March 1, 2004
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. – Sophomore Scott Gustafson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) fired a second-round 68 (-3), the best score of his career, and stands six shots off the lead midway through the 27th annual Cleveland Golf Collegiate Invitational in Westlake Village, Calif. The tournament was stopped because of darkness with 27 golfers, including two Notre Dame players, still on the course at the par 71, 6,815-yard North Ranch Country Club. The second round will conclude at 7:30 a.m. (PST) Tuesday, followed by a shotgun start for the final round at 8:30 a.m. (PST).
Notre Dame completed its first round with a 13-over par 297 and stood in 15th place at the 17-team tournament, which has nine ranked teams, including four Top 10 clubs in this year’s field. Tennessee was the surprising first-round leader, firing a five-under par 279 to lead Alabama by one stroke.
Gustafson was one of three Irish golfers who did complete the second round, owning a 36-hole score of one-under par 141. The second-year standout carded a two-over par 73 on his opening circuit, a tally that was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 eighth hole. Gustafson then came back in Monday’s afternoon round with his career-low score, posting five birdies, including two in a row to open the round.
Freshman Cole Isban (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian HS) also wrapped up his second round and has a score of 11-over par 153 (74-79). The Irish rookie started well in his opening round, registering birdies on three of the first six holes, but a pair of double bogies late in the round, and then two more in the second circuit hampered his score. Sophomore Tommy Balderston (Boca Raton, Fla./St. Andrews HS) was the third Notre Dame golfer to finish his second round, tallying a 12-over par 154 (73-81). The all-BIG EAST Conference selection started much like his teammate, Isban, turning in a solid first round, but bogies in round two caught up with Balderston.
Sophomores Mark Baldwin (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton Prep) and Eric Deutsch (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes HS) were in the midst of their second rounds when play was suspended. Both players carded opening-round scores of 77 (+6), with Baldwin at eight-over par in the second round and Deutsch currently at nine-over on his second circuit. Baldwin has four holes remaining and Deutsch has five holes to play in the second round.
Final results from the Cleveland Golf Collegiate Invitational will be available Tuesday night on the official Notre Dame athletics web site (www.und.com).
– ND –
TEAM RESULTS (18-hole totals): 1. Tennessee 279; 2. Alabama 280; 3. Texas 281; 4. USC 283; 5. (tie) Arizona State and TCU 285; 7. BYU 286; 8. California 290; 9. (tie) Arkansas and Oregon State 292; 11. UCLA 293; 12. Stanford 294; 13. (tie) Illinois and Oregon 296; 15. NOTRE DAME 297; 16. (tie) Pepperdine and Washington 298.
NOTRE DAME INDIVIDUALS (of 90): Scott Gustafson 141 (73-68); Cole Isban 153 (74-79); Tommy Balderston 154 (73-81); Mark Baldwin (77-DNF*); Eric Deutsch (77-DNF*).
* – second round play suspended due to darkness; will be completed Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. (PST)