By Tim Connor
One of the most popular times of the year on any college campus
is the coming of spring. Thoughts turn to warm weather and spring
break. Like most college students, the Notre Dame men's golf team is
also looking forward to spring.
Their reasons are much different though. The countdown to
spring means returning to the golf course where they will look to make a
run at Notre Dame's fourth BIG EAST title in six years and the
conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
According to head coach George Thomas, his team's optimistic
look at spring is due to their strong lineup of golfers. The veteran
head coach is excited about his talented group of golfers.
"I am very optimistic about the coming year. We are definitely
more talented than
the way we played in the fall. We'll get a big boost from the return of
Kyle Monfort to our lineup, " says Thomas, now in his 13th season at
Notre Dame.
"Monfort's return really gives us an outstanding top four with
Steve Ratay, Alex
Kent, and Pat Schaffler. After that, we have a pretty strong group
looking to break into the regular lineup. I expect a dogfight for the
final playing spots this spring."
Irish golfers have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 1966.
Qualifying has always been tough in District Four as the top six teams
and the top single golfer in the district qualify for the tournament.
Heading into this spring, Notre Dame was ranked 13th in its
district. Thus, the importance of the late April trip (Apr. 27-29) to
East Providence, R.I. and the Metacomet Country Club for the 2001 BIG
EAST Tournament and its automatic bid to the NCAA's.
"The BIG EAST has expanded to a 54-hole format for the first
time which makes it
a more equitable and competitive tournament this year. Virginia Tech
starts the spring ranked sixth in the country while Seton Hall, Rutgers
and St. John's all have strong teams," says Thomas.
Thomas is blessed with an exceptional one-two punch in senior
Alex Kent (Lambare, Paraguay) and junior Steve Ratay (Arlington Heights,
Ill.). The duo were the team's top two golfers in the fall and head
into the spring with the best (Kent - 73.92) and fourth best (Ratay -
75.46) career averages at Notre Dame since 1954.
Kent carded a 73.92 average in the fall and set the Notre Dame
54-hole record with a six-under, 210 at the Legends of Indiana
Intercollegiate Tournament. His opening round five-under
par 67
in that tourney ties three others for the third lowest round ever
recorded by an Irish golfer.
"Alex is a premier player with great experience. He's had a big
impact on this team since joining us last year. He and Steve (Ratay)
really compliment each other well," says Thomas.
Ratay was Notre Dame's top finisher in three of four fall
tournaments including
medalist honors at the Wisconsin Invitational where he shot a four-under
par 212 (71-70-71) as the Irish finished fourth. His 73.50 average was
tops on the team and his career average of 75.46 is the fourth best in
the program's history.
"Steve is as good a golfer as we'll see this spring. He is very
dedicated to improving his game. I don't think that he played up to his
own standards in the fall. He's our leader and team captain and has
worked hard to get ready. I expect him to be a formidable force this
spring," says Thomas.
Monfort (Jr., Dublin, Ohio) who returns after sitting out last
season, was impressive during the 1998 fall schedule.
He finished his lone semester with the team's best scoring
average (74.77) and turned in what was the lowest single round score
when he fired a four-under par 68 in the third round of the Legends of
Indiana Intercollegiate.
"Kyle's return really makes us much stronger. He gives us
another strong golfer at the top of the lineup," said Thomas.
The fourth member of the lineup will be Schaffler (Sr., Dallas,
Tex.). A smart, consistent golfer, the 22-year old broke into the
regular lineup in the fall and put up solid numbers to finish among
Notre Dame's top three golfers in three of four tournaments. His 75.78
was third best on the squad and his best finish came in the Legends of
Indiana Tournament when he shot a four-over par 220 (75-73-72).
The battle for the fifth and sixth spots will be quite
competitive as the team heads into season opening El Diablo Tournament
(Mar. 16-18) at Citrus Springs, Fla. Deciding on those golfers will be
a key to the team's success this spring.
"Those spots are really important in the lineup, especially if
one of the top players has a bad round. We never really came up with a
consistent fifth and sixth man in the fall," explains Thomas.
Six golfers will join the competition for those final spots.
Included in that group are a senior, two sophomores and three freshmen.
The senior is Adam Anderson (Plankinton, S.D.) who broke into
the top five in the fall of 1999, playing in nine tournaments as a
junior. During the fall, Anderson averaged 78.00 in six rounds and owns
a 77.45 average for his career.
Brandon Lunke (So., San Antonio, Tex) and Chris Whitten (So.,
Rockford, Mich.) begin their second seasons. Lunke played in just one
tournament as a frosh but played in all four tourneys during the fall
figuring in the scoring in nine of 12 rounds. His 77.00 average was
fifth on the squad.
Whitten played five rounds as a freshman and recorded a 79.00
average.
Adam Kent (Fr., Lambare, Paraguay), Gavin Ferlic (Fr., South
Bend, Ind.) and Peter Rivas (Fr., New Orleans, La.) give Thomas a young
and talented freshman class.
|
| Senior Alex Kent set the Notre Dame record for lowest 54-hole total when
he shot a six-under par 210 last fall at the Legends of Indiana
Intercollegiate Tournament. His 210 total included and opening round,
five-under par 67.
|
Kent follows his brothers Alex and Willie ('99) to the Notre
Dame golf team. The younger Kent missed the fall with an arm injury but
is healthy now and ready to play.
Ferlic played in the final two fall tournaments and had four of
his six rounds figure in the team scoring. He was fourth on the team
with a 76.67 average in the fall.
Rivas turned in a 77.83 mark starting the fall in Notre Dame's
top five. He played in the Wisconsin Invitational and the PSINET
Collegiate Golf Invitational and had five of his six rounds counted
towards fourth and ninth place finishes by the Irish respectively.
"We really have a great group of players on this team. They are
working very hard to get ready for El Diablo and the spring schedule. I
am confident that this team will play well this spring and be ready for
the BIG EAST Tournament," says Thomas.
If the Irish golfers play up to their own expectations, they
have the opportunity to make this a spring to remember.
