Sept. 24, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University men's golf team will return to action in its fall schedule this weekend as the Bulldogs travel to Sunset Beach, N.C., for the Elon Intercollegiate Tournament being held at the Sea Trail Golf Resort.

Play is scheduled to begin Friday and conclude Sunday. The teams are slated to play 18 holes each day.

Two weeks ago, in its first competition of the fall, Samford earned a 16th-place finish at the 25th-annual Springhill Suites Intercollegiate hosted by Francis Marion University. The Bulldogs were led by true freshmen Casey O'Toole and Gabe Hyde. O'Toole finished the two-day competition as the 30th-ranked player in the field, while Hyde, the Bulldogs' native of Hoover, Ala., placed 38th.

As a team, Samford placed 16th in the Springhill Suites Intercollegiate and was only nine strokes shy of the 12th-place position.

The Bulldogs' 2009-10 roster boasts seven returning letterwinners and four highly-touted true freshmen. Samford's senior class consists of Jeremy Cox and Alex Harper, while returning juniors Tyler Baird, Martin Bunt, Chris Duffy and Houston Hough will also add leadership to the squad.

The Bulldogs don't have any sophomores on this year's team, but talented incoming freshmen Drew Aimone, Gabe Hyde, Bill Nabors and Casey O'Toole will be looked upon to contribute immediately.

Head coach Woodie Eubanks is in the midst of his seventh season at the helm of the Samford men's golf program. Assistant coach Ryan Mayberry is in his second season on the coaching staff.