Oct. 4, 1999
FRANKLIN, Ind. - Notre Dame sophomore Steve Ratay (Arlington
Heights, Ill./John Hersey HS) holds a two-stroke lead on the field while
Notre Dame is one shot out of first place, following two rounds of action
Monday at the annual Legends of Indiana Intercollegiate.
The 54-hole tournament-played in damp and windy conditions on
Monday-concludes with 18 holes on Tuesday, at the par-72, 7,044-yard
Legends of Indiana Golf Course.
Ratay was tied for fourth in the 80-player field after carding a
one-under 71 in the morning round before posting a 70 in the afternoon for
a 141 total and a two-shot cushion on Western Kentucky's Nate Gilchrist
(70-73), with three other golfers at 144 and three at 145.
Ratay could equal the Notre Dame 54-hole record by shooting a 68 on
Tuesday while a final-round 71 would yield a three-round score of 212 and
equal the Irish record for best 54-hole score in relation to par (-4).
Notre Dame - which is coming off a team-record performance as the
champions of the Air Force Invitational-claimed second place in Monday's
16-team field after the morning round, with a 296 in the play-five,
count-four format. The Irish stayed in contention despite playing without
senior Jeff Connell, who had to withdraw after aggravating a minor wrist
injury during the first round before returning to post an 80 in the
afternoon. Ohio University (292) held a four-shot lead after the opening
round but slipped to fourth in the afternoon while the Irish used a 294 to
remain in second (590), just one stroke behind Louisville (298-291).
Wisconsin (300-294) looms just four shots behind Notre Dame,
followed closely by Miami of Ohio and Ohio University (both at 595).
Should the Irish overtake Louisville and claim the team title, it
would mark the first time that a Notre Dame golf team has won back-to-back
intercollegiate events.
Three different Notre Dame golfers shot par or better in at least
one round, with senior Todd Vernon owning a share of 12th after rounds of
76-71. Alex Kent (72-76) is tied for 20th while fellow junior Adam Anderson
(77-77) rounded out the Irish contingent on the first day.
Ratay's first round included four birdies and three bogeys while
his two-under second round included five birdies and three bogeys. His
highlights of that second round included a blind tee shot on the par-three
13th hole that landed a couple inches from the cup and a chip from the
rough for a birdie on his final hole.
Ratay played for the Irish in several spring of 1999 tournaments
before opening the '99 fall season with an impressive 11th-place finish at
the Air Force Invitational (219). Vernon led through two rounds in that
event before finishing third, at 212 (he an Connell share the Irish record
for best 54-hole score in relation to par).
Ratay did not play at the Legends in the fall of 1998, when the
Irish finished a disappointing ninth (893), and had no previous experience
on the course prior to this year's event.
TEAM STANDINGS (36 holes of 54): 1. Louisville 298-191/89, 2. Notre Dame
296-294/590, 3. Wisconsin 300-294/594, 4. Miami, Ohio 302-293-595, Ohio
University 292-303/595, 6. Eastern Michigan , 7. Kentucky 308-289/597,
8. Eastern Kentucky 304-295/599, Indiana 302-297/599, 10. Cincinnati
303-298/601, 11. Marshall 313-293/606, 12. Western Kentucky 303-304/608,
13. Marquette 304-304/608, 14. Georgetown 308-306/614, 15. Xavier
310-312/622, 16. Ball State 316-307/623.
TOP INDIVIDUALS (of 80): 1. Steve Ratay (ND) 71-70/141, 2. Nate Gilchrist
(WKY) 70-73/143, 3. Chris Campbell (LOU) 72-72/144, Jim Lemon (WIS)
72-72/144, Aaron Williams (MAR) 73-71/144, 6. Andreas Huber (GU)
72-73/145, Adam Speirs(MIA) 73-72/145, Grant Sturgeon (LOU) 70-75-145,
9. Eric Herberth (OU) 70-76/146, A.T. Spires (OU) 71-75/146, Eric Reno
(WIS) 76-70146.
OTHER NOTRE DAME SCORES: 12. Todd Vernon 76-71/147, 20. Alex Kent
72-76/148, 45. Adam Anderson 77-77/154, Jeff Connell WD-80.
