March 18, 2006
LAREDO, Texas – Senior tri-captain Mark Baldwin (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton Prep) carded a three-over par 219 (71-75-73), helping Notre Dame finish in eighth place at the 55th annual Border Olympics, which wrapped up on Saturday morning at the Laredo Country Club (par 72/7,241 yards) in Laredo, Texas. The Irish, who were one of just five schools in the 16-team field to break 300 in the final round, compiled a three-round score of 24-over par 888 (293-296-299) and ended up 33 shots behind nationally-ranked Baylor, which won the tournament for the sixth time in nine years.
Baldwin’s top-20 finish was his 11th in the past 15 events, dating back to last season. The veteran, who came into the weekend ranked 53rd in the nation according to the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index, continues to lead Notre Dame with 12 rounds at par or better, including eight below par, of the 21 competitive rounds he has played this season.
Sophomore Mike King (Sidney, Ohio/Sidney) was just one shot behind Baldwin in a 21st-place tie at a season-low four-over par 220 (75-71-74), earning his best finish of the spring and second-best of his career as a member of the Irish travel squad (ninth at the 2005 BIG EAST Conference Championship). King’s second-round 71 was his third round under par of the season, not to mention his lowest round of the spring.
Senior tri-captain Scott Gustafson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) earned a share of 36th place at seven-over par 223 (75-74-74). Junior tri-captain Cole Isban (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian) was tied for 51st place at 10-over par 226 (72-76-78). Senior Eric Deutsch (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes), playing his first tournament of the spring, completed the scoring for the Irish in a deadlock for 71st place at 18-over par 234 (79-76-79).
The tournament itself teed off on Friday, but announcement of the team and individual scores was delayed until Saturday when a participant failed to turn in his scorecard in a timely fashion.
Notre Dame will be off until April 1-2 when it travels down to Evans, Ga., for the Administaff Augusta State Invitational at Champions Retreat Golf Club. The Irish finished seventh at the tournament last year, defeating five ranked teams along the way.
— ND —
55th annual Border Olympics
March 17-18, 2006 • Laredo, Texas
Laredo Country Club (par 72/7,241 yards)
FINAL TEAM SCORES (54-hole totals): 1. Baylor 855 (286-275-294); 2. Memphis 860 (282-286-292); 3. Texas-Arlington 867 (285-288-294); 4. New Mexico State 869 (287-282-300); 5. Lamar 873 (290-288-295); 6. Houston 883 (281-293-309); 7. Rice 886 (285-296-305); 8. NOTRE DAME 888 (293-296-299); 9. Southeastern Louisiana 889 (285-297-307); 10. South Alabama 891 (290-293-308); 11. Washington State 895 (296-298-301); 12. Arkansas-Little Rock 898 (289-301-308); 13. Texas State 903 (294-300-309); 14. UTEP 906 (303-290-313); 15. North Texas 907 (297-295-315); 16. Louisiana-Lafayette 910 (291-299-320).
TOP SIX INDIVIDUALS PLUS NOTRE DAME GOLFERS (of 84): 1. Kevin Fortin-Simard (Memphis) 203 (66-69-68); 2. Ryan Baca (Baylor) 204 (67-67-70); 3. (tie) Zack Reeves (Texas-Arlington) 210 (71-70-69) and Oliver Bekker (Lamar) 210 (66-73-71); 5. (tie) Matt Edwards (New Mexico State) 215 (77-65-73) and Kevin Newman (Houston) 215 (68-73-74); 17. (tie) Mark Baldwin (Notre Dame) 219 (71-75-73); 21. (tie) Mike King (Notre Dame) 220 (75-71-74); 36. (tie) Scott Gustafson (Notre Dame) 223 (75-74-74); 51. (tie) Cole Isban (Notre Dame) 226 (72-76-78); 71. (tie) Eric Deutsch (Notre Dame) 234 (79-76-79).