Oct. 29, 2007
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Behind a hot start by junior Josh Sandman (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford), the Notre Dame men’s golf team is tied for sixth place following Monday’s first two rounds of the UNCG Bridgestone Collegiate Championship, being played at the Forest Oaks Country Club (par 72/7,197 yards) in Greensboro, N.C. After holding a share of the first-round lead, the Irish finished Monday’s action at 11-over par 587 (292-295), tying them with No. 23 (Golfweek) UCF at seven strokes back of the overnight leader, North Carolina, in the 15-team tournament.
Playing on his home course, Sandman took full advantage to the tune of a four-under par 140 (68-72) that is good for a second-place tie with Kent State’s Brett Cairns, two shots behind Louisville’s Derek Fathauer. The Greensboro native has been exceptionally sharp this season, shooting 73 or lower in 10 of his 12 rounds to date. His first-round 68 also was a season-low round and featured five birdies with just one bogey.
Senior tri-captain Greg Rodgers (Phoenix, Md./St. Paul’s School) and sophomore Doug Fortner (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) are tied for 29th place at four-over par 148. Rodgers posted rounds of 75 and 73, while Fortner fired matching scores of 74 on Monday. Sophomore Kyle Willis (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) is tied for 49th place at seven-over par 151 (75-76), while freshman Tyler Hock (Ocala, Fla./Forest) rounded out the Irish lineup in a 70th-place tie at 12-over par 156 (76-80).
An overnight frost advisory in the Greensboro area will push back Tuesday’s tee times for the final round of the UNCG Bridgestone Collegiate Championship, with Notre Dame now slated to go off at 9:30 a.m. (ET) from the first tee at Forest Oaks. Live scoring is available via the Golfstat web site, while complete 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 UNCG Bridgestone Collegiate Championship via the Notre Dame Sports Hotline (574-631-3000) and the Irish ALERT text message system (click here for more details).
— ND —
UNCG Bridgestone Collegiate Championship
Oct. 29, 2007 — Greensboro, N.C.
Forest Oaks Country Club (par 72/7,197 yards)
TEAM RESULTS (36-hole totals): 1. North Carolina 580 (294-286); 2. (tie) Kent State 581 (293-288) and Louisville 581 (300-281); 4. Memphis 583 (293-290); 5. Mississippi State 586 (300-286); 6. (tie) NOTRE DAME 587 (292-295) and UCF 587 (294-293); 8. Indiana 589 (298-291); 9. LSU 590 (302-288); 10. (tie) Wake Forest 591 (294-297) and College of Charleston 591 (292-299); 12. Arkansas 592 (304-288); 13. UNC Greensboro 596 (296-300); 14. Toledo 601 (308-293); 15. Maryland 604 (308-296).
TOP SIX INDIVIDUALS PLUS NOTRE DAME FINISHERS (of 79): 1. Derek Fathauer (UL) 138 (71-67); 2. (tie) Josh Sandman (ND) 140 (68-72) and Brett Cairns (KSU) 140 (72-68); 4. (tie) Barden Berry (UNC) 142 (72-70), David Holzworth (UNC) 142 (73-69) and Nathan Starney (UNCG) 142 (68-74); 29. (tie) Greg Rodgers (ND) 148 (75-73) and Doug Fortner (ND) 148 (74-74); 49. (tie) Kyle Willis (ND) 151 (75-76); 70. (tie) Tyler Hock (ND) 156 (76-80).