March 22, 2009
STATESBORO, Ga. — Sophomore Jeff Chen (Walnut, Calif./Los Altos) finished in a tie for 50th place at eight-over par 224 (77-72-75) to lead the Notre Dame men’s golf team at this weekend’s Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational, which was contested at the Forest Heights Country Club (par 72/6,947 yards) in Statesboro, Ga. The Irish wound up in 18th place at the tournament, carding a three-day total of 48-over par 912 (311-298-303). South Carolina won the team title at one-over par 865, while Matt Hill of North Carolina State took home medalist honors at seven-under par 209.
Chen posted his second consecutive team-best finish this season, following a tie for 11th place at last week’s Border Olympics. Sophomore Dustin Zhang (Calgary, Alberta/Bishop Carroll) finished one shot back of Chen this week, sharing 55th place at nine-over par 225 (79-72-74).
Junior Doug Fortner (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) wrapped up the weekend in 87th place at 17-over par 233 (77-77-79), while freshman Max Scodro (Chicago, Ill./Notre Dame Prep (Ariz.)) moved up into a tie for 88th place at 18-over par 234 (82-77-75). Sophomore Connor Alan-Lee (Solana Beach, Calif./La Jolla Country Day School) completed the Irish scoring in a 90th-place tie at 19-over par 235 (78-77-80).
Notre Dame head coach Jim Kubinski did not make the trip to Georgia after suffering flu-like symptoms earlier in the week. Assistant coach Steve Colnitis took over the coaching reins in Kubinski’s absence.
Notre Dame returns to action next weekend, March 27-29, for the Florida Atlantic Spring Break Championship at the Gleneagles Country Club in Delray Beach, Fla. Live scoring will be available through the Golfstat web site (www.golfstat.com), while complete results will be posted on the official Notre Dame athletics web site (www.UND.com) and the Notre Dame Sports Hotline (574-631-3000) at the conclusion of each day’s competition.
— ND —
Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational
March 20-22, 2009
Forest Heights Country Club (Statesboro, Ga.)
Par 72/6,947 yards
FINAL 54-HOLE TEAM RESULTS: 1. South Carolina 865 (291-288-286); 2. (tie) Tennessee 867 (287-293-287) and North Carolina State 867 (295-287-285); 4. Florida 870 (292-287-291); 5. Kentucky 875 (297-287-291); 6. Georgia Southern 876 (291-293-292); 7. North Carolina 879 (302-284-293); 8. Mississippi 881 (295-293-293); 9. Auburn 882 (294-301-287); 10. North Florida 884 (290-297-297); 11. Virginia 885 (296-294-295); 12. (tie) Vanderbilt 886 (296-294-296) and LSU 886 (296-292-298); 14. Iowa 889 (302-294-293); 15. Georgia State 892 (295-297-300); 16. Oklahoma 896 (293-297-306); 17. Augusta State 900 (298-293-309); 18. NOTRE DAME 912 (311-298-303).
TOP 3 INDIVIDUALS PLUS NOTRE DAME GOLFERS (of 96): 1. Matt Hill (NCSU) 209 (71-69-69); 2. George Bryan IV (USC) 212 (74-70-68); 3. Jonathan Randolph (UM) 213 (71-73-69); 50. (tie) Jeff Chen (ND) 224 (77-72-75); 55. (tie) Dustin Zhang (ND) 225 (79-72-74); 87. Doug Fortner (ND) 233 (77-77-79); 88. (tie) Max Scodro (ND) 234 (82-77-75); 90. (tie) Connor Alan-Lee (ND) 235 (78-77-80).