March 16, 2007
Border Olympics – 36-Hole Results (PDF)
LAREDO, Texas — On the strength of a blazing start, the Notre Dame men’s golf team finds itself in sixth place through two rounds at the 56th annual Border Olympics, which teed off Friday at the Laredo Country Club (par 72/7,241 yards) in Laredo, Texas. The Irish were one shot off the lead through the opening round and held the top spot at the turn in round two before sliding off the pace somewhat and ending up tied with Louisiana-Lafayette at two-over par 578 (284-294). Ninth-ranked Lamar has the overnight lead at 555 (-21), while Vanderbilt is second at 566 (-10) in the 15-team field.
Senior All-America candidate Cole Isban (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian) has enjoyed a solid tournament to date, moving within one stroke of the individual lead at six-under par 138 (70-68) and standing in a four-way tie for second place. Isban’s rounds were his best of the spring season, while the afternoon 68 was his fourth round in the 60s this year. Zack Reeves of Texas-Arlington currently is atop the individual standings at 137 (-7).
Sophomore Josh Sandman (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford) is tied for 22nd place in the 81-man event, carding an even-par 144 (71-73) on Friday. Like Isban, Sandman’s first two rounds were his lowest of the spring, with the opening-round mark being his sixth under par score of the season.
Junior Eddie Peckels (Pinehurst, N.C./Pope John Paul II (Fla.)) is next for the Irish in a 39th-place tie at three-over par 147 (73-74). Senior co-captain Adam Gifford (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth) got off to an excellent start, but stumbled a bit in the afternoon and is tied for 50th place at five-over par 149 (70-79). Freshman Doug Fortner (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) also looked good out of the gate, but a quintuple bogey during the back nine of his second round dropped the Notre Dame rookie to a 68th-place tie at nine-over par 153 (73-80).
Only five shots out of the top five, the Irish will aim to make a move up the ladder when they return to the links Saturday for the final round of the Border Olympics. Golfers will tee off via a shotgun start at 8:45 a.m. CT (9:45 a.m. ET), with Notre Dame’s quintet going off from holes No. 4-7 at the Laredo Country Club. Final results will be posted here on the official Notre Dame athletics web site and on the Irish Sports Hotline (574-631-3000) as soon as they are available.
— ND —
Border Olympics
March 16, 2007 • Laredo, Texas
Laredo Country Club (par 72/7,241 yards)
TEAM SCORES (36-hole totals): 1. Lamar 555 (285-270); 2. Vanderbilt 566 (285-281); 3. (tie) Texas-Arlington 570 (281-289) and Houston 570 (298-272); 5. Baylor 573 (284-289); 6. (tie) NOTRE DAME 578 (284-294) and Louisiana-Lafayette 578 (286-292); 8. South Alabama 580 (292-288); 9. Arkansas 581 (299-282); 10. North Texas 583 (293-290); 11. Washington State 590 (296-294); 12. Texas State 591 (300-291); 13. Memphis 594 (297-297); 14. Rice 597 (299-298); 15. Arkansas-Little Rock 614 (309-305).
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS PLUS NOTRE DAME GOLFERS (of 81): 1. Zack Reeves (Texas-Arlington) 137 (69-68); 2. (tie) Cole Isban (Notre Dame) 138 (70-68), Ricky Romano (Houston) 138 (70-68), Oliver Bekker (Lamar) 138 (74-64) and Justin Harding (Lamar) 138 (71-67); 22. (tie) Josh Sandman (Notre Dame) 144 (71-73); 39. (tie) Eddie Peckels (Notre Dame) 147 (73-74); 50. (tie) Adam Gifford (Notre Dame) 149 (70-79); 68. (tie) Doug Fortner (Notre Dame) 153 (73-80).