May 23, 2012

Palmetto Pigskin Tour: Furman (AUDIO)

After taking a small hiatus, we refueled, got Korn a Gatorade and a Slim Jim (or two) and shipped him off to Greenville for our next stop on our Palmetto Pigskin Tour, The Furman Paladins.  The Paladins are in a bit of transition.  After being a quality program for 9 seasons in FCS competition under former Head Coach Bobby Lamb, longtime Paladin Assistant, Bruce Fowler, steps in as the head man.  Coach Fowler was nice enough to sit down with us to discuss where he feels his program stands at the present time, and what he’s looking for in 2011.

AUDIO: Bruce Fowler

Coach Fowler also allowed us to get ahold of two of his players, Senior Center Daniel Spisak, and Senior Corner Ryan Steed to discuss their enthusiasm of the upcoming season.

AUDIO: Daniel Spisak and Ryan Steed

Furman gets their season underway Sept. 3 at Coastal Carolina.

Furman’s Reeves takes SC Amateur crown

Austin Reeves

Furman’s Austin Reeves (-5) notched a final round 72 on Sunday to edge Inman’s Daniel Stanley by one stroke and capture the 2011 South Carolina Amateur title at Colleton River Plantation’s Dye Course in Bluffton, S.C.

The Greenville, S.C., native and Eastside High School product trailed Stanley by three strokes entering the final round after posting scores of 74-67-70 over the previous three rounds. Stanley struggled with three bogeys on the front nine and a double bogey at No. 9 before Reeves notched back-to-back birdies at No. 10 and No. 11 to help him manage a two-stroke advantage down the stretch. Stanley birdied the final hole, but Reeves recorded a par to capture the one-stroke victory.

“I just tried to make putts down the stretch and not beat myself,” said Reeves, who shot even-par 36 on the front and back nines.

The win marked the first S.C. Amateur title for the rising senior who redshirted for the Paladins this past season after capturing Southern Conference individual medalist honors and leading Furman to the league crown in 2010.

A pair of former Paladin standouts posted strong finishes as Jordan Byrd (E) claimed a share of sixth place and Todd White (+3) tied for ninth place. Furman freshman Josh Chay shot a final round 77 to finish at 11-over par.

Final leaderboard