Sept. 11, 2012

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Sophomore Joe Lewis carded a 4-under 67 in the final round of the Sam Hall Intercollegiate to lead Ole Miss to the win on Tuesday. The Rebels finished one shot ahead of rival Mississippi State and it marked Ole Miss’ first tournament win since the 2010 Mobile Bay Intercollegiate.

Lewis, a native Savannah, Ga., birdied 6-of-7 on holes 8-14, including four-straight on 11-12-13-14, on his way to a score of 67. The round of 4-under par catapulted Lewis into a tie for 21st and tied for the lowest round of the tournament. It also marked the lowest round of his career, besting his round of 68 at last year’s Mason Rudolph Championship.

Sophomore Blake Morris fired a 1-under par 71 in his final round and finished the tournament in third with a three-day total of 207, two shots behind the medalist Victor Lange of Louisiana Tech. It marked Morris’ best career finish since tying for seventh at last year’s Chris Schenkel Invitational. Junior Tom Brown carded a 2-under par 69 to finish in a tie for 17th, after he started his round with four-straight birdies and finished the tournament with a three-day total of 214.

“It was a very close tournament coming down the stretch,” said Ole Miss head coach Ernest Ross. “We had some guys make clutch shots and putts to give us the edge. I am really proud of our guys exhibiting a great attitude all day, from the time we got to the course to the trophy presentation. It’s a great way to start the year.”

Freshman Connor Davis finished his final round with a 3-over par 74, while follow freshman Forrest Gamble carded a 4-over 75. Senior Chad Bounds finished with a 6-over 77 competing as an individual.

Next up, OIe Miss will compete in the Mason Rudolph Championship Sept. 21-23 in Franklin, Tenn. Fans can follow the Rebels all season on twitter at @OleMissMGolf and on facebook at www.facebook.com/OleMissMGolf.

TEAM

1 Ole Miss 289 276 280 845 -7

2 Mississippi State 292 278 276 846 -6

3 South Alabama 285 287 278 850 -2

4 Louisiana Tech 288 282 281 851 -1

T5 Southeastern Louisiana 286 285 282 853 +1

T5 Samford 295 280 278 853 +1

7 Southern Mississippi 282 290 288 860 +8

8 Louisiana-Lafayette 281 287 296 864 +12

9 Arkansas-Little Rock 292 289 284 865 +13

10 Sam Houston State 286 286 295 867 +15

11 UTSA 292 289 291 872 +20

12 Louisiana-Monroe 292 294 289 875 +23

13 Arkansas State 291 293 294 878 +26

14 Rice 292 292 299 883 +31

15 Mc Neese State 313 294 293 900 +48

OLE MISS INDIVIDUALS

3. Blake Morris – 70-67-70-207

T17. Tom Brown – 74-71-69-214

T21. Joe Lewis – 73-75-67-215

T24. Connor Davis – 73-69-74-216

T29. Forrest Gamble – 73-67-75-217

 (Individual)

T51. Chad Bounds – 72-73-77-222