This is the second straight All-OVC honor for the Centerville senior. He also was second-team All-OVC as a freshman as well as earning OVC Freshman of the Year honors in 2005.

Last fall, Leaver claimed the Belmont Invitational for his fourth medalist honor, setting the record for most individual titles. He added to it this spring by claiming the Aldila Middle Tennessee Intercollegiate. It was one of three top-10 spring finishes.

Leaver entered the OVC tournament ranked second among conference golfers with a 72.1 scoring average.

In addition, APSU freshman Luke Sherrod was named to the All-Newcomer team. Sherrod recently finished tied for second at the Arkansas State Invitational.

-AP-

PADUCAH, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University golfers captured three of the six first-team all-conference selections while Murray State University golfers did the same on the second-team, as the 2007-08 Ohio Valley Conference Men's All-Conference awards were announced on Sunday evening at a banquet following the first day of golf at the 2008 OVC Men's Championship. Murray State's Cameron Carrico was also awarded the OVC Freshman of the Year award.

The OVC Player and Coach of the Year awards will be announced Tuesday afternoon following the final round of play at the championship, which is being held at the Country Club of Paducah for the sixth time in the past seven years.

Carrico, a native of Owensboro, Ky., was also a second-team All-OVC selection following an outstanding rookie campaign. He had a stroke average of 73.34 over 32 rounds during the 2007-08 season. He was named OVC Golfer of the Week on April 16 after placing third out of 96 competitors at the UK Bluegrass Invitational to cap the regular season. He is the first Murray State golfer to earn the Freshman of the Year Award, which was first given out in the 2005 season.

Eastern Kentucky, who entered the OVC Championship with a GolfStat national ranking of 10, dominated the All-OVC first-team. Senior Phil Hendrickson, who has a national individual ranking of 50, was one of the three EKU golfers on the team and was joined by juniors Trey Bowling and Jesse Massie. Hendrickson, who was a second-team All-OVC selection last season, led the OVC in stroke average (71.81) during the season. In 31 rounds he scored a tournament victory and three other Top 5 finishes. Bowling ranked third in the OVC in stroke average (72.29) and was named OVC Golfer of the Week twice during the season. He also had a tournament victory and three Top 5 finishes in 2007-08. Massie, who was also honored as an OVC Golfer of the Week this season, had a stroke average of 72.65, which ranked him fourth among league golfers during the season. Massie scored two tournament wins in 2007-08.

The first-team was rounded out by Austin Peay's Grant Leaver, Jacksonville State's Gonzalo Berlin and Tennessee Tech's John Fox. Leaver is the only repeat All-OVC first-team selection this season. The senior had a stroke average of 72.07 (which ranked second in the OVC) and currently ranks 59th in the nation in the latest GolfStat rankings. Berlin, also a selection on the All-Newcomer team, had a stroke average of 73.28 during the season, had a tournament win and three other Top 10 finishes. He was also honored as OVC Golfer of the Week once during the season. The junior Fox had a 73.0 stroke average during the season and had five Top 10 tournament finishes, including an individual medalist honor.

Murray State's three second-team selections included Carrico, sophomore Nick Newcomb and senior Jerry Price. Newcomb, who was also an All-Newcomer Team selection after transferring from Louisville, averaged 73.25 strokes over 32 rounds. He also scored five Top 10 finishes during the year. Price totaled 73.28 strokes in 32 total rounds in 2007-08 and scored four Top 5 finishes. The second-team also included Jacksonville State senior Julian Colmenares, Tennessee Tech senior Barrett Steakley and Eastern Kentucky senior Justin Moore. Colmenares, who finished third at the OVC Championship a year ago, had a 73.19 stroke average during the year. Steakley was sixth in the OVC in stroke average (73.14) over 22 rounds; included in that was four Top 5 finishes during the season. Moore, a first-team All-OVC pick a year ago, averaged 73.26 strokes per round this season.

The first and second-team All-OVC teams were based on individual adjusted stroke average; this marked the second year the teams were determined by this method.

The All-Newcomer Team consisted of Carrico and Newcomb from Murray State, Berlin from Jacksonville State, UT Martin junior Cole Floyd and Austin Peay freshman Luke Sherrod. Floyd also earned OVC Golfer of the Week honors during the season, and finished the year in the Top 20 in stroke average (73.89) in the OVC. Sherrod compiled a 75.9 stroke average over 21 rounds in 2007-08.

The 2008 OVC Men’s Golf Championship continues with 18 holes on Monday and the final 18 holes on Tuesday. Live scoring can be accessed through links at OVCSports.com.

Last fall, Leaver claimed the Belmont Invitational for his fourth medalist honor, setting the record for most individual titles. He added to it this spring by claiming the Aldila Middle Tennessee Intercollegiate. It was one of three top-10 spring finishes.

Leaver entered the OVC tournament ranked second among conference golfers with a 72.1 scoring average.

In addition, APSU freshman Luke Sherrod was named to the All-Newcomer team. Sherrod recently finished tied for second at the Arkansas State Invitational.

-AP-

PADUCAH, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University golfers captured three of the six first-team all-conference selections while Murray State University golfers did the same on the second-team, as the 2007-08 Ohio Valley Conference Men's All-Conference awards were announced on Sunday evening at a banquet following the first day of golf at the 2008 OVC Men's Championship. Murray State's Cameron Carrico was also awarded the OVC Freshman of the Year award.

The OVC Player and Coach of the Year awards will be announced Tuesday afternoon following the final round of play at the championship, which is being held at the Country Club of Paducah for the sixth time in the past seven years.

Carrico, a native of Owensboro, Ky., was also a second-team All-OVC selection following an outstanding rookie campaign. He had a stroke average of 73.34 over 32 rounds during the 2007-08 season. He was named OVC Golfer of the Week on April 16 after placing third out of 96 competitors at the UK Bluegrass Invitational to cap the regular season. He is the first Murray State golfer to earn the Freshman of the Year Award, which was first given out in the 2005 season.

Eastern Kentucky, who entered the OVC Championship with a GolfStat national ranking of 10, dominated the All-OVC first-team. Senior Phil Hendrickson, who has a national individual ranking of 50, was one of the three EKU golfers on the team and was joined by juniors Trey Bowling and Jesse Massie. Hendrickson, who was a second-team All-OVC selection last season, led the OVC in stroke average (71.81) during the season. In 31 rounds he scored a tournament victory and three other Top 5 finishes. Bowling ranked third in the OVC in stroke average (72.29) and was named OVC Golfer of the Week twice during the season. He also had a tournament victory and three Top 5 finishes in 2007-08. Massie, who was also honored as an OVC Golfer of the Week this season, had a stroke average of 72.65, which ranked him fourth among league golfers during the season. Massie scored two tournament wins in 2007-08.

The first-team was rounded out by Austin Peay's Grant Leaver, Jacksonville State's Gonzalo Berlin and Tennessee Tech's John Fox. Leaver is the only repeat All-OVC first-team selection this season. The senior had a stroke average of 72.07 (which ranked second in the OVC) and currently ranks 59th in the nation in the latest GolfStat rankings. Berlin, also a selection on the All-Newcomer team, had a stroke average of 73.28 during the season, had a tournament win and three other Top 10 finishes. He was also honored as OVC Golfer of the Week once during the season. The junior Fox had a 73.0 stroke average during the season and had five Top 10 tournament finishes, including an individual medalist honor.

Murray State's three second-team selections included Carrico, sophomore Nick Newcomb and senior Jerry Price. Newcomb, who was also an All-Newcomer Team selection after transferring from Louisville, averaged 73.25 strokes over 32 rounds. He also scored five Top 10 finishes during the year. Price totaled 73.28 strokes in 32 total rounds in 2007-08 and scored four Top 5 finishes. The second-team also included Jacksonville State senior Julian Colmenares, Tennessee Tech senior Barrett Steakley and Eastern Kentucky senior Justin Moore. Colmenares, who finished third at the OVC Championship a year ago, had a 73.19 stroke average during the year. Steakley was sixth in the OVC in stroke average (73.14) over 22 rounds; included in that was four Top 5 finishes during the season. Moore, a first-team All-OVC pick a year ago, averaged 73.26 strokes per round this season.

The first and second-team All-OVC teams were based on individual adjusted stroke average; this marked the second year the teams were determined by this method.

The All-Newcomer Team consisted of Carrico and Newcomb from Murray State, Berlin from Jacksonville State, UT Martin junior Cole Floyd and Austin Peay freshman Luke Sherrod. Floyd also earned OVC Golfer of the Week honors during the season, and finished the year in the Top 20 in stroke average (73.89) in the OVC. Sherrod compiled a 75.9 stroke average over 21 rounds in 2007-08.

The 2008 OVC Men’s Golf Championship continues with 18 holes on Monday and the final 18 holes on Tuesday. Live scoring can be accessed through links at OVCSports.com.

Due to time constraints, the doubles competition was not played.

Leonardo Locatelli and Patrick Puertolas claimed the Govs two wins over Eastern Illinois. Locatelli earned at straight set win at No. 2 singles over Robert Stedman, while Puertolas also won in straight sets over Vuk Milicevic.

Jay Wilkinson could not overcome a one-set deficit at No. 5 singles, losing to Chris Thomas. Thomas and Wilkinson split the first two sets, but Thomas powered through to take the final set and the match.

The Govs wrap up their season with a 1 p.m., Monday, match against Murray State.

 What a difference a year makes in the event. A year ago, Rick Christophel not only was completing his first spring practice but literally his first practices as APSU head coach as well.

Christophel, in fact, ended spring practice with several question marks regarding his personnel.  

“This really has been a good spring for us,” Christophel said. “Other than a couple of injuries, everything has gone well.

“And what has really been good, for the most part the people we play Friday will be the same people the fans are going to see come this fall. Last fall, we knew we were going to have to count on some of the freshmen, especially at wide receiver, to help us. We also thought Mark Cunningham, even though he was injured, would be our quarterback but Gary Orr literally came out of the woodwork to be the backup.

“Not that we don’t have some freshmen coming in this fall that are going to help us—we just aren’t going to have to depend on them as much as we did this year.”

Friday’s game will see the Red team coached by assistants Granville Eastman, Marcus Gildersleeve, Josh Roberts and Paul Derrick. The White team will be coached by Steve Haywood, Brendan Gregory and Pat Curran. The teams were divided by a draft by the senior players.

The losing team and coaches will cook and serve the winning team at a barbecue later this spring.

The Red team will see returning starting quarterback Gary Orr have returning wide receivers Lanis Frederick and Adrian Mines as weapons. His running backs will be Otis Spivey, Ryan White and Jeff Lyle. Center Travis Dumke will anchor the offensive line.

Defensively, the line will feature Antonio Faulkner, Dee Peeler and Chris Newell while the linebacking corps will be led by Chris Haynes, Ricky Thomas and Daniel Swenson. The secondary will feature returning starters LaDarius Davis at corner and Jason Vanatta at safety.

The White team will see transfer quarterback T.C. Jennings at the helm. He will have Theo Townsend and Terrence Holt as his running backs along with Darryl Miller, James Feezel and Brandon Meggs heading the receiver corps. Up front, second-team All-OVC tackle Cage Major will lead the way.

Defensively, P.R. Morris and Nick Clark will lead the way at ends while Justin Shoate will hold down the middle. At linebacker, leading 2007 tackler Kit Hartsfield along with Rick Woods and converted running back Spencer Gulmire will spearhead the middle of the field. In the secondary, returning corner Kevis Buckley and safety Tremayne Townsend should lead the way.

“I think we will come out of this spring with a one-two quarterback situation,” Christophel said. “I like what I have seen to this point. Gary has really improved this spring and has really developed. We also have had the addition of T.C. Jennings. Scott Thomas in the last week and a half has really developed while Trent Caffee is starting to come along.

“I think we will have depth at running back but I am not sure we are ready to name a starter. All five of those guys have had good days and bad days. Maybe the spring game will determine who the starter will be. I do know this we will have good depth at the position.”

Christophel has been pleased with the kicking game progress. Returner Isaac Ziolkowski has improved the depth on both his placekicks and kickoffs. Punter Ryan Key returns as does Holt, who set the APSU and Ohio Valley Conference records for kickoff returns last season as a freshman.

No admission will be charged for the scrimmage, although donations will be accepted for the Rodney Long Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was established in memory of Long, a former walk-on player who was killed in a February 1982 kidnapping incident.

After the game, a reception for former Governors football players will be held at the Riverview Inn.

“I think the game will be entertaining Friday,” Christophel said. “Everything will be pretty vanilla. We won’t allow blitzing. We are going to throw the ball a little bit around the field. Each team also will have two gimmick plays that they must use. We hope the fans will come out and enjoy it.”