Feb. 26, 2001

JACKSON, Miss. - Samford University freshman Andy McRae fired a final-round 72 and finished 3-under-par to win the Pizza Hut/Bell South Intercollegiate at the Lake Caroline Golf Club on Monday. The Bulldogs men's team finished second, one stroke behind winner Nicholls State.

McRae led a trio of Samford golfers who finished in the Top 10 of the tournament, including sophomore Seth Mobley at No. 4 and junior Russell Kelly who finished seventh. McRae and Mobley were two of only four golfers who shot under-par rounds on Monday, and every Samford player shot 73 or better to keep the Bulldogs at the top of the pack. Sophomore Stephen Twelkemeier finished at No. 25 and junior Mike Clements rounded out the roster at No. 41.

"This is a major turnaround from last week's effort at West Florida," said Samford Head Coach Mark Ware. "Last week was a reality check for us because we played in some difficult conditions on a difficult golf course, and we didn't handle it very well. We entered this tournament with a greatly improved attitude and we see the results of that, both from our individual efforts and as a team."

As a team the Bulldogs shot a final-round 292, two strokes behind Nicholls State's 290. The Bulldogs and the Colonels distanced themselves from the remainder of the teams, finishing with double- and even triple-digit leads over the 14-team field.

Final Results

1. Nicholls State +4

2. Samford +5

3. S.E. Missouri St. +16

4. Texas-Pan American +24

4. IU-Purdue U.-Indy +24

6. Jackson State +25

6. Tennessee Tech +25

8. Tennessee State +32

9. Texas Southern +51

10. Centenary +60

11. Grambling St. +70

12. Alabama St. +74

14. Arkansas-Pine Bluff +156