Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior Fernando Montemurro (Sao Paulo, Brazil) made sure Senior Day ended on a happy note, as he won the clinching match at number five singles and helped the Bulldogs edge Brevard College 5-4 Friday evening at the WU Tennis Complex. The Bulldogs have won 12 matches in a row.

With the victory, Wingate (16-3 overall, 9-0 SAC) claims the 2011 SAC regular season title. Brevard is 13-7 overall and 7-2 in the SAC. The Bulldogs are the number 39 team in the Campbell/ITA NCAA Division II national rankings.

Brevard led 4-2 before Montemurro and his teammates went to work. Wingate freshman Ryan Forbes (Charlotte, N.C.) put on his rally cap first, blitzing BC senior Shane Apps (Alpharetta, Ga.) 6-0, 6-1 at the number six singles position. Bulldog senior Braeden Patchell (Oakville, Ontario) was next, defeating Tornado senior Cole Altizer (Charlotte, N.C.) 6-2, 6-2 at the number four singles flight.

Patchell’s victory set the stage for Montemurro to put the victory on ice. Montemurro topped BC senior Jarred Fisher (Prime Rose East, South Africa) 6-1, 6-2 at the number five singles spot to start the celebration. Wingate has defeated Brevard, Lincoln Memorial University and Anderson (S.C.) University by identical 5-4 scores this season.

Montemurro and Patchell won two matches each for the hosts. Montemurro teamed with countryman Greg Machado (Sao Paulo, Brazil) defeated Fisher and Apps 8-6 at the number three doubles flight. Patchell and junior Matthew Lichtenstein (Darnestown, Md.) outlasted Altizer and BC freshman Sam MacNeil (Dunfermline, Scotland) 9-7 in the number two doubles match.

Both teams will advance to the Food Lion SAC tournament next week in Rock Hill, S.C. Number one seed Wingate will face the 4/5 winner Thursday morning at 9 a.m. Brevard, Anderson and Lincoln Memorial are locked in a three-way tie for second place. The SAC office will announce the pairings this weekend. The 2011 Food Lion SAC men’s tennis tournament will be held at the Rock Hill Tennis Center.