route to a second place finish at the Roadrunner Invitational and the lowest score recorded for St. John's this fall. Both Bradley and Ballo Jr. are tied for 62nd in the Golf Stat Cup Standings. Senior co-captain George Zolotas had a solid season, highlighted by a third place finish at the Mission Inn Classic. Junior Kevin Velardo was one of the steadiest members of the team, shooting five rounds at par or better and finishing in the top 15 twice. Sophomore transfer Evan Beirne has been a great addition to the squad, recording two top ten finishes including a top five placement at the Hoya Invitational.

Complete tournament results will be available at www.redstormsports.com and live scoring is viewable at www.golfstat.com.