Courtney Rutherford has been named the new men’s and women’s tennis coach. Rutherford takes over the position from coach Shane Wood, who accepted a position as head men’s and women’s tennis coach at NCAA Division I Jacksonville University in Florida. After graduating from Lakeside High School in Atlanta, Rutherford embarked on a highlysuccessful collegiate tennis career at NCAA Division-II Coker College, where he served as team captain and garnered the Most Valuable Player award. After graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and business, he competed on the United States Tennis Association (USTA) professional circuit for one year. After his professional career ended, Rutherford served as a personal tennis coach before starting the Center Court Tennis Academy, where he presently coaches and trains players of all levels of ability. As a personal coach, Rutherford has mentored numerous players who went on to compete at the highest levels of NCAA tennis programs as well as the professional ranks. s David Gillispie
The men’s golf team will inaugurate the spring season by hosting the 5th Annual The Orchard Spring Invitational on Tuesday, March 11th. At the close of the fall season, The fall 2007 men’s golf team included, from left, assistant coach Dusty Rogers, Ryan Cobo, Drew Witchousky, Matt Howell, Phillip the Piedmont men carded a 36-hole Enslen, Mike Matthews, and coach Lee Glenn. score of 318-324--642 to finish 19th at the Chick-Fil-A Collegiate Invitational Oct. 15-16 hosted by Berry College at Coosa Country Club. The Lions slid back three spots on the final day after standing in a tie for 16th at the midway point. The 21-team tournament field was dominated by 18 NAIA scholarship programs with 11 of those ranked in the nation’s top 30 teams. Matt Howell led the team with a 73-78--151 which placed him in a tie for 38th overall out of 114 golfers. His 151 (+7) ties for fourth on the modern-era records book for 36-hole individual scores. Teammates Matt Goodall (84-78) and Drew Witchousky (79-83) tied for 97th with matching 162s. Mike Matthews carded a two-day total of 84-85--169 while Ryan Cobo rounded out the Lions’ scoring with an 82-91--173. The men finished in a tie for 14th place out of 17 teams at the Greensboro College Fall Invitational in Greensboro, N.C., Oct. 2. Piedmont carded a 36-hole total of 312-325--637 against national caliber Division-III competition on the ChamRyan Cobo pions Course at Bryan Park. Piedmont’s opening day 312 was good for a tie for 11th place at the midway point, but the team struggled to a second-day 325 into a tie for 14th place overall with nationallyranked Hampden-Sydney College. The tournament featured 17 NCAA Division-III teams with over half of the field ranked in the nation’s top-25. s
The women’s golf team will return to action in 2008 when the team hosts the 5th Annual Spring Invitational on Tuesday, March 11, The women’s golf team included from left, assistant coach Dusty at The Orchard Golf and Country Rogers, Ashley Rutlege, Bethann Rogers, Lynne Laseter, Gracie Club north of Clarkesville. Faulkner, Laura Schulte, Tiffany Foster, Erin Simonton, and coach Lee Glenn. During the fall season, the Lady Lions picked up consecutive tournament victories with wins at the University of the South Fall Invitational at Sewanee, Tenn., and the Reinhardt College Fall Invitational in Waleska. At Sewanee, the women broke their own single-round team record with a score of 352, bettering their previous record by 13 strokes. They finished a commanding 75 strokes ahead of runner-up Reinhardt. Lynne Laseter led the team with a five-over par 79 on the par 74, 5,809 yard course. She finished runner-up in the 18-player field. Freshman Bethann Rogers carded a career-low 13-over par 87 to finish third overall. Joining Laseter and Rogers on the AllTournament team were teammates Tiffany Foster (92), Grace Faulkner (94), and Ashley Rutledge (96). At the Reinhardt tourney, the Piedmont women posted a team score of 347. Tiffany Foster earned her first collegiate tournament victory with a career-best 79, earning her medalist honors. s Tiffany Foster
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