May 8, 2007

Savannah, Ga. - USC Upstate sophomore Baxter Culler shot the low round of the day, an even-par 72, to grad hold of the individual lead after 36 holes of the 54-hole event, and USC Upstate is in third place at the Southeast Regional of the 2007 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships Tuesday at the Savannah Quarters Golf Club.

The Southeast Regional is part of the Atlantic/Southeast Super Regional held at the 7,016-yard, par 72 Savannah Quarters track. The team winners from each regional advances to the NCAA National Championships May 22-25 in Allendale, Mich. The next three best scores from both regionals combined also qualifies for the Nationals.

Columbus State leads the Southeast Regional with a two-day total of 303-304=607. Lander is second with a 313-302=615 total, just eight strokes off the lead. Upstate is third with a 318-303=621 total and is followed by Georgia College & State University (625), three-time defending national champion USC Aiken (626), Armstrong Atlantic State (632), Presbyterian (638), and North Greenville (682). Belmont Abbey leads the Atlantic Regional with a 631 total, while Barton is second at 641.

Culler started the day tied for eighth after shooting an opening round 77. However, as all of the players ahead of him on the leaderboard found the going tough Tuesday, Culler maintained his solid play and finished with an even-par 72 to take a one stroke lead over Columbus State's Christian Ries heading into Wednesday's final round. Starting on the back nine, Culler birdied the par-3 12th before making eagle on the par-5 13th hole to move to 1-under on the day. He bogeyed the par-4 16th to go out at even par. After getting a birdie on the par-4 seventh, he bogeyed the par-4 eighth to finish the day with a 72.

Michael Lawrence continued his solid play for Upstate and stands 13th with a two-day total of 156 (+12). Tyler Tucker improved his score by eight strokes over yesterday's outing and finished the day with a 76 to move into a tie for 23rd with fellow Spartan Josh Gallman. Ian Schneider is tied for 27th with a 161 total.

Southeast Regional Team Scores

1. Columbus State 303-304=607; 2. Lander 313-302=615; 3. USC Upstate 318-303=621; 4. Georgia College & State 323-302=625; 5. USC Aiken 320-306=626; 6. Armstrong Atlantic State 320-312=632; 7. Presbyterian 318-320=638; 8. North Greenville 351-331=682.

USC Upstate Scores

1. Baxter Culler 77-72=149 (+5); T13. Michael Lawrence 80-76=156 (+12); T23. Tyler Tucker 84-76=160 (+16), Josh Gallman 81-79=160 (+16); T27. Ian Schneider 80-81=161 (+17).