FLORENCE, S.C.-- East Carolina men's golfer Martin Nicholls sits in a tie for fifth place after 36-holes at the 20th annual Raines Development Group Intercollegiate. The tournament is being held at the par-72, 7,062-yard CCSC Course.

Nicholls, a freshman from Cali, Colombia, is competing in his first collegiate tournament and recorded a five-over par 149 (73-76) and is six strokes behind leader Trevor Murphy (Charlotte) with 18-holes remaining. Lurking around the leader board is fellow Pirate Ryan Solan who is one-stroke (150) behind Nicholls.

ECU (308-298=606) in the team portion of the tournament is five strokes off the lead and is currently tied for fifth place with Jacksonville University. The leaders after the first 36-holes are Charleston Southern ( 300-301-601), Belmont Abbey College (602) and in third are Coastal Carolina and Davidson College with a score of 604.

The Pirates are one of 13 teams participating in this year's tournament along with: Belmont Abbey College, Campbell, Charleston Southern, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Davidson College, East Carolina, Francis Marion, Georgia College & State University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Old Dominion University, and Virginia Commonweath University.

"I'm real proud of the way the team played in the difficult conditions today," said ECU head golf coach Kevin Williams. "We have put ourselves in great position to win tomorrow. Our freshman have come up big for us and they both have a chance to finish on the leader board."

Final round action will resume at 8 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Top Pirate Finishes
T9,	Martin Nicholls	  73-76=149
T13.	Ryan Solan	  74-76=150
T30.	Adam Howell	  79-74=153
T37.	Philip Reale, II  80-74=154
T55.	Ryan Neal	  80-78=158

Top Individual Finishes
1.	Trevor Murphy (Charlotte)	72-71=143
T2.	Ryan Bates (Belm. Abbey)	74-72=146
T2.	Jeremy Kirkland (Coastal)	74-72=146
T2.	Jamie Kennedy (Jacksoville)	72-74=146
T5.	Three are tied at	        147

Top Teams
1.	Charleston Southern	300-301=601
2.	Belmont Abbey	        298-304=602
T3.	Coastal Carolina	310-294=604
T3.	Davidson	        309-295=604
T5.	East Carolina	        308-298=606
T5.	Jacksonville Univ.	302-304=606