Sept. 28, 2001
Ann Arbor, Mich. – Junior golfer Brandon Lunke (San Antonio, Tex.) fired a two-under par 69 and is in a five-way tie for first place after the opening round of the Wolverine Invitational on Friday. Lunke used five birdies on the afternoon for his career-best round at the par 71, 6,700-yard University of Michigan Golf Course. Making his first appearance of the fall, Lunke shot a three-under par 34 on the front nine and turned in an even-par 35 for the back.
Lunke’s strong play helped the Irish to a seventh-place tie with Northwestern in the 20-team tournament. The tournament, originally scheduled for 54 holes, with three rounds scheduled from Friday to Sunday, has been shortened to 36 holes with the final 18 to be played on Sunday. Saturday’s round was cancelled due to the rescheduling of the Michigan-Illinois football game from Sept. 15.
Joining Lunke in the five-way scramble at the top are Jon Turcott (Wisconsin), Eric Jorgensen (Michigan State), Tom Johnson (Northwestern) and Ty Harris (West Florida) as all five had identical 34-35 for their total of two-under par 69. One stroke behind that fivesome is Ball State’s Mike Gant who fired a 70 (35-35). Five more golfers are at even par 70.
Leading the team standings is the University of Minnesota with a one-over par team total of 285. The Gophers are the defending champions and have three golfers in the top seven with even-par 71’s. Michigan State and Ball State are tied for second seven strokes behind Minnesota with 292 totals. West Florida (293) and Indiana (294) round out the top five.
Notre Dame is just 12 strokes behind the tourney leaders with a 13-over par mark of 297 along with the Northwestern Wildcats.
Following Lunke for the Irish is senior captain Steve Ratay (Arlington Heights, Ill.) who checks in wih a three-over par total of 74 after 18 holes, good for a tie for 27th. Freshmen Steve Colnitis (Baldwin, Md.) and Ryan Marshall (Marco Island, Fla.) are tied for 55th with six-over par totals of 77. Chris Whitten (Sr., Rockford, Mich.) rounds out the Irish squad with a seven-over par 78 which places him in a tie for 74th.
After taking Saturday off, the Irish return to action at the Michigan Golf Course on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. for the final round of play in the Wolverine Invitational.
FIRST ROUND TEAM RESULTS (18-hole totals): 1. Minnesota 285, tie 2. Michigan State 292, Ball State 292, 4. West Florida 293, 5. Indiana 294, 6. Baylor 296, tie 7. Notre Dame 297,, Northwestern 297, 9. Air Force 298, tie 10. Iowa 301, Michigan 301, tie 12. Marshall 302, Akron 302, Wisconsin 302, tie 15. Miami (OH) 304, Xavier 304, tie 17. Louisville 307, Eastern Michigan 307, 19. Kentucky 308, 20. Western Kentucky 309.
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (of 103),: tie 1. Brandon Lunke (Notre Dame) 69, Jon Turcott (Wisconsin) 69, Eric Jorgensen (Michigan State) 69, Ty Harris (West Florida) 69, 6. Mike Gant (Ball State), tie 7. Wilhelm Schauman (Minnesota) 71, Aldo Jordan (Indiana), Kevin Moore (Akron) 71, Justin Smith (Minnesota) 71, Simon Nash (Minnesota) 71.