March 14, 2003
Tuscaloosa, Ala. – The Notre Dame men’s golf team shot an opening-round score of 301 at the prestigious Conrad Rehling Alabama Spring Invitational on Friday afternoon. The Irish are 11th after 18 holes of play, 17 strokes behind tournament leader Auburn. The Tigers shot an even-par 284 in the first round of the 54-hole tournament being played at the par 71, 6996-yard Capstone course.
Auburn goes into Saturday’s second round of play with a three-stroke lead on Southeastern Conference rivals Kentucky and tournament-host Alabama. The two schools shot a three-over par 287 and have a three-stroke lead over third-place Southeastern Louisiana (290) in the 13-team tournament. Illinois is in fourth with a 18-hole total of 292.
Notre Dame’s top golfer after 18 holes is freshman Scott Gustafson (Eden Praire, Minn.) who is tied for 15th with a one-over par 72. Gustafson is three strokes behind tournament leaders Lars Brovold of Alabama and Sean McTernan of Toledo. Brovold and McTernan both fired a first-round score of two-under par 69 and lead by one stroke over five golfers tied for third with a score of 70.
Two of Gustafson’s classmates are next for the Irish. Freshmen Mark Baldwin (Laconia, N.H.) and Tommy Balderston (Boca Raton, Fla.) are tied for 31st after shooting three-over par 74s on Friday.
Senior Brandon Lunke (San Antonio, Texas) is tied in 64th place after shooting an 81. Eric Deutsch (Fr., Rochester, Minn.) rounds out the Irish contingent with an 84.
Saturday’s second round of play will begin at 8:00 a.m. at the Capstone course. The final round will start at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. Notre Dame’s tee time on both days depend on the tournament standings.
TEAM RESULTS (18-hole totals): 1. Auburn 284; t2. Kentucky 287; Alabama 287; 4. Southeastern Louisiana 290; 5. Illinois 292; 6. Alabama-Birmingham 293; t7. Purdue 294; Toledo 294; 9. Louisiana State 298; 10. Mississippi 299; 11. Notre Dame 301; 12. Michigan State 302; 13. Mississippi State 309.
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (of 70): t1. Lars Brovold (Alabama) 69; Sean McTernan (Toledo) 69; t3. Jay Mundy (Auburn) 70; Matt Kohn (Kentucky) 70; John Humphries (LSU) 70; Lee Williams (Auburn) 70; Patrick Nagle (Illinois) 70; Chris Cousins (Alabama-Birmingham) 70; t9. Steve Tiley (Southeastern Louisiana) 71; Austin Hynson (Alabama) 71; Jarrod Gardner (Mississippi) 71; Mark O’Sullivan (Southeastern Louisiana) 71; Brett Bergeron (Southeastern Louisiana) 71; * Clint Provost (Alabama) 71.
NOTRE DAME INDIVIDUALS (of 70): t15. Scott Gustafson 72; t31. Mark Baldwin 74; Tommy Balderston 74; t64. Brandon Lunke 81; 69. Eric Deutsch 84.
*Individual entrant
— ND —