April 25, 2006

PADUCAH, Ky. ---- The Samford University men's golf team finished eighth at the 2006 O'Reilly Ohio Valley Conference Championship at the Country Club of Paducah. The Bulldogs finished just one stroke behind seventh-place Murray State in the three-round tournament.

Samford is finished in eighth place with a combined score of 902, while Murray State shot a three-round score of 901. The Bulldogs had a two-round score of 600 entering the final day of the tournament, and turned in a combined score of 302 on Tuesday.

Nathan Turner led the Bulldogs with a three-round score of 223 (75, 75, 73). Turner was the top-finisher for the Bulldogs, tying for 16th overall in his final tournament at Samford. Andrew Villarreal tied for 25th overall, with a combined score of 227 (75, 74, 78). Bradley Pate also tied for 25th, with a three-round score of 227 (79, 73, 75).

Reed Davis finished 28th, with a combined score of 228 (78, 73, 77). Senior Ryan Mayberry rounded out the top-five for the Bulldogs with a three-round score of 233 (77, 79, 77). Mayberry tied for 37th overall in his final Samford tournament.

Eastern Kentucky won the 10-team tournament, firing a combined score of 881. Tennessee Tech also fired an 881, but lost the playoff to finish second in the tournament. Jacksonville State finished third, followed by Morehead State, Austin Peay, Tennessee Martin, Murray State, Samford, Tennessee State and Eastern Illinois.

The 2006 O'Reilly OVC Conference Championship was the Bulldogs final tournament of the spring season. Samford returns home and will begin preparations for the coming fall.