Fountain Earns 2011 SoCon Men’s Golf Individual Medalist Honors, NCAA Regional Bid

FLORENCE, S.C. – Freshman Richard Fountain became the first Davidson golfer to win individual medalist honors at the Southern Conference Men's Golf Championship in 38 years and earned the league's automatic individual NCAA Regional Championship bid by firing a final-round, five-under-par 67 to win by one stroke at 207 (68-72-67), nine-under par Tuesday at the Country Club of South Carolina.

Rusty Boyd was the last individual medalist from Davidson, winning in 1973 also at the Country Club of South Carolina. Alex Knoll previously came the closest to ending the 'Cats' medalist drought in 2007, finishing as the runner-up. Fountain becomes the sixth Wildcat all-time to win in the 75-year history of the SoCon Men's Golf Championship.

Fountain, a Raleigh, N.C. native who graduated from Broughton H.S., teed off from hole No. 10 to start the day and completed the back-nine holes at two-under with four birdies and two bogeys. He then birdied the par-four fourth and fifth holes and the final, No. 9 hole to take a two-stroke lead into the clubhouse.

Georgia Southern's Lewis Gruber and Logan Blondell were within striking distance on the final holes, but Blondell finished at 212 (-4) to place third, while Gruber fired a final-round 68 to finish at 208 (-8). Gruber had matched Fountain's first-round 68 and second-round 72.

As a team, Davidson placed eighth at 887 (293-299-295), 23-over-par. Trailing by five shots at the turn in the final round, Georgia Southern played the final nine holes at five-under par to surpass Chattanooga and win the team title. Georgia Southern earns the conference's automatic team bid to the NCAA Championships by virtue of its win.

UNCG posted the second-best round of the day, and of the tournament, at 285 (-3) to finish in second place after beginning the day in fourth. Chattanooga (867) placed third, six strokes off the pace, followed by Samford (875), College of Charleston (876) and Wofford (882). Elon (886) finished seventh, one stroke ahead of the 'Cats in eighth.

Freshman Sam Echikson was Davidson's next-best finisher in a tie for 30th place at 223, while junior Jackson Taylor finished at 228. Sophomore John Skeadas (231) and senior Bobby Urso (232) rounded-out the 'Cats lineup.

Fountain will compete in the NCAA Regional Championships at a site to be determined May 19-21.

The tournament win was the second of his career, as he claimed the Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate, hosted by Georgia Southern Oct. 11-12, after defeating Blondell in a playoff that went five holes. Fountain's three rounds at the SoCon Championship were his first at par or lower since his final-round 66 at Georgia Southern forced the playoff (five tournaments).

Fountain's 207 matches the matches the lowest SoCon tournament score in 11 events at the Country Club of South Carolina – last year's champion, Furman's Austin Reeves, also fired a 207.

2011 Southern Conference Men's Golf Championship
Country Club of South Carolina
Florence, S.C.
Final Round

Top 10 Individuals
1. Richard Fountain, Davidson 68-72-67=207 -9
2. Lewis Gruber, Georgia Southern 68-72-68=208 -8
3. Logan Blondell, Georgia Southern 72-70-70=212 -4
4t. Will Almand, UNCG 75-69-70=214 -2
4t. Steven Fox, Chattanooga 73-73-68=214 -2
6t. Coy Breen, College of Charleston 70-73-72=215 -1
6t. Steve Dressel, Elon 70-73-72=215 -1
8t. Kyle Sonday, UNCG 71-74-71=216 E
8t. Stephan Jaeger, Chattanooga 70-72-74=216 E
8t. Casey O'Toole, Samford 69-71-76=216 E

Team Standings
1. Georgia Southern 287-292-282=861 -3
2. UNCG 295-286-285=866 +2
3. Chattanooga 287-288-292=867 +3
4. Samford 287-293-295=875 +11
5. College of Charleston 290-293-293=876 +12
6. Wofford 295-289-298=882 +18
7. Elon 297-293-296=886 +22
8. Davidson 293-299-295=887 +23
9. Western Carolina 296-294-305=895 +31
10. Appalachian State 302-297-298=897 +33
11. Furman 299-302-299=900 +36

All-Conference Team
Steven Fox, Chattanooga
Stephan Jaeger, Chattanooga
Benni Weilguni, Chattanooga
Steve Dressel, Elon
Matt Broome, Furman
Logan Blondell, Georgia Southern
Robert Hoadley, UNCG
Kyle Sonday, UNCG
Chandler Brazeal, Wofford
Brent Whitehead, Wofford

All-Freshman Team
Davis Bunn, Chattanooga
Benni Weilguni, Chattanooga
Richard Fountain, Davidson
Andy Knox, UNCG
Chandler Brazeal, Wofford

Player of the Year
Stephan Jaeger, Chattanooga

Freshman of the Year
Chandler Brazeal, Wofford

Coach of the Year
Woodie Eubanks, Samford

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