March 23, 2018
PALM DESERT, Calif. – Consistency was the name of the game for the Notre Dame men’s golf team on Friday, as a strong opening two rounds lifted the Irish to third place at the Bighorn Invitational at the Canyons at Bighorn Golf Club.
The Irish shot a 281 (-7) in round one, followed by a 282 (-6) in round two, to sit at 13-under par heading in the final round. Mississippi State (-16) and No. 20 Illinois (-20) occupy the top-two spots. The Irish currently sit in front of four teams ranked inside Golfweek’s top-50.
Individually, Ben Albin, Davis Chatfield and John Felitto all are well within striking distance of eying the Bighorn title. Albin, at six-under par, sits the closest, just one stroke back from co-leaders Michael Feagles of Illinois and Taylor Bibbs of Mississippi State. Chatfield (-4) is three strokes back in a tie for 12th, while Felitto (-3) is four strokes back in a tie for 14th.
ROUND ONE
The shotgun start to round one saw the Irish start on holes 6-8, and once Notre Dame reached the back-nine, three golfers in particular caught fire. Chatfield notched a clean sheet of five birdies to finish five-under on the back. Meanwhile, both Albin and Felitto earned three birdies, one bogey, to finish two-under on the back-nine.
By round completion’s end, Notre Dame had shot a 281, seven-under par, two strokes back from co-leaders Illinois and Mississippi State.
Chatfield led the Irish in round one, carding a 68 (-4). Albin followed right on his heels with a 69 (-3), while Miguel Delgado (72) and Felitto each shot even-par to round out the team counted scores.
ROUND TWO
Albin and Felitto highlighted Notre Dame’s play in round two, as each shot a 69 (-3). Both caught fire on the front-nine where Albin shot three-under, only outdone by Felitto’s five birdies, including three straight on holes 3-5, to go five-under on the front.
Delgado continued his even-par trend with his second consecutive round of 72. Lastly, Chatfield rounded out the team scoring with an even-par round of 72 as well.
–ND–