RUSTON ? Matthew Harvey and Clinton Shepard have always had a friendly rivalry on the golf course since they were little boys playing in tournaments growing up in the Monroe area.

On Tuesday, the pair of West Monroe natives had quite a battle during the final two rounds of the Squire Creek Invitational hosted by Louisiana Tech.

However, this time, it was as Bulldog teammates. Their performances led Tech to a third place finish in the 18-team event, finishing just three strokes behind Ole Miss and one stroke behind LSU.

Shepard, who is a freshman walk-on for the Bulldogs after prepping at West Monroe High School, set the tone for Tech in day two of the 18-team tournament with a seven-under-par 65 in the second round of action ? a round which began on Monday before being suspended due to rain.

Amazing considering it was only Shepard?s second career collegiate tournament. Almost unbelievable considering it came one day after registering an 81 in the opening round of the event.

?We started the (second) round yesterday, but I?m glad we finished today,? said Shepard, who recorded eight birdies and one bogey in the round. ?I played better today. I came out (this morning) and made five birdies and no bogeys. The (delay) helped me. I got down yesterday (during the first round), and I let it get to me instead of focusing. I refocused today.?

Tech head coach Jean Hall said he wasn?t all that surprised by Shepard?s performance.

?I wouldn?t say I?m shocked,? Hall said. ?Clinton is a unique individual. He has posted some tremendous golf scores. He?s fearless. He?s an extraordinary talent. He has great potential to be something special.?

Shepard?s 65 tied the second lowest round in Tech history. However, it was only ranked No. 2 for about five hours thanks to his teammate Harvey.

The former St. Frederick High School prep star ? Harvey moved to Georgetown, Texas following his sophomore year in high school ? bettered his buddy by registering an eight-under-par 64 during the afternoon?s third round.

?That?s just like him,? Shepard joked afterwards. ?He doesn?t want me to have all the glory. I?ve known him for a long time.?

Harvey, who started the tournament with a 74 and 71 before taming Squire Creek in Tuesday?s afternoon round, finished the event with a three-round total of seven-under-par 209 to win his first collegiate event, bettering College of Charleston?s Harrison Moore by one stroke.

?I got into a groove after about no. 6,? said Harvey, who recorded seven birdies and an eagle. ?It stuck with me. I went out there and made a bunch of putts. I knew where I could hit it and where I couldn?t.?

The 2006 Louisiana Sports Writers Association State Freshman of the Year was only five-under after 16 holes but finished with an eagle on 17 and a birdie on 18.

?I went out and shot a 71 this morning and got beat by six strokes,? Harvey said, referring to Shepard?s score. ?It wasn?t fun. I told (Clinton) it was a great round, and it was.?

Hall said he hopes he sees more of these friendly competitions over the next three years, especially if it means more 64?s and 65?s.

?The competition is great,? Hall said. ?I wish every player on our team would feel that way in the sense that ?Hey, my teammates are performing well, and I don?t want to let them down?. Matthew doesn?t verbally challenge his teammates, but he is the leader of this team performance-wise.

?And as proud as he was of Clinton, he wasn?t going to give up that leadership. There is no doubt in my mind, he took that 65 and said watch this. He responds.?

It wasn?t the first time in Harvey?s career he has responded. He fired a 64 in the opening round of the 2006 Texas Class 5A state championship as a senior to win the individual title.

And if Harvey and Shepard continue to respond, Tech golf could be in for a move up the national rankings.