April 21, 2001
Ravenna, Ohio – The Notre Dame men’s golf team shot an 11-over par 291 in the final round of play at the FirstEnergy Intercollegiate Golf Tournament to finish in a tie with the University of Toledo for third place with a 585 total. The Irish finished the day 11 strokes behind tournament champion Kent State who outdistanced Michigan State by 10 strokes. Kent State, the first day leader with a 293, shot a one-over par 281 on the par 70, 6,936-yard Windmill Lakes Golf Course in the final round of the rain-shortened tournament to finish with a 14-over 574 total.
The third place finish in the 19-team tournament was the best finish for the Irish during the 2000-01 season. The final round 288 total was the top round for the squad this spring. Michigan State finished in second with a 584 (296-288) while Eastern Michigan finished three strokes behind Notre Dame and Toledo for fifth place with a 588 (300-288) mark.
Individually, Notre Dame was sparked by the play of junior Steve Ratay (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and sophomore Brandon Lunke (San Antonio, Tex.). Ratay finished in a three-way tie for second place as he shot a two-over par 142 (72-70) to finish eight strokes behind tournament medalist Jon Mills of Kent State who shot a six-under par 134 (68-66). Ratay’s even par 70 in the final round was just one of seven par or sub-par rounds on Saturday.
Lunke, playing in his first tournament of the spring, tied for fifth place with a three-over par total of 143 on rounds of 72 and 71. The 71 was Lunke’s lowest round of the season and the tie for fifth place was the best finish of his Notre Dame career.
Senior Alex Kent (Lambare, Paraguay) tied for 22nd with a 36-hole total of 147 as he followed Friday’s 72 witha a 75 on Saturday. Kyle Monfort (So., Dublin, Ohio) tied for 50th with a 153 total on rounds of 78 and 75. Pat Schaffler (Sr., Dallas, Tex.) rounded out the Notre Dame finishers as he tied for 83rd with a 160 (78-82).
Notre Dame returns to action on Friday, April 28th when the Irish begin play at the BIG EAST Tournament at the Metacomet Country Club in East Providence, R.I. Teams will play 36 holes on Friday and close the 54-hole tournament on Sat., April 29th with 18 holes. The winner of the BIG EAST tournament gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
FINAL TEAM RESULTS (36-hole totals):
1. Kent State 293-281-574, 2. Michigan State 296-288-584 3. Notre Dame 294-291-585, Toledo 296-289-585, 5. Eastern Michigan 300-288-588, 6. Ball State 302-290-592, 7. Bowling Green 302-293-595, Purdue 295-300-595, 9. Iowa 298-299-597, 10. Wright State 300-299-599, 11. Miami (OH) 303-297-600, 12. Ohio University 305-301-606, 13. Marshall 310-297-607, 14. Wisconsin 314-297-611, 15. Illinois 313-299-612, 16. Marquette 304-309-613, 17. Indiana 322-300-622, 18. Akron 318-311-629, 19. Northern Illinois 325-308-633.
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (of 100):
1. Jon Mills (Kent State) 68-66-134, 2. Steve Ratay (Notre Dame) 72-70-142, Danny Sahl (Kent State) 72-70-142, Jaysen Hansen (Eastern Michigan) 74-68-142, 5. Brandon Lunke (Notre Dame) 72-71-143, Brad Heaven (Toledo) 70-73-143, Brent Goik (Michigan State) 71-72-143, Brent Goulding (Eastern Michigan) 74-69-143, 9. Brian Miller (Kent State) 74-70-144, Kenny Cook (Ball State) 73-71-144, Justin Gillham (Bowling Green) 73-71-144.
NOTRE DAME SCORES:
t2. Steve Ratay 72-70-142, t5. Brandon Lunke 72-71-143, t22. Alex Kent 72-75-147, t50. Kyle Monfort 78-75-153, t83. Pat Schaffler 78-82-160.