HICKORY, N.C. --- Tusculum rookie Lawson George posted rounds of 73 and 71 to shoot an even par 144 and is tied for fourth place after day one action of the 2008 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Golf Championship. The Pioneers rebounded from a disappointing 312 in the opening round with 294 on the second 18 holes to post 606 and is in fifth place.

The two-day, 54-hole tournament is being held at Lake Hickory Country Club at Catawba Springs.

Newberry has the lead after 36 holes with 301-288=589, three shots ahead of second place Carson-Newman (296-296=592). Tournament host Lenoir-Rhyne is third with 601, followed by league provisional member Brevard with 603. Tusculum is fifth, followed by Mars Hill (610), Catawba (613), Wingate (619) and Lincoln Memorial (626).

George is strokes off the lead, held by Newberry's Ben Lown, who carded rounds of 70 and 68 to post a six-under 138. Lenoir-Rhyne's Jakin Fox is second with 140 (-4) and Tyler Lane of Carson-Newman is third with 143 (-1). George and Newberry' Daniel Stanley are tied for fourth with 144.

TC junior Chase Carroll, the 2007 SAC Tournament Champion, is tied for 12th with 77-72=149, while senior Chris Wynne is tied for 17th with 79-73=152. Jake Scheffers and Matt McIntyre are tied for 37th with 162 to round out the scoring for the Pioneers.

The final 18 holes will be held on Tuesday on the par 72, 6,570-yard layout.

- SAC -

Team Results
Pl. Team 1st 2nd Total
1 Newberry 301 288 589
2 Carson-Newman 296 296 592
3 Lenoir-Rhyne 294 307 601
4 Brevard 307 296 603
5 TUSCULUM 312 294 606
6 Mars Hill 305 305 610
7 Catawba 308 305 613
8 Wingate 309 310 619
9 Lincoln Memorial 315 311 626

Tusculum Individual Scores
Pl. Player 1st 2nd Total
T4 Lawson George 73 71 144
T12 Chase Carroll 77 72 149
T17 Chris Wynne 79 73 152
T37 Jake Scheffers 83 79 162
T37 Matt McIntyre 84 78 162