April 15, 2007
Kepler Intercollegiate Final Results in PDF Format
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the second time in as many weekends, the Notre Dame men’s golf team played in a weather-shortened tournament, as the Irish finished 11th in the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate on the Scarlet Course at the Ohio State Golf Club (par 71/7,454 yards) in Columbus, Ohio. The Irish posted a two-round total of 60-over par 628 (314-314) in the 16-team tournament, placing ahead of such notable teams as No. 32 SMU (15th place, 641) and No. 33 Wisconsin (13th place, 639) — No. 20 Louisville won the tournament at 591 (+23).
After Saturday’s second round was suspended by rain, play resumed Sunday morning, but due to the delay and travel plans of numerous teams in the field, tournament organizers trimmed the event to 36 holes. The conditions weren’t much better on day two, with only one of the 16 teams breaking 305 for the second round (Louisville at 299). What’s more, only one player managed to reach par for the tournament, as Michigan State’s Matt Harmon took medalist honors with an even-par 142.
Senior All-America candidate Cole Isban (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian) was Notre Dame’s top finisher, tying for 32nd place at 13-over par 155 (79-76), two strokes better than junior Greg Rodgers (Phoenix, Md./St. Paul’s School) and sophomore Josh Sandman (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford), who tied for 40th place at 15-over par 157 after each man carded rounds of 78 and 79. Senior co-captain Adam Gifford (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth) was tied for 53rd place at 19-over par 161 (81-80), while freshman Doug Fortner (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) shared 78th place at 24-over par 166 (79-87). Junior Mike King (Sidney, Ohio/Sidney) competed as an individual this weekend, tying for 81st place at 25-over par 167 (79-88).
Notre Dame returns to action next Sunday-Tuesday, April 22-24 when it takes part in the BIG EAST Conference Championship at the Cardinal Club in Louisville, Ky. The Irish are the three-time defending conference champions, winning last year’s crown on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff after a stirring 12-shot comeback and school-record 272 in the final round.
— ND —
Robert Kepler Intercollegiate
April 14-15, 2007 — Columbus, Ohio
Ohio State Golf Club/Scarlet Course (par 71/7,454 yards)
FINAL TEAM RESULTS (36-hole totals): 1. Louisville 591 (292-299); 2. Michigan State 600 (295-305); 3. Penn State 606 (296-310); 4. (tie) South Carolina 607 (294-313) and Northwestern 607 (295-312); 6. Illinois 612 (306-306); 7. Ohio State 620 (305-315); 8. (tie) Michigan 623 (313-310) and Purdue 623 (303-320); 10. Indiana 625 (313-312); 11. NOTRE DAME 628 (314-314); 12. Iowa 632 (308-324); 13. Wisconsin 639 (319-320); 14. Ohio 640 (309-331); 15. SMU 641 (317-324); 16. Marshall 654 (322-332).
TOP SIX INDIVIDUALS PLUS NOTRE DAME FINISHERS (of 90): 1. Matt Harmon (Michigan State) 142 (71-71); 2. Derek Fathauer (Louisvlle) 144 (72-72); 3. Robert Rohanna (Penn State) 146 (71-75); 4. (tie) Lewis Kirton (Louisville) 148 (71-77) and David Merkow (Northwestern) 148 (72-76); 6. Kyle Moore (Northwestern) 149 (70-79); 32. (tie) Cole Isban (Notre Dame) 155 (79-76); 40. (tie) Greg Rodgers (Notre Dame) and Josh Sandman (Notre Dame) 157 (78-79); 53. (tie) Adam Gifford (Notre Dame) 161 (81-80); 78. (tie) Doug Fortner (Notre Dame) 166 (79-87); 81. (tie) Mike King* (Notre Dame) 167 (79-88).
* – competing as individual participant