If Lee men's golf coach John Maupin was looking for balance and depth, he got it on Monday and Tuesday in the NCCAA MidEast Region at the Old Silos Golf Course.
The windy, cool and sometimes wet conditions seemed to be well-suited for Lee's England golfer Corey Sheppard. He put together two consecutive under-par rounds of 70-71 - 141 in leading the Flames to a dominating 30-stroke team victory and also earned medalist honors.
Maupin sent six golfers to the event and the tournament's six top scorers were all Lee players.
Freshman Ryne Thompson made the trip as an individual Flame and fired Tuesday's best round of 70, earning a second-place finish with a 75-70 -145.
"Great to see Corey pick up his first collegiate win," said Maupin after viewing the impressive results. " He had a very good tournament. I was also very impressed with the round Ryne shot today. I just think this speaks to the depth we have this year."
The remainder of the Lee club was grouped together in the mid-70's range, sealing the title. The Flames had a team total of 298 on Tuesday and a final tournament total of 594.
Taylor Davis and Peyton Sliger finished in a tie for third. Davis recorded rounds of 76-75- 151 and Sliger posted a 74-77 - 151. Two more Flames were deadlocked for fifth place. Matt Strube and Adam Wright were consistent, each firing rounds of 76 both days for the 152 tally.
"It always feels good to walk away with a win" Maupin said. "I thought the guys did a great job of just going in and doing what they needed to do. The golf course, and the weather, was a great test, so I think these rounds can be verybeneficial down the road. (Assistant coaches) Alex (Ratliff) and Hunter (Vest) did a great job this week of having the guys ready to play."
Bluefield College placed second (624) and Campbellsville finished third (628). The only other Gulf South Conference team in the seven-team field, Mississippi College, was fourth at 632.
The Flames are the defending national champs and earned a second straight trip to the annual tournament by winning the MidEast Region. "We are looking forward to a return trip to the NCCAA National Championship," Maupin concluded.