Oct. 16, 2000
FRANKLIN, Ind. – Senior Alex Kent turned in one of the top rounds in Notre Dame men’s golf history but his teammates struggled to keep up with the rest of the torrid 13-team field, as the Irish fell into last place following two rounds of play Monday at the annual Legends of Indiana Intercollegiate, with the final round set for Tuesday.
Kent opened with a five-under 67 at the 6,859-yard Legends of Indiana Golf Course before posting a 71 in the afternoon round for a 138 total (-6)-good for a four-way share of fourth, just one stroke back of Ball State’s Jason Jones (69-68).
Kent’s 67 ties for the third-lowest score by a Notre Dame golfer in intercollegiate competition (since 1962), trailing the 66 posted by Todd Vernon at the Air Force Invitational in the fall of 1999 and the 64 turned in by Mike O’Connell, Sr., during the 1962-63 season.
Kent can set the Irish record for best 54-hole tournament score by shooting 70 or lower in Tuesday’s final round (Jeff Connell holds the record after shooting 209 at the Marshall Invitational in the spring of 1998). A 73 or better would yield Kent the top Irish 54-hole score in relation to par (three previous ND golfers have finished 54 holes at four-under).
Notre Dame-which tied for first at the 1999 Legends of Indiana with an 878 total-is on pace for an even better score (871) this time around but the Irish still find themselves 24 shots back of first-place Indiana (279-278/557), after posting rounds of 288-293 (581). Junior Steve Ratay-the tournament’s defending medalist-stands tied for 61st in the 78-player field after rounds of 74-76 (150), including a rare round in the afternoon that did not count to the Irish team score (in the play-six, count-four format).
Sophomore Brandon Lunke turned in solid rounds of 72-75 (147) while senior Pat Schaffler (75-73/148) and freshman Gavin Ferlic (75-74/149) also contributed to the Notre Dame team score. Senior Adam Anderson (77-77/154) rounded out the Irish contingent.
Notre Dame’s opening 288 (even) ties for the 10th-best round in team history (tied for seventh in relation to par). The Irish would set the team record for low 54-hole score by shooting 284 or better in Tuesday’s final round.
TEAM STANDINGS (36 of 54 holes): 1. Indiana 279-278/557, 2. Ball State 282-281/562, 3. Ohio 286-283/569, 4. Akron 283-288/571, Eastern Michigan 280-291/571, Murray State 287-284/571, 7. Cincinnati 285-287/572, 8. Western Kentucky 290-284/574, 9. Eastern Kentucky 293-282/575, Marquette 289-286/575, 11. Bowling Green 294-283/577, Dayton 288-289/577, 13. Notre Dame 288-293/581.
TOP INDIVIDUALS (of 78): 1. Jason Jones (BSU 69-68/137, 2. Alex Kent (ND) 67-71/138, Steve Wheatcroft (IU) 69-69/138, Jeremy Grantham (MUR) 69-691/138, Aaron Bickle (OU) 68-70, 6. Eric mason (WKY) 69-70/139, Russ Johnston (AKRON) 69-70, Todd Greer (DAY) 69-70/139, 9. Aldo Jordan (IU) 72-68/140, Rich Thomas (IU) 67-73/140.
OTHER ND SCORES: 43. Brandon Lunke 72-75/147, 46. Pat Schaffler 75-73/148, 56. Gavin Ferlic 75-74/149, 61. Steve Ratay 74-76/150, 71. Adam Anderson 77-77/154.