Feb. 27, 2006
NAPLES, Fla. – Needing a bit of time to shake of the rust from its winter layoff, the Notre Dame men’s golf team finds itself in fifth place following Monday’s first two rounds at the second annual Lexus Naples Intercollegiate Invitational, hosted by Peter Jacobsen Productions. The Irish have posted a 36-hole score of six-over par 582 (293-289) and stand 16 strokes behind tournament co-leaders (and nationally-ranked squads) Baylor and Wake Forest. Florida State is third at 571 (-5) and Illinois State is fourth overall, shooting a 578 (+2) at the par-72, 6,912-yard Hammock Bay Golf & Country Club in Naples, Fla.
Senior tri-captain Mark Baldwin (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton Prep) is the leading Notre Dame individual through two rounds, owning a share of seventh place in the 60-man field at three-under par 141 (72-69). Baldwin continues to play some of the best golf of his career in 2005-06 — with his two rounds on Monday, he now has played nine of 14 rounds this year at par or better, including five below par.
Junior tri-captain Cole Isban (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian) is in ninth place, one stroke behind his teammate at two-under par 142 (73-69). Isban’s second-round 69 was his seventh round of the season at par or better (of a possible 14), his sixth below par and his fourth in the 60s.
Sophomore Mike King (Sidney, Ohio/Sidney) is tied for 25th place overall at five-over par 149 (74-75), positioning him for a run at his best finish of the season. Senior tri-captain Scott Gustafson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie), who came into the tournament with the best stroke average on the team (72.17), stumbled a bit on Monday, coming in tied for 33rd place at seven-over par 151 (74-77). Sophomore Greg Rodgers (Phoenix, Md./St. Paul’s School) completed the Irish lineup in a 40th-place tie at 10-over par 154 (78-76).
Notre Dame returns to the links Tuesday at 8 a.m. (ET) for the final round of the Lexus Naples Intercollegiate Invitational in Naples, Fla. Final results will be available upon completion of the round on the official Notre Dame athletics web site (www.und.com) as well as the Notre Dame Sports Hotline (574-631-3000).
— ND —
TEAM RESULTS (36-hole totals): 1. (tie) Baylor 566 (288-278) and Wake Forest 566 (289-277); 3. Florida State 571 (286-285); 4. Illinois State 578 (294-284); 5. NOTRE DAME 582 (293-289); 6. Wisconsin 590 (306-284); 7. Florida Gulf Coast 593 (303-290); 8. Saint Mary’s (Calif.) 595 (311-284); 9. Rhode Island 601 (305-296); 10. Ohio State 605 (299-306); 11. Portland 613 (324-289); 12. Navy 632 (317-315).
TOP NINE INDIVIDUALS PLUS NOTRE DAME GOLFERS (of 60): 1. (tie) Ryan Baca (Baylor) 138 (68-70) and Kyle Reifers (Wake Forest) 138 (66-72); 3. (tie) Torstein Nevested (Florida State) 139 (65-74), Matt Miller (Illinois State) 139 (73-66) and Jesse Larson (Rhode Island) 139 (71-68); 6. Sean Moore (Wake Forest) 140 (73-67); 7. (tie) Mark Baldwin (Notre Dame) 141 (72-69) and Joans Blixt (Florida State) 141 (71-70); 9. Cole Isban (Notre Dame) 142 (73-69); 25. (tie) Mike King (Notre Dame) 149 (74-75); 33. (tie) Scott Gustafson (Notre Dame) 151 (74-77); 40. (tie) Greg Rodgers (Notre Dame) 154 (78-76).