May 2, 2008

(Clarion, Pa.): Clarion University's 2008 men's golf team will compete in the NCAA Division II East Regional, a 54-hole event, from May 5-7 at the Back Creek Golf Club in Middletown, Delaware.

CLARION SEEDED 4TH IN 8 TEAM FIELD

Eight teams are vying for the East Regional title, with the winning team gaining an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Championships May 14-17 in Houston, Texas. IUP is the top seed, while West Liberty is second, Ohio Valley third, Clarion fourth, Millersville fifth, Fairmont State sixth, Charleston seventh and Concord eighth.

CLARION MAKING SEVENTH STRAIGHT NCAA APPEARANCE

Clarion is led by ninth year head coach Al Lefevre, who has now taken the Golden Eagles to the East Regional seven straight seasons (2008, 07, 06, 05, 04, 03, 02).

In 2007-08 the Golden Eagles finished first in three tournaments including the Glenville Invitational, Hal Hansen Invitational at Clarion Oaks, and atthe Westminster Invitational, all Fall 2007 tournaments. This Spring Clarion has been second at the WVIAC/PSAC Challenge in Berkely Springs, W.V., third at St. Vincent's and fourth at IUP.

At the 2007 NCAA East Regional held at the Speidel Golf Course at Oglebay Resort, Fairmont State won the event with a 54-hole total of 896, while IUP was second with an 899 and Charleston third with a 906. Also placing were Ohio Valley fourth at 913, Millersville fifth with 915, Concord sixth at 922, Clarion seventh with 928 and West Liberty eighth with a 931.

At the 2006 NCAA East Regional, also held at the Speidel Golf Course, Concord edged Clarion for the title. Concord shot a 54-hole total of 914, while the Golden eagles were second at 920. Charleston meanwhile was third (921), Fairmont State fourth (928), Ohio Valley fifth (930), West Liberty sixth (940), IUP seventh (946) and West Virginia Wesleyan eighth (954).

In the other four NCAA East Regionals Clarion has placed third at Regionals in 2005 with a 915, 5th in 2004 with a 948 total, plus 8th at Regional in 2003 (922) and 2002 (924).

CLARION LINEUP SET FOR EAST REGIONAL

The Golden Eagles will have seniors Justin Moose (N. Huntingdon - Norwin) and Preston Mullens (Emporium - Cameron County), freshman Jared Schmader (Cooperstown - Maplewood), junior Justin Cameron (Punxsutawney) and sophomore Sean Foust (Emlenton - A.C. Valley) ready to play.

Moose has been Clarion's co-captain the last two seasons. He has played 20 rounds this year and is averaging 76.5. Moose was 13th at the Regional last year with a 227 (78, 75, 72). In 2006 he finished a strong third at the Regional with a 225 (77, 72, 76). In 2006 Moose was the PSAC "Player of the Year". He was the PSAC medalist in the Fall 2005 championship with a 74-76, 150 at Wrendale Country Club. His low career round is 67 in 2006 at Wheeling.

Mullens is averaging 76.4 this season. Mullens was 9th this year at PSAC's with a 155 (71,84) and he hsa a low round this year of 70 at Wheeling. Last year at Regionals he finished 17th with a quality 229 (79, 73, 77). He was 16th at Fall 2006 PSAC's (155) and had a low round of 74 at the Hal Hansen. Spring 2006 he was 37th at the East Regionals with a 245, but after a first round 90, came back with two quality rounds of 77 and 78. He averaged 76.0 in the Fall of 2005, and had a low round of 70 at Ohio Valley.

Schmader has been Clarion's top golfer as a freshman in the 2007-08 season. Jared has played 20 rounds this year and enters the regionals with a 74.5 average. He burst on the scene in the Fall of 2007 at the Robert Morris Invitational by finishing third with a 74, 66 - 140. His 6-under 66 earned him the Clarion record that was previously held by several other Eagles at 5-under. He also tied for second in the Fall at Glenville with a pair of 71's. He was tied for 9th at the PSAC's with Mullens at 155 (79, 76), and this Spring was medalist at St. Vincent with a 72.

Cameron, a junior, has had a solid season averaging 77.2 per round. He tied for third this Spring at the WVIAC challenge with a 74 and his low round is a 72 at the Hal Hansen. Cameron finished 39th at the East Regionals last year shooting a 241 (82, 80, 79). He finished 19th at the Fall 2006 PSAC's (156). His low score was 73 at the PSAC's. He averaged 78.7 in the Fall of 2005. A D-9 champion and PIAA Qualifier in high school, he had a 72.1 scoring average at Punxsutawney High School.

Foust, in his first year playing at Clarion, has played 9 rounds and is averaging 78.3. He had a 75,79 in the Hal Hansen and a 79, 76 at Ohio Valley for his two best tournament events in the Fall.

"I believe we have a team that can be very competitive next week," said Clarion head coach Al Lefevre. "Our veterans need to play consistently, and we need someone to step up and fire a big round in there for us that we might not be expecting. That could give us the lift we need to get over the top. The course will be setup very tough, so we need to play quality golf in all three rounds. The competition will be great, but we're looking forward to the challenge."

CLARION NOTES: The Golden Eagles under Lefevre have had tremendous success... A PSAC title in 2005 & 2002, four runner-up finishes in the Fall of 2004, Spring of 2004, 2003 and 2001, and seven trips to the NCAA Regionals in 2008, 07, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002... Lefevre was named PSAC "Coach of the Year" in 2006 and led the Eagles to a PSAC Championship in the Fall of 2005. He also earned "Coach of the Year" honors in 2002 while leading the Golden Eagles to the PSAC team title and its first berth in the NCAA Regional Tournament.