Oct. 22, 2013
BEALSVILLE, Md. – Low rounds were the order of the day, with both tournament and course records met during the third round of the Georgetown Intercollegiate Tuesday at the Members Club at Four Streams.
The University of Notre Dame men’s golf team made sure to reap the rewards of favorable scoring conditions, firing its best team score of the season, a four-under-par 280, to earn a runner-up finish for the second straight season at the tournament (297-292-280-869). The Irish are a combined 20-2 in head-to-head team match results over the past two years at the Georgetown Intercollegiate.
“Today was the kind of round we’ve been playing at home this fall,” Notre Dame head coach Jim Kubinski said. “No matter where you finish in a field, you want to play the way you’re capable of. We did that today. We looked more comfortable competing too, which is what I’ve wanted to see.”
Senior tri-captain Niall Platt carded his second-lowest career round on day two, spinning a masterful four-under-par 67 to tie for fourth place at 212 (74-71-67, -1). Platt has been the top Notre Dame finisher in each of the four tournaments on the fall schedule, and has earned top-15 finishes in every start this season.
Sophomore Cory Sciupider responded from a slow start to his first 36 holes by posting the best gross round of his collegiate career, logging a five-under 66 to equal the course record and vault himself into a tie for 23rd place (79-78-66-223).
“Cory and Niall were both just on fire out there,” Kubinski said. “Both could have been lower, as pretty much every hole saw them in there 15 feet or better. Cory matched the course record, and Niall had an eight-footer on 18 to tie it.”
Freshman Matt Rushton earned his second career top-25 finish, turning in a second straight 74 (71-74-74-219) to tie for 18th place. Junior Patrick Grahek, entered in the field as an individual competitor, joined Rushton in a share for 18th after a final round 78 (71-70-78-219). Junior Tyler Wingo checked in with a share of 34th place (82-71-73-226), while freshman Blake Barens closed with a round of 77 (73-76-77) to tie Wingo at 226.
“Tyler and Matt played very well, too,” Kubinski said. “Both hit 14 or 15 greens. They just didn’t make the putts today, but that’s golf. They’re playing well enough to go low at any point.”
UAB set a tournament record by posting a three-round total of 847 (278-282-287, -5) to claim the event victory. Penn State remained in third place after a final round 289 (295-292-289-876), while Miami (Ohio) (296-302-282-880) and Toledo (287-299-294-880) shared fourth place.
Paul Dunne cruised to a wire-to-wire win on the individual side, taking medalist honors with an even par 71 to win by two strokes (69-69-71-209, -4). Chris Selfridge of Toledo (69-72-70-211, -2) and Martin Rohwer of UAB (70-71-79-211, -2) were the co-runners up, while UAB’s Thomas Sutton joined Platt in fourth place at 212 (70-69-73).
“I’m really proud of the boys for bouncing back today,” Kubinski said. “They put some mixed play and a few mental mistakes from yesterday behind them and went out to play the type of round we’ve been waiting for.”
Georgetown Intercollegiate-Members Club at Four Streams-Par-71, 6,862 Yds.
TOP-10 TEAMS (Final): 1. UAB 278-282-287-847, -5; 2. Notre Dame 297-292-280-869, +17; 3. Penn State 295-292-289-876, +24; T4. Miami (Ohio) 296-302-282-880, +28; T4. Toledo 287-299-294-880, +28; T6. Campbell 293-299-298-890, +38; T6. West Florida 302-295-293-890, +38; T8. William & Mary 301-293-297-891, +39; T8. DePaul 297-297-297-891, +39; 10. Xavier 295-303-298-896, +44.
TOP-10 INDIVIDUALS (Final): 1. Paul Dunne (UAB) 69-69-71-209, -4; T2. Chris Selfridge (Toledo) 69-72-70-211, -2; T2. Martin Rohwer (UAB) 70-71-70-211, -2; T4. Thomas Sutton (UAB) 70-69-73-212, -1; T4. Niall Platt (Notre Dame) 74-71-67-212, -1; 6. JD Dornes (Penn State) 73-69-71-213, E; T7. Otto Black (Toledo) 69-71-74-214, +1; T7. X. McDonald-Smith (Penn State) 71-74-69-214, +1; 9. Sam Love (UAB) 69-73-73-215, +2; T10. Wilson McDonald (UAB) 70-73-73-216, +3; T10. Jonathan Hewett (DePaul) 71-76-69-216, +3.
NOTRE DAME INDIVIDUALS (Final): T4. Niall Platt 74-71-67-212, -1; T18. Matt Rushton 71-74-74-219, +6; T18. Patrick Grahek * 71-70-78-219, +6; T23. Cory Sciupider 79-78-66-223, +10; T34. Tyler Wingo 82-71-73-226, +13; T34. Blake Barens 73-76-77-226, +13.
*- played as an individual
–ND–
— Tony Jones, Media Relations Assistant