Clayton State Men's Golf Signs Four

MORROW, Ga. - July 7, 2008 – Fresh off the best season in men’s golf in nearly a decade, Clayton State head coach Barry Harwell is building for another big run in 2008-09 for the Lakers.

Harwell announced recently the signing of four recruits for Clayton State men’s golf for the upcoming season. Joining the Laker fold include NAIA transfers Raphael Marguery and Neil Thomas from Missouri Valley College, plus freshmen Andrew Bate from West Midlands, England and Jordan-Tyler Massey from Panama City, Fla.

The quartet join a Laker program that finished the 2007-08 season ranked 20th in the nation in Division II, in addition to finishing runner-up in the Peach Belt Conference and 10th at the NCAA Division II National Championships. Clayton State returns the bulk of its 2007-08 line-up, most notably Peach Belt Conference champion and Division II first team All-American Will Wilcox.

“This recruiting class has the potential to advance our program another step and bring us closer to the conference leaders,” said Harwell, entering his third season at the Clayton State helm.

Both Marguery and Thomas will be juniors this season at Clayton State following solid seasons at Missouri Valley out of the NAIA’s Heart of America Athletic Conference. Both players give the Lakers added depth and scoring punch behind Wilcox.

Marguery, from Paris, France, had a 74.4 scoring average this season for head coach Jim Anderson at Missouri Valley, and he won two tournaments in the process. Marguery posted victories at the Missouri Valley Invitational and the NAIA Region V/Heart of America Athletic Conference Individual Championship. In addition, Marguery also finished second at the Evangel Spring Invitational, tied for second at the Bison Invitational and tied for 28th in the NAIA National Championships.

Just recently, Marguery finished runner-up at the French Amateur Match Play Championship, losing in the finals 1-down (38 holes).

Thomas, from Edmonton, Alberta, posted a 76.7 scoring average this season at Missouri Valley. His top performances included a seventh-place finish Evangel Spring Invitational and tied for seventh each at the Missouri Valley Invitational and the NAIA Region V/Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship. He also had two third-place finishes at the William Jewell Fall Invitational and the Missouri Valley Fall Invitational.

“Raphael had an excellent season at Missouri Valley with the three victories and another strong performance at the NAIA National Championships,” Harwell said. “Neil is expected to bring an immediate impact to our team, starting this fall. He has had two years of collegiate experience and has proven he can post solid scores.”

Bate is a member of the Warwickshire County Golf Union and was the 2007 Warwickshire County U-18 Match Play Champion. He also played in the England School Boy Championship and the British Boys Championship. Massey was a four-time All-Bay County selection for A.C. Mosley High School, where he recorded a 73.6 scoring average as a senior and helped pace A.C. Mosley to the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) 2A Region championship.

“Andy has had good performances at the junior, regional and national level in England,” Harwell said. “We are glad to have picked him up as he also had interest from several Division I programs.

“Jordan-Tyler made a good impression on the other players during his campus visit in the spring and could immediately earn an early chance to play this fall.”