Lamar Set to Defend its Title at the Irish Gridiron Golf Classic

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The Cardinals won last year's inaugural classic by 29 strokes.

Sept. 28, 2007

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Lamar University, who won the event last season, is back to defend its title at the Irish Gridiron Golf Classic hosted by the University of Notre Dame at Warren Golf Club (Par-72, 7,011-yards).

Lamar posted a 54-hole total of 860 last year to finish 29 strokes ahead of runner-up and host Notre Dame. The Cardinals' Justin Harding posted a 54-hole score of 3-over par 210 to edge Notre Dame's Cole Isban and Vanderbilt's Luke List by one stroke to claim medalist honors last year and is back to defend, as well.

The Cardinals won the team title at the Gopher Invitational hosted by Minnesota to open the 2007-08 season. Lamar placed 11th at the PING/Golfweek Preview last weekend, which featured 13 teams ranked in the Golfweek/Nike Golf Coaches Top 25 poll.

Casey Clendenon, a senior from Katy, leads the team with a 73.33 scoring average over six rounds this fall. He won medalist honors at the Gopher Invitational. Harding, a junior from Cape Town, South Africa, is second on the team with a 73.50 scoring average over six rounds. He tied for ninth at the Gopher Invitational and tied for 19th at the PING/Golfweek Preview to pace the Cardinals.

Hugues Joannes, a sophomore from Brussels, Belgium, has a 74.17 season scoring average. Russell Helson, a senior from Georgetown, has a 75.00 season scoring average and Leroux Ferriera, a junior from South Africa, has a 75.67 season scoring average.

The 12-team field for the Irish Gridiron Classic includes host Notre Dame, Arkansas, Baylor, College of Charleston, Colorado State, Georgetown, Iowa, Lamar, Michigan State, North Florida, San Diego and Virginia. The field will play 18 holes each day from Sunday through Tuesday for a 54-hole event.

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