Oct. 7, 2007
DURHAM, N.C. – The Notre Dame men’s golf team carded its two lowest single-round scores of the season on Sunday, moving into sixth place after 36 holes at the Coca-Cola Duke Classic, which is being contested at the Duke Golf Club (par 72/7,105 yards) in Durham, N.C. The Irish fired a combined score of three-under par 573 (287-286) and are 13 shots behind tournament leader (and 20th-ranked) Duke in the 15-team field entering Monday’s final round.
Sophomore Doug Fortner (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) picked up right where he left off with last week’s runner-up finish at the Fighting Irish Gridiron Golf Classic, shooting a three-under par 141 (70-71) to earn a share of 10th place through two rounds. The Irish standout had a roller-coaster second round, collecting four birdies on his first six holes, but then gave it all back with interest when he endured a double-bogey, triple-bogey and bogey on the next three holes. However, Fortner showed the poise and mettle of a veteran, carding three birdies on his next six holes and getting back into red numbers for the afternoon. He will go into Monday’s third round four strokes behind overnight leaders Jonathan Hodge (Chattanooga) and Michael Schachner (Duke).
Three other Notre Dame golfers are at even-par 144 after Sunday’s 36 holes, all among a group of 13 players tied for 23rd place in the 84-man field. Senior tri-captain Greg Rodgers (Phoenix, Md./St. Paul’s School) posted rounds of 70 and 74, junior Josh Sandman (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford) made a solid return to his home state with scores of 71 and 73, and freshman Tyler Hock (Ocala, Fla./Forest) rebounded from a tough morning with a strong afternoon, following an opening-round 76 with a second-round 68 in his debut as a member of the Irish travel squad. Senior tri-captain Eddie Peckels (Pinehurst, N.C./Pope John Paul II (Fla.)) has struggled in his homecoming thus far, tying for 80th place at 12-over par 156 (77-79).
Notre Dame will be back on the course Monday at 8:30 a.m. (ET) for the final round of the Coca-Cola Duke Classic, with the Irish starters scheduled to go off from the No. 1 tee at nine-minute intervals. Live in-progress scoring will be available via the Golfstat web site and final results will be posted on the official Notre Dame athletics web site (UND.com) upon completion of the day’s action. Fans also can obtain updates on the Irish at the Coca-Cola Duke Classic via the Notre Dame Sports Hotline (574-631-3000) and the Irish ALERT text message system (click here for more details or to sign up).
— ND —
Coca-Cola Duke Golf Classic
Oct. 7, 2007 — Durham, N.C.
Duke Golf Club (par 72/7,105 yards)
TEAM RESULTS (36-hole totals): 1. Duke 560 (287-273); 2. Chattanooga 562 (280-282); 3. Ohio State 566 (285-281); 4. Virginia Tech 567 (277-290); 5. Old Dominion 569 (282-287); 6. NOTRE DAME 573 (287-286); 7. (tie) UNC Wilmington 574 (293-281) and East Carolina 574 (285-289); 9. (tie) Maryland 579 (297-282) and Virginia Commonwealth 579 (299-280); 11. Iowa 586 (292-294); 12. Florida Southern 587 (297-290); 13. UNC Greensboro 591 (296-295); 14. Houston 592 (296-296); 15. Winthrop 602 (299-303).
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS PLUS NOTRE DAME FINISHERS (of 84): 1. (tie) Jonathan Hodge (Chatt) 137 (67-70) and Michael Schachner (Duke) 137 (71-66); 3. (tie) Adam Long (Duke) 138 (70-68) and Patrick Simard (Ohio State) 138 (66-72); 5. Lanto Griffin (VCU) 139 (72-67); 10. (tie) Doug Fortner (ND) 141 (70-71); 23. (tie) Greg Rodgers (ND) 144 (70-74), Josh Sandman (ND) 144 (71-73) and Tyler Hock (ND) 144 (76-68); 80. (tie) Eddie Peckels (ND) 156 (77-79).