With three Panthers under par in the second round including Joel Sjoholm's second-straight round in the 60s to sit in first overall, the 48th-ranked Georgia State University men's golf team took possession of first place with a second-round team score of 280 (-4) at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships in Williamsburg, Va.

Sjoholm, then nation's fourth-ranked player and 2008 CAA Golfer of the Year, carded seven birdies in his second round to finish with a three-under par 68. The senior currently holds a three-stroke lead on his nearest competitor, UNC Wilmington's Will Shambley.

As a team, every Panther shot a 75 or better in the second round, including two one-under par performances of 70 from sophomore Tom Sherreard and freshman Alex Castro. State has a two-round team score of 569 (+1) and leads second place UNC Wilmington by15 strokes on the par-71, 6,738-yard Gold Course at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club.

“We played a very solid round of golf and one of our best of the year,” said Georgia State head golf coach Matt Clark. “We probably didn't get off the best start, but we all settled in and ended up with great font nine.

“Joel [Sjoholm] played an amazing front nine,” added Clark. “He had a few hiccups on the back nine, but recovered to go two-under par on the last four holes. He's a great player.”

Every member of State's team currently rests in the top-30 overall among the 55-player field. Sherread, who ranks 70th nationally, sits in sixth, while Castro holds a tie for 17th along with sophomore Maurice Jordan, who carded a 72 (+1) in the second round. Freshman Brent Paul is tied for 27th after a round of 75 (+4).

“We we're playing good most all day and it's encouraging building up towards tomorrow and the conclusion of the conference championship tournament,” said Clark. “Now, we have to go out and finish.”

Georgia State tees off in the final groupings beginning at 11:11 a.m. with UNC Wilmington and third place Old Dominion.

Georgia State has won five conference championships with one CAA title coming in 2006, the team's first year in the league. State has advanced to the NCAA Regionals in eight of the last nine seasons and has progressed to the NCAA Championship on four occasions.

Sjoholm claimed a tie for second in last year's CAA Championship and finished in fourth the previous year. Sophomore Tom Sherreard finished tied for 12th a year ago, while Jordan sat out the event.

Live scoring of the CAA Championships can be found at GolfStat.com and updates can be found at GeorgiaStateSports.com following final-round action.


Georgia State Individual Scores:
1 ? Joel Sjoholm ? 65-68 ? 133, -9
6 ? Tom Sherreard ? 73-70 143, +1
T17 ? Maurice Jordan ? 75-72 ? 147, +5
T17 ? Alex Castro ? 77-70 ?147, +5
T27 ? Brent Paul ? 76-75 ? 151, +9

Team Scores:

1	48 Georgia State Univ.	+1	F	-4	289	280	569
2	N. Car. Wilmington	+16	F	+10	290	294	584
3	Old Dominion Univ.	+17	F	+10	291	294	585
4	Wm. & Mary, Coll. of	+22	F	+8	298	292	590
T5	Drexel University	+24	F	+20	288	304	592
T5	George Mason Univ.	+24	F	+13	295	297	592
7	VCU	+25	F	+15	294	299	593
8	Towson University	+27	F	+6	305	290	595
9	Delaware, U. of	+32	F	+7	309	291	600
10	James Madison Univ.	+39	F	+16	307	300	607
11	Hofstra University	+44	F	+26	302	310	612