May 19, 2005

NASHVILLE, TENN. - Junior Austin Luher shot an even-par 71 to lead the Army golf team to an Academy-record composite of 298 (+14) in the opening round of the 2005 NCAA East Regional at The Golf Club of Tennessee in Nashville, Tenn. Army is tied for 21st out of 27 teams after 18 holes.

The Black Knights broke the single round regional record of 301 set in 1995 in New Haven, Conn., marking the first time in Academy history that an Army golf team has cracked the 300-stroke barrier in post-season action. The Black Knights (+14), seeded 26th coming into the regional, are currently tied with Colonial Athletic Association champion UNC Wilmington (+14) for 21st and are ahead of No. 18 Vanderbilt (+17), No. 25 Maryland (+20), No. 24 Rutgers (+22), No. 23 Rhode Island (+25) and No. 27 Boston College (+33).

"The guys played pretty solid today," remarked head coach Jimmy Ray Clevenger. "That's the first time since Army has been going to the NCAAs that we've ever broken 300. It's a number that we needed to break and put past us. It's a pretty historic day, in reference to finally breaking that number. We also set an earlier standard this season with the best finish we've ever had in District I, which is No. 2.

"This is a very special team and hopefully we can continue to play well. The conditions were tough today---the greens were firm. If you missed a green, it was tough to get up and down. We are sitting in a good position; we'll try to put up a good number tomorrow and hopefully move up a little bit. The guys surpassed my hopes and are really excited."

Army started the day on the tenth tee as the five-man contingent posted four birdies on the first two holes. Senior Pete Phipps birdied the first two holes and collected a total of four in the first round, the most of any Army golfer. He finished with a first round score of 73.

Meanwhile, Luher, a second team all-Patriot League selection, was a model of consistency throughout the opening round, shooting one-under-par over the final 13 holes. After owning Army's lowest stroke average during the spring campaign (76.2), he birdied the opening hole, a 152-yard par-three, and the 16th hole, a 237-yard par-three. Luher's first round score was one shy of his career-low and is the third-lowest single-round score ever by an Army golfer in regional play.

Playing in their first-ever NCAA Regional, freshmen Patrick Beverly and Joey Cave registered respectable scores of 76 and 78, respectively. Beverly totaled 11 pars and a pair of birdies while Cave birdied three holes, including two par-fives.

Senior team captain Scott Manley struggled on the par-threes in today's round and posted just one birdie on the day to finish with an 82 (+11). Manley has been Army's top finisher in each of his last two regional appearances.

The Black Knights tee off Friday morning from the first tee at 12:45 p.m. CT.

Army Golfers
Austin Luher 35-36-71
Pete Phipps 38-35-73
Patrick Beverly 38-38-76
Joey Cave 39-39-78
Scott Manley 41-41-82
Total 150-148-298