Sept. 17, 2005
Gopher Invitational Scores in PDF Format
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WAYZATA, Minn. — Bouncing back from a tough first round with a solid second circuit, the Notre Dame men’s golf team is in eighth place after two rounds at the Gopher Invitational, which teed off Saturday in Wayzata, Minn., at the Spring Hill Golf Club (par 72/7,020 yards). Playing in their first tournament of the season, the Irish climbed three spots during the afternoon session and currently stand at 30-over par 606 (309-297). Host Minnesota leads the high-powered 12-team tournament at 585, followed by Purdue and Washington tied at 596 and Georgia State is fourth at 599. Notre Dame is among a group of four teams in the middle of the pack, separated by three strokes (Memphis and Stanford at 604, and Indiana at 605). The Gopher Invitational features no less than six teams who were ranked in the GCAA/Bridgestone Coaches Top 25 poll at the end of last season.
Returning to his home state for the first time as a collegian, senior Scott Gustafson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) is tied for sixth place at two-over par 146 (73-73), with the highlight being an eagle on No. 3 (par 5/540 yards), the only one of the day on the difficult hole. Gustafson’s total of 146 was his best two-round score in more than 18 months, dating back to the 2004 Conrad Rehling Alabama Spring Invitational, when he opened with a 142 en route to an 11th-place finish. Gustafson will enter Sunday’s final round three strokes off the pace set by a trio of Minnesota golfers — Antti Ahokas, Josh Persons (competing as an individual) and Niall Turner.
Mirroring the fortunes of his team, senior Mark Baldwin (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton Prep) rebounded nicely from a slow start with a sharp second round and is tied for 15th place at four-over par 148 (76-72). Baldwin’s afternoon round was particularly adventurous, as he opened with three birdies and a double bogey on his first four holes. Following three bogeys midway through the round, he rallied with birdies on two of his final three holes to get back to level par on the second 18.
Like Baldwin, junior Cole Isban (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian) had to shake off the morning rust, but he jumped up into a 33rd-place tie by day’s end, firing a 10-over par 154 (80-74). Meanwhile, another Minnesota native, senior Eric Deutsch (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) is tied for 50th place at 15-over par 159 (81-78). Sophomore Mike King (Sidney, Ohio/Sidney) rounded out the Irish quintet in a 56th-place deadlock at 17-over par 161 (80-81).
Notre Dame will back on the links Sunday for the final round of the Gopher Invitational, with the field set to tee off at 8:30 a.m. (CDT) via a shotgun start. Live in-progress statistics from the tournament may be found on-line at the Golfstat web site, and a complete recap and final statistics will be available later in the day on the official Irish athletics web site (www.und.com).
— ND —
TEAM RESULTS (36-hole totals): 1. Minnesota 585 (301-284); 2. (tie) Purdue and Washington 596 (302-294); 4. Georgia State 599 (300-299); 5. (tie) Memphis 604 (305-299) and Stanford 604 (303-301); 7. Indiana 605 (301-304); 8. NOTRE DAME 606 (309-297); 9. (tie) SMU 611 (306-305) and Georgia Southern 611 (299-312); 11. UNC Wilmington 622 (322-300); –. UAB (303-DNF).
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS PLUS NOTRE DAME GOLFERS (of 66): 1. (tie) Antti Ahokas (Minnesota) 143 (77-66), Josh Persons* (Minnesota) 143 (73-70) and Niall Turner (Minnesota) 143 (73-70); 4. (tie) Bronson LaCassie (Minnesota) 145 (74-71) and Alex Prugh (Washington) 145 (73-72); 6. (tie) Scott Gustafson (Notre Dame) 146 (73-73); 15. (tie) Mark Baldwin (Notre Dame) 148 (76-72); 33. (tie) Cole Isban (Notre Dame) 154 (80-74); 50. (tie) Eric Deutsch (Notre Dame) 159 (81-78); 56. (tie) Mike King (Notre Dame) 161 (80-81).
* – competing as an individual; score not counted towards team total