May 21, 2008 SAN MARCOS, Calif. - Fourth-ranked British Columbia posted a 312, the best round of the day, to assume the lead at the halfway point of the 2008 NAIA Women's Golf National Championship, which is being played at the Lake San Marcos Country Club. The Thunderbirds' two-round total of 630 gives them a slim three-stroke lead.

British Columbia is looking to sweep the NAIA golf titles as the UBC men won the NAIA Men's Golf National Championship last week. Oklahoma City swept the men's and women's titles in 2006 and 2007.

After shooting an 84 yesterday, Alyssa Human led the way for the Thunderbirds today as she came in with a team-best three-over 75, bolstered by a trio of birdies. Kayla Inaba shot a 78, and Marianne Banton carded a 79. Melissa Core rounded out UBC's day with an 80.

The 72-hole tournament runs through Friday, May 23.

British Columbia Claims 2008 National Championship

May 16, 2008 PLYMOUTH, Ind. - Starting the day at even par, third-ranked British Columbia was four-over in their final round which was more than enough to grab the team title at the 2008 NAIA Men's Golf National Championship held at Indiana National Golf Club in Plymouth, Indiana.

The Thunderbirds, who took the team lead after the second round, slammed the door on the competition with the best round of the day. Sunny and breezy conditions made the course dry and quick and scoring became more and more difficult as the day wore on. Oklahoma Christian was the only team able to match the Thunderbirds' four-over 292, but having started the day 12 strokes back, they gained no ground on the leaders and could only move up to second place. Playing in the final grouping with UBC were Oklahoma City and Johnson & Wales (Fla.), but both faltered as the day wore on to finish in third and fourth respectively. Wayland Baptist finished the day where they started, ending up in fifth place.

Sam Cyr, who began the day in second place two strokes out of the lead, posted a bogey-free two-under 70 in one of the earliest pairings for an eight-under-par total. Once that score hit the leaderboard, no one could match the Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) junior as he ended up five strokes clear of runner-up Blake Rowe-Sleeman (-3) of UBC. Fernando Gonzales of Oklahoma Christian and Hamilton Wheeler of Southern Nazarene (Okla.) tied for third at (-2) while Nick Zappin of Johnson & Wales finished fifth at even par.

British Columbia Makes Big Move on Day Two
Rowe-Sleeman's Course Record 64 Leads Thunderbirds

May 14, 2008 PLYMOUTH, Ind. - Third-ranked British Columbia shot a seven-under-par 281 to take the team lead after the second round of the 2008 NAIA Men's Golf National Championship being held at Indiana National Golf Club in Plymouth, Indiana.

The Thunderbirds were led by Blake Rowe-Sleeman who carded a sizzling 64 to set a new course record at Indiana National and also tie the single round National Championship record. The round catapulted the senior into third place, moving all the way from T64 after round one.

No other team was able to match par, as morning showers gave way to windy and colder conditions throughout the afternoon. First round leaders Johnson & Wales were five-over on the day to drop into second place, just two strokes behind the T-Birds. Defending national champion Oklahoma City was two-over and is in third place, nine strokes back, while Wayland Baptist was three-over on the day to stand a further shot adrift.

Sam Cyr and Nick Zappin are tied for the individual lead at five-under-par. Cyr shot a two-under 70 in the morning rain while Zappin was in one of the last groups of the day with a three-under 69.

The field of 144 golfers will be cut to the top 17 teams and 40 individuals after the completion of the third round tomorrow. Third round tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday as the teams once again tackle the 6,950 yard, par 72 layout at Indiana National with the 72-hole event continuing through Friday, May 16.