May 1, 2010
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Notre Dame golfers Doug Fortner (Tustin, Calif./Foothill), Max Scodro (Chicago, Ill./Notre Dame Prep) and Tom Usher (Bradford, England/Guiseley School) have been named to the 2010 All-BIG EAST Men’s Golf Team it was announced by the conference on Friday evening. Fortner, who was one of four unanimous selections, and Scodro earned the honor for the second consecutive season, while Usher is making his first appearance on the All-Conference team. For the second time since the BIG EAST began awarding all-conference status in 1999, the all-BIG EAST squad was chosen through a vote of the conference coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own players.
This marks the eighth time in the past nine years (all but 2006) that Notre Dame has had more than one golfer tapped for all-BIG EAST honors. The Irish were one of five programs with multiple honorees and the only program to see three team members earn All-BIG EAST honors. Louisville’s Riley Wheeldon copped BIG EAST Player of the Year honors, while Seton Hall’s Brandon Park was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Year. Georgetown’s Tommy Hunter took home the conference’s Coach of the Year award.
Having also earned all-BIG EAST accolades as a sophomore and junior, Fortner is just the third player in program history to earn all-conference honors on three occasions, joining Mark Baldwin and Cole Isban in that select group. Fortner served as an Irish tri-captain during the 2009-10 season and led the team with a 73.85 stroke average on the year. He had 20 of his 25 rounds counted towards Notre Dame’s team score and notched four under par rounds on the season, including three rounds shot in the 60s. For his career, Fortner recorded a 74.59 stroke average, good for seventh on Notre Dame’s career stroke average list.
Fortner’s season was highlighted by consecutive events in March when he finished first and second, respectively. On March 12, he put together a medalist performance at the Bandon Dunes Championship, the first win of his Irish career. Then in Notre Dame’s next event of the season, the FAU Spring Break Championship, Fortner turned in a runner-up performance against a 93-person field. His second place showing came on the strength of an opening round 64 (-7), which marked a career low round for Fortner. The seven-under par tied the program’s all-time low round record, previously set by Baldwin in 2004-05 against TCU, while the 64 strokes used to complete the round is second all-time to Baldwin, who finished his round in 63 shots.
Scodro played in 11 events for the Irish in 2009-10 and led the team in terms of rounds counted towards team scoring as 26 of his 27 rounds (.963) were used to comprise Notre Dame’s team score. For the year, Scodro recorded a 73.96 stroke average, the second best mark on the team. His season was highlighted by tying for first at the 2010 BIG EAST Championship, though he lost in a four-man sudden death playoff that also included Usher. Scodro notched three under-par rounds on the season, including two in the 60s, and seven even-par rounds. In addition to the BIG EAST Championship, Scodro’s other top-10 finish came at the 2009 Fighting Irish Gridiron Golf Classic, as he tied for 10th after finishing at eight-over par. The strong showing at the FIGGC helped Notre Dame to the team win at the annual event.
Usher played in eight events for the Irish, most of which came during the spring campaign when the sophomore became a staple of the Irish lineup. Like Scodro, Usher tied for first at the 2010 BIG EAST Championship before losing out in a four-man sudden death playoff. His final day charge up the leader board at the 2010 BIG EAST Championship nearly propelled the Irish to the title, as Notre Dame ended up losing to Georgetown by one stroke. On the final day of play, Usher carded a two-under par 69 to tie for the lowest round of the day. For the season, Usher carded a stroke average of 75.06, and for the spring portion of the schedule, Usher’s stroke average improved to 74.93. Nine of his 11 rounds when playing as a member of Notre Dame’s starting five were used for team scoring purposes.
2010 All-BIG EAST Men’s Golf Team
Mike Ballo Jr., St. John’s *
Evan Beirne, St. John’s
Chris Biuso, Louisville *
Jeb Buchanan, Connecticut
Brandon Ellis, Georgetown
Doug Fortner, Notre Dame *
Michael Furci, DePaul
Brendan Kelly, Villanova
Kelly Kretz, Marquette
Brandon Park, Seton Hall
Vincenzo Salina, Georgetown
Max Scodro, Notre Dame
Tom Usher, Notre Dame
Adam Vaccari, Connecticut
Riley Wheeldon, Louisville *
Men’s Player of the Year
Riley Wheeldon, Louisville
Men’s Freshman of the Year
Brandon Park, Seton Hall
Men’s Coach of the Year
Tommy Hunter, Georgetown
* – Denotes a unanimous selection
–ND–