VALDOSTA, Ga. – The No. 3 Lee men's golf team is once again going dancing as it punched its ticket for the second straight year to the NCAA D2 National Championship with a third place finish at the South Region Championship on Saturday.

The Flames fired back from a slow first round start and moved from 15^th after round one all the way up to a tie for third. Lee posted rounds of 289, 281, and 290 for an 860 total. No. 10 Limestone rolled to a 10-stroke victory at 17-under, 847. No. 1 Barry was second at 7-unver 857 and No. 8 North Georgia tied the Flames in third at 860. No. 9 George Southwestern and No. 15 Florida Southern rounded out the advancing six teams from the South Region.

"Lots of expectations and hopes on the line this week, and our guys delivered. I'm just so proud of them. We all know how difficult Regionals is, and for these guys to come in and do what they did is just so strong. After 9 holes we were +9 and in 19th place. After 18 holes, we were +1 and in the 15th. These guys never panicked, just stayed calm and came back to play some great golf the last two rounds. It's a really special group. We're thrilled to have the chance to go play for a National Championship," said Lee Director of Golf John Maupin.

Connor Pollman led the way for the Flames as he was steady as a rock with rounds of 71, 71 and 70 and finished T8th. Freshman Dalton Chuba followed in a T24th with a 71, 71, 74 tournament. Oliver Lewis-Perkins was one stroke back of Chuba posting 74, 72, and 71 and finished in a T27th. Dustin DeMersseman carded a 218 (73, 70, 75) and the nation's No. 2 player, Beck Burnette rounded things out with a 221 total but fired a 3-under 69 in round two to help key the Flames comeback.

"I thought our depth was on full display this week. Dalton and Dustin put together great weeks for us and really kept us in it. And I really can't tell you how proud I am of Connor Pollman, what a big time week he had for us, and he was as clutch as could be down the stretch of the final round," added Maupin.

Barry's AJ Ewart showcased why he is ranked as the top NCAA D2 player as he ran away with medalist honors at 13-under thanks to a sizzling final round 66 (69, 68, 66, 203). Austin Fulton of West Georgia was second, six shots off the lead with a 209 total.

The Flames will now get ready to try and get back into match play as they tee it up at the NCAA D2 National Championship starting on Monday, May 16 in Detroit, Mich. The first three rounds are traditional stroke play with the top eight teams advancing to match play.