Oct. 29, 2013
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – The University of Notre Dame men’s golf team closed the fall portion of its 2013-14 schedule Tuesday with a share of an 11th place finish at The Invitational at The Ocean Course. The Irish carded a final round team tournament score of 909 over the three-day event (301-296-312).
Sophomore Cory Sciupider fired the top Notre Dame score of the day, logging a birdie at the par 4 13th hole to square his round at even par after teeing off at No. 9 in the shotgun format. Sciupider recorded five straight pars before dropping a pair of shots in a three-hole stretch, ultimately finishing in a tie for 38th place with a third round 74 (78-76-74-228).
Junior Tyler Wingo posted a total of three birdies during his final 18 on Tuesday, but was unable to stem the tide on his way to a seven-over 79. Wingo was the top Irish player on the final tournament leaderboard, earning a share of 22nd place (68-77-79-224).
Senior tri-captain Niall Platt was the second Notre Dame finisher in the final standings, tying for 33rd after a cumulative score of 227 (76-71-80-227). Junior Patrick Grahek made a total of four birdies during his final round, but ultimately fell behind the pace with a round of 79 (80-72-79-231) and a tie for 50th place. Freshman Matt Rushton placed 67th in the field (79-77-81-237), while classmate Blake Barens tied for 76th place (88-77-78-243).
South Florida fought off a seven-over final team round of 295 (291-285-295-871) to claim the tournament title by four strokes over South Alabama (294-294-287-875). Kentucky (288-293-295-876) and Georgia (297-296-283-876) shared third place, with Georgia Southern (302-298-297-897) rounding out the top five.
Georgia’s Joey Garber played his final 36 holes of the tournament a combined 10-under-par, taking medalist honors following a three-day score of 207 (73-66-68, -9). South Florida’s Richard James (69-67-74) and Western Carolina’s J.T. Poston (67-74-69) shared runner-up honors at six-under-par, 210, with Kentucky’s Cody Martin one shot behind (70-68-73-211, -5) in fourth place. South Florida’s Chase Koepka (72-69-73) and Georgia’s Lee McCoy (72-77-65) tied for fifth at 214.
The Invitational at The Ocean Course-Kiawah Island, S.C.-Par-72, 7,080 Yds.
TOP-10 TEAMS (Final): 1. South Florida 291-285-295-871, +7; 2. South Alabama 294-294-287-875, +11; T3. Kentucky 288-293-295-876, +12; T3. Georgia 297-296-283-876, +12; 5. Georgia Southern 302-298-297-897, +33; 6. College of Charleston 306-293-301-900, +36; 7. Charleston Southern 297-311-296-904, +40; 8. Florida 300-303-303-906, +42; 9. Rice 311-294-302-907, +43; 10. Western Carolina 304-301-303-908, +44.
TOP-10 INDIVIDUALS (Final): 1. Joey Garber (Georgia) 73-66-68-207, -9; T2. Richard James (South Florida) 69-67-74-210, -6; T2. J.T. Poston (Western Carolina) 67-74-69-210, -6; 4. Cody Martin (Kentucky) 70-68-73-211, -5; T5. Chase Koepka (South Florida) 72-69-73-214, -2; T5. Lee McCoy (Georgia) 72-77-65-214, -2; T7. Tyler Klava (South Alabama) 70-74-72-216, E; T7. Kevin Reilly (Rice) 79-66-71-216, E; 9. Michael Garretson (South Alabama) 74-72-71-217, +1; T10. Michael Cromie (Georgia) 74-73-71-218, +2; T10. Blake Kelley (South Alabama) 75-73-70-218, +2.
NOTRE DAME INDIVIDUALS (Final): T22. Tyler Wingo 68-77-79-224, +8; T33. Niall Platt 76-71-80-227, +11; T38. Cory Sciupider 78-76-74-228, +12; T50. Patrick Grahek 80-72-79-231, +15; 67. Matt Rushton 79-77-81-237, +21; T76. Blake Barens * 88-77-78-243, +27.
*- played as an individual
–ND–