April 22, 2014
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The University of Notre Dame men’s golf team completed a wire-to-wire victory on Tuesday at the Oak Hill Intercollegiate, firing a final round 292 to win the event by four shots (287-287-292-866) over Nebraska (289-292-289-870) at Oak Hill Country Club. The Irish, co-hosts of the event with the University of Rochester, secured their first team tournament victory since claiming the 2012 BIG EAST Championship.
“We’re excited to have earned a victory at prestigious Oak Hill Country Club,” Notre Dame head coach Jim Kubinski said. “It was a great team win, with not only contributions from our actual lineup but from every member of our team in pushing each other these last few weeks. It’s tough to stay sharp without an entire team pushing. I’ve really appreciated our team effort of late.”
Senior tri-captain Niall Platt earned medalist honors for the second time in his career, birdieing two holes during a final round two-over 72 (71-66-72-209) to win the event by three strokes at one-under par. Platt was previously a top finisher at the 2012 Macdonald Cup in New Haven, Conn., on Sept. 30 of that year.
“Niall was in a real battle out there,” Kubinski said. “I had a good feeling when he hit his approach to an inch on 13 for birdie. He knocked one in the water on the tough 15th but made a great up and down for a four there. His three pars to close it out were tour quality, and this is his second win but his first over 54 holes, which is something I know he wanted.
“I can’t overstate Niall’s play today,” Kubinski added. “He slept on the lead, came out in rainy and windy conditions and a day when only one player broke 70, and posted a rock-solid 72. You look at his body of work, in a lot of tough conditions, and have to think he is an All-America candidate.”
Fellow senior captain and Rochester native Andrew Lane turned in the Notre Dame round of the day, firing an even par 70 on day two to finish in fourth place at 215 (71-74-70, +5). The finish was the second career top five result for Lane as a member of the Irish, and his first in a full-length 54-hole tournament.
“We’re thrilled for Andrew to have come home and posted his career-best 54-hole finish,” Kubinski said. “I’m so proud of him. He never gave up on the season, just kept working. He had a great highlight today, too, holing out from 137 yards for an eagle at the par 4 eighth.”
Freshman Matt Rushton was the third member of the Notre Dame starting lineup to post a top 10 finish, tying for ninth place at 222 (74-71-77). Sophomore Cory Sciupider tied for 15th place (78-76-73-227) overall, followed by freshman Liam Cox in a tie for 26th place (71-77-86-234).
Playing as an individual competitor, junior Patrick Grahek tied for seventh place on the leaderboard with a final round 74, posting a two-day score of 221 (73-74-74). Junior Tyler Wingo earned a share of 15th place following a final round 73 (79-75-73-227), with senior tri-captain Andrew Carreon tying for 28th place (83-75-77-235).
“Nebraska cut the margin to one early on the second nine,” Kubinski said. “Our boys showed great resolve finishing it out, though. Oak Hill’s finish is as strong as any course in the country, so going ahead and closing out the win was great to see. We definitely built some momentum for the ACC Championship this coming weekend.”
–ND–