April 15, 2001
Columbus, Ohio – The Notre Dame men’s golf team shot a final round total of 308 to make up six strokes to move up two spots in the standings to finish tied with Wisconsin for eighth place at the Kepler Intercollegiate Golf Tournament. The Irish, who opened the day in 10th place, finished with a 61-over par total of 913 along with the Badgers. Both teams finished 20 strokes behind Ohio State as the Buckeyes made up seven strokes during the final 18 holes to move from fourth place to win with a 54-hole total of 893 (298-298-297) on their home course, the par 71, 7,221-yard Ohio State Scarlet Course.
The Irish turned in rounds of 296, 309 and 308 on the weekend. Michigan, who led after two rounds, fell to third with an 895 total (292-297-306) as the Wolverines were passed by both Ohio State and Northwestern (894/295-295-304). Kent State finished fourth with an 899 (303-289-307) and Michigan State rounded out the top five teams in the 17-team tournament with a 901 total (300-300-301).
Leading Notre Dame individually was sophomore Kyle Monfort (Dublin, Ohio) who finished in a three-way tie for 19th with a 13-over par total of 226 on rounds of 74, 76 and 76. Monfort finished 14 strokes behind tournament winner, Luke Donald of Northwestern, who was the only golfer to finish under par with a one-under 212 after firing rounds of 71, 69 and 72. Donald won the tournament by seven strokes over Ohio State’s Kevin Hall who shot a six-over par 219 for the weekend.
Following Monfort for the Irish was junior Steve Ratay (Arlington Heights, Ill.) who tied for 23rd, just one stroke behind Monfort with a 227 total. Ratay opened with a one-under 70 in the first round, struggled with an 82 in the second round and had Notre Dame’s best round Sunday with a 75. Ratay’s opening round 70 had tied him for second after 18 holes on Saturday.
Rounding out the Irish scoring was senior Alex Kent (Lambare, Paraguay) who tied for 41st with a 231 total following Saturday’s rounds of 75 and 79 with a closing round of 77 on Sunday. Pat Schaffler (Sr., Dallas, Tex.) finished the tournament tied for 49th with a 20-over par total of 233 (77-76-80) and freshman Peter Rivas (New Orleans, La.) closed out the Irish participants with a tie for 78th as he shot a 54-hole total of 242 (80-78-84).
Notre Dame returns to action on Friday, April 20 when the Irish compete in the 54-hole First Energy Collegiate Tournament at Kent State. The two-day tourney will be played at the Windmill Lakes Golf Club in Ravenna, Ohio.
FINAL TEAM RESULTS (54-hole totals):
1. Ohio State 298-298-297-893, 2. Northwestern 295-295-304-894, 3. Michigan 292-297-306-895, 4. Kent State 303-289-307-899, 5. Michigan State 300-300-301-901, 6. Purdue 298-301–304-903, 7. Miami (OH) 300-296-310-906, 8. Notre Dame 296-309-308-913, Wisconsin 302-297-314-913, 10. Marshall 305-297-321-923, 11. Iowa 316-303-305-924, 12. Toledo 313-306-306-925, 13. Bowling Green 311-305-322-938, 14. Illinois 313-303-324-940, Akron 304-316-320-940, Ball State 309-319-312-940, 17. Indiana 316-315-317-948.
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (of 90):
1. Luke Donald (Northwestern) 71-69-72-212, 2. Kevin Hall (Ohio State) 76-70-73-219, 3. Lee Williamson (Purdue) 73-73-74-220, Andrew Matthews (Michigan) 74-71-75-220, 5. Jon Mills (Kent State) 77-68-76-221, 6. Jeff Olson (Ohio State) 74-70-78-222, Mike Austin (Ohio State) 71-74-77-222, Dennis Riedel (Michigan State) 68-77-77-222, 9. Lee Curry (Miami-OH) 75-70-78-223, Brad Heaven (Toledo) 72-77-74-223, Tom Johnson (Northwestern) 73-72-78-223, David Nichols (Michigan) 70-78-75-223.
NOTRE DAME SCORES:
t19. Kyle Monfort 74-76-76-226, t23. Steve Ratay 70-82-75-227, t41. Alex Kent 75-79-77-231, t49. Pat Schaffler 77-76-80-233, t78. Peter Rivas 80-78-84-242.