Oct. 14, 2007

JONESBORO, Tenn. ----- Sophomore Adam West, playing in his second career tournament, led the No. 17 UAB men's golf team at the Bank of Tennessee at the Ridges, carding a career-best five-under par 211 (71-70-70). However, West's performance was not enough as the Blazers closed the event in 13th overall with an 875 (294-285-296) on the three-day, 72-hole event.

West, a native of Montgomery, Ala., finished tied for seventh overall, just five strokes back of individual medalist Chris Paisley of Tennessee. West also matched his single-round career low of 70 set at the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate earlier in the week, and set a new 36-hole best of 141 set at the same event.

Senior Brad Smith was the only other Blazer to close play among the top 30 golfers, ending the event in 29th with a 217 (73-70-74) on the par-72, 7,147-yard Ridges Golf Course. Senior Kyle Sapp, who is the reigning Conference USA Men's Golfer of the Week, finished tied for 61st overall with a nine-over 225 (75-73-77), while junior Zach Sucher (75-76-76) and sophomore Cathal O'Malley (78-72-76), both shot a 226 to close play tied for 71st.

Virginia Tech and North Carolina tied for the overall lead, but the Hokies claimed the team championship by tournament tie-breaker rules, which have the teams match non-counting scorecards on the final day. Tech's non-counting score was 73 and the Tar Heels' non-counting score was 74.

Tournament host East Tennessee State finished third overall, while Kent State finished fourth and Tennessee and Coastal Carolina tied for fifth.

The Ridges, which annually attracts one of the strongest fields of the fall season, boasted eight teams that competed in the 2007 NCAA Championships (ETSU, Wake Forest, UNC, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Tennessee, Auburn and Coastal Carolina). Eight teams in the field are currently ranked in the top 50 in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings, led by number-two South Carolina.

UAB's next tournament will be the team's fall finale, when it travels to Hattiesburg, Miss. to compete at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate on Nov. 5-6.