March 10, 2015
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – On a day where the average score turned in by the field nearly topped 75.50 strokes, the University of Notre Dame men’s golf team faced a stiff challenge during the final round of the Lamkin San Diego Classic. A pair of Irish players cleared the field average by multiple shots on Tuesday, leading Notre Dame to a 12th place finish at 912 (301-309-302) under difficult scoring conditions as the San Diego Country Club.
No. 17 Washington fired the round of the day, combining on an eight-under-par 280 Tuesday to take the team championship by six shots at 854 (283-291-280). No. 24 North Carolina (286-289-285) was the solo runner-up at 860, while No. 29 New Mexico could not maintain its overnight lead in dropping to a third place result (278-284-301=863). Co-host San Diego (287-288-289=864) took fourth place, while Pepperdine checked in at 868 (286-299-283) for fifth place.
After teeing off on the 10th hole, sophomore Blake Barens opened his final round with seven straight pars on the back nine of the San Diego Country Club before making consecutive birdies at the 17th and 18th holes, turning in two-under-par 34. Barens rolled in a birdie at the par 5 second hole to cement a one-under-par 71, utilizing the career-best 18-hole score to tie for 47th place at 227 (76-80-71).
Barens shared the Notre Dame team lead with 32 pars over his 54 holes, chipping in the most overall birdies among the Irish starting lineup during the tournament.
Junior Cory Sciupider recorded three birdies over his final 18 holes, rolling in a four at the par 5 14th and 16th holes as part of an outward one-over 37. Sciupider played his last 10 holes in a cumulative one-under-par thanks to a birdie at the par 4 fourth hole during an even par 72 to share 52nd place at 229 (80-77-72).
Sciupider closed the tournament as one of the leading par 5 scorers among the 87-player field, logging a cumulative score of four-under-par on the four par 5 holes at the San Diego Country Club.
Sophomore Matthew Rushton slid back to a tie for 47th place following a third round 81 on Tuesday, joining Barens at 227 (69-77-81). Rushton was second among Notre Dame players in par 5 tournament scoring (-3), tying Barens for the team lead with 32 pars.
Freshman Thomas Steve shared 75th place at 236 (76-75-85) in his first career spring collegiate start. Sophomore Liam Cox shaved seven strokes off his second round score to post a 54-hole total of 245 (82-85-78).
Notre Dame resumes its Spring Break tournament schedule on March 15-16 at the Talis Park Challenge at the Talis Park Golf Club in Naples, Florida.
Lamkin San Diego Classic-San Diego Country Club-Par-72, 7,033 Yds.
TEAMS (FINAL): 1. No. 17 Washington 283-291-280=854, -10; 2. No. 24 North Carolina 286-289-285=860, -4; 3. No. 29 New Mexico 278-284-301=863, -1; 4. San Diego 287-288-289=864, E; 5. Pepperdine 286-299-283=868, +4; 6. No. 27 San Diego State 280-296-296=872, +8; 7. Arizona 295-302-291=888, +24; 8. Louisiana Tech 300-294-295=889, +25; 9. Oregon State 300-298-294=892, +28; 10. BYU 293-304-305=902, +38; 11. CSU – San Marcos 298-302-306=906, +42; 12. Notre Dame 301-309-302=912, +48; 13. UC Riverside 312-309-301=922, +58; 14. UC San Diego 302-325-314=941, +77.
NOTRE DAME INDIVIDUALS (FINAL): T47. Matthew Rushton 69-77-81=227, +11; T47. Blake Barens 76-80-71=227, +11; T52. Cory Sciupider 80-77-72=229, +13; T75. Thomas Steve 76-75-85=236, +20; T82. Liam Cox 82-85-78=245, +29.
–ND–