Men's Golf Carries Momentum into SAC Tournament

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill men's golf team enters the opening round of the SAC Tournament on Sunday on a winning note.

The Lions won their final tournament of the season last weekend at the Roanoke Invitational, the program's first in several years. Mars Hill and Bridgewater each finished with a team score of 608, but the Lions prevailed thanks to a scorecard tiebreaker.

"Our win at Roanoke was a real confidence booster for our guys," said head coach Ed Hoffmeyer. "They have worked hard this year and had two second place finishes in the fall but to finally close the deal at a tournament should serve them well in Sevierville."

The Mars Hill men recorded three top-five finishes and four top-ten finishes in 10 tournaments this season. Mars Hill was the runner-up at the King Invitational and the State Farm Intercollegiate, with a fourth place finish at the Echo Farms Intercollegiate.

Freshman Adam Lumley heads to the conference tournament with some hardware, as the Coventry, England native was named the SAC Freshman of the Week on Thursday. Lumley won the King University Invitational and the State Farm Invitational last fall and finished in the top ten at two tournaments this spring, including a third place finish last weekend.

"What a year for Adam", said Hoffmeyer. "From his opening round of the season at Tusculum where shot 68 to last weekend when he closed with a 73 to help us with our first team win in many years, Adam has been the player we hoped he would be when we were recruiting him. When you can make the transition to college golf in an unfamiliar country and pick up two wins in your first four tournaments, you are indeed a gifted player. I'm excited to see what lies ahead for him not only this weekend but next year and beyond."

Mars Hill is far from a one-man band, as three different players recorded the low score at tournaments this season. Chase Dembisky carded a four-over-par 148 at the Myrtle Beach Intercollegiate in October and finished in a tie for fourth place at the Echo Farms Intercollegiate with a five-over-par 149 in early March. Charles Hartzog led the Lions with a seven-over-par 149 at the Irish Creek Intercollegiate in February.

Hoffmeyer feels that if the team plays to their potential, they have the talent to make a run at the title.

"For the past several years we have gone to the conference tournament with no realistic chance of competing," Hoffmeyer said. "I feel this group of guys has the ability to compete with anyone in our league if we just play to our capabilities."

The SAC Tournament begins at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday at Sevierville Country Club in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. First round tee times are available here.