Hawks tied for 4th entering final round of NCAA Tournament

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Huntingdon men's golf team moved into a tie for fourth on Thursday in the third round of the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships.

The Hawks turned in their best round of the tournament with a 9-over-par 297 on Thursday at Midvale Country Club. Huntingdon, which was 15 strokes off the lead after two rounds, is nine strokes off the lead entering Friday's final round.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps shot a 15-over 303 in the third round but maintained its lead with a three-round score of 888. Otterbein is second at 895, Methodist is third at 896 and Huntingdon and Wittenberg are tied for fourth at 897.

"It has been an interesting week," Huntingdon Director of Golf Dave Schreyer said. "We have struggled all week and today wasn't any different. We played poorly on the front but turned things around on the back nine.

"I like our chances on Friday. The weather looks to be poor, but our boys are used to playing in those conditions."

With one round to play, Huntingdon juniors Addison Lambeth and Will Thrash are each within three strokes of first place. Franklin & Marshall's Stephen Colodny and Virginia Wesleyan's Evan Cox are tied for first at 4-over 219. Lambeth is two strokes back and tied for fourth with a 6-over 221 and Thrash is tied for ninth with a 7-over 222.

Huntingdon freshman Stephen Shephard turned in the tournament's only under-par round on Thursday with a 2-under 70. Entering the final round, Shephard and Huntingdon junior Chad Ring are tied for 40th with a 54-hole-total of 230. Senior David James is tied for 52nd at 232.

"I was very pleased to see Stephen bounce back and play well today," Schreyer said. "Addison and Will have been in contention from the start and are in position to make a run at medalist in the final round. I am looking for us to finish strong."