Oct. 16, 2000
FRANKLIN, Ind. -
Senior Alex Kent turned in one of the top
rounds in Notre Dame men's golf history but his teammates struggled to keep
up with the rest of the torrid 13-team field, as the Irish fell into last
place following two rounds of play Monday at the annual Legends of Indiana
Intercollegiate, with the final round set for Tuesday.
Kent opened with a five-under 67 at the 6,859-yard Legends of
Indiana Golf Course before posting a 71 in the afternoon round for a 138
total (-6)-good for a four-way share of fourth, just one stroke back of
Ball State's Jason Jones (69-68).
Kent's 67 ties for the third-lowest score by a Notre Dame golfer in
intercollegiate competition (since 1962), trailing the 66 posted by Todd
Vernon at the Air Force Invitational in the fall of 1999 and the 64 turned
in by Mike O'Connell, Sr., during the 1962-63 season.
Kent can set the Irish record for best 54-hole tournament score by
shooting 70 or lower in Tuesday's final round (Jeff Connell holds the
record after shooting 209 at the Marshall Invitational in the spring of
1998). A 73 or better would yield Kent the top Irish 54-hole score in
relation to par (three previous ND golfers have finished 54 holes at
four-under).
Notre Dame-which tied for first at the 1999 Legends of Indiana with
an 878 total-is on pace for an even better score (871) this time around but
the Irish still find themselves 24 shots back of first-place Indiana
(279-278/557), after posting rounds of 288-293 (581). Junior Steve
Ratay-the tournament's defending medalist-stands tied for 61st in the
78-player field after rounds of 74-76 (150), including a rare round in the
afternoon that did not count to the Irish team score (in the play-six,
count-four format).
Sophomore Brandon Lunke turned in solid rounds of 72-75 (147) while
senior Pat Schaffler (75-73/148) and freshman Gavin Ferlic (75-74/149) also
contributed to the Notre Dame team score. Senior Adam Anderson (77-77/154)
rounded out the Irish contingent.
Notre Dame's opening 288 (even) ties for the 10th-best round in
team history (tied for seventh in relation to par). The Irish would set the
team record for low 54-hole score by shooting 284 or better in Tuesday's
final round.
TEAM STANDINGS (36 of 54 holes): 1. Indiana 279-278/557, 2. Ball
State 282-281/562, 3. Ohio 286-283/569, 4. Akron 283-288/571, Eastern
Michigan 280-291/571, Murray State 287-284/571, 7. Cincinnati
285-287/572, 8. Western Kentucky 290-284/574, 9. Eastern Kentucky
293-282/575, Marquette 289-286/575, 11. Bowling Green 294-283/577,
Dayton 288-289/577, 13. Notre Dame 288-293/581.
TOP INDIVIDUALS (of 78): 1. Jason Jones (BSU 69-68/137, 2. Alex Kent
(ND) 67-71/138, Steve Wheatcroft (IU) 69-69/138, Jeremy Grantham (MUR)
69-691/138, Aaron Bickle (OU) 68-70, 6. Eric mason (WKY) 69-70/139, Russ
Johnston (AKRON) 69-70, Todd Greer (DAY) 69-70/139, 9. Aldo Jordan (IU)
72-68/140, Rich Thomas (IU) 67-73/140.
OTHER ND SCORES: 43. Brandon Lunke 72-75/147, 46. Pat Schaffler
75-73/148, 56. Gavin Ferlic 75-74/149, 61. Steve Ratay 74-76/150, 71.
Adam Anderson 77-77/154.
