Jan. 18, 2008

CINCINNATI - The Atlantic 10 Conference released its men's golf preseason poll today and in a vote among the conference coaches, Xavier is predicted to finish second in the conference for the second straight year.

Charlotte, the 2007 conference champion, was voted as the most likely team to claim the 2008 title.  Xavier finished second in the conference championship to the 49ers in 2007.

Xavier recorded a fourth place finish in their opening tournament of the fall season at the Air Force Academy Invitational, led by freshman Diego Tamayo who finished in fourth individually. 

The Musketeers earned a fifth place finish at the Xavier Invitational after junior Mike Beausejour, freshman Peter O'Neill, and Tamayo all fired final rounds of 67 to lead XU.  The three rounds tie as the lowest for Xavier golfers in the fall season.

Beausejour and senior Andy Connell carded the best tournament scores of the fall season, each with top-ten finishes.  A ten-under par 206 was enough to earn Beausejour a tie for sixth place at the Xavier Invitational.  Connell tied for ninth with a one-over par 145 at the Memphis Intercollegiate.

The Musketeers will open their highly-touted spring season at the Ron Smith/USF Invitational in Dade City, Florida on February 29.