Seniors Adam Harrell (Salem, Va.) and Scott Hunter (Roanoke, Va.) led George Mason to its first golf tournament victory in years this past weekend, with the win coming not a match too soon.

With only two tournaments to go, George Mason was hoping to position itself among the District II top-four teams and a chance of earning its first berth into the NCAA Regional Tournament. Ranked eighth going into the Princeton Invitational at Springdale Golf Club, Mason needed to beat the five teams ranked ahead of them in order to accomplish the feat. That they did, shooting a team total 601 strokes to edge runner-up Temple by one shot.

For Harrell (74-72) and Hunter (75-71), they were involved in a heated individual medalist battle as they both fired two-day totals of 146 to force a playoff with Temple's Ralph Miller (73-73). On the first extra hole, a 295 yard, par 4, Harrell drove the green while Hunter and Miller played strong shots within 50 yards of the green.

The day, however, belonged to Miller, as he chipped his second shot in the hole for eagle, while Harrell just missed his eagle putt by inches. Consequently, the two Patriots, playing in their first collegiate playoff, had to settle for a tie for second place. Their finishes were still their highest of the year.

For their efforts, Harrell and Hunter have been named the Connection Newspapers/GMU Athlete of the Week.

"This is a tournament we needed to win," said seventh year head golf coach Steve Loesher. "I told the guys what they had to do, but they didn't seem nervous--they seemed determined. For two days, they played very poised golf. Their heads were in the right direction."