March 18, 2012
STATESBORO, Ga. – The University of Notre Dame men’s golf team dropped two spots on the final day of the Schenkel Invitational Sunday, finishing 12th with a 54-hole total of 882 (+18) at Forest Heights Country Club. Senior Max Scodro (Chicago, Ill.) finished tied for 13th (212, -4) for his sixth-consecutive top-25 finish on the year.
Alabama won the tournament, breaking the Schenkel record for lowest 54-hole score in the process with its total of 817 (-47). That mark bested Wake Forest’s previous Schenkel Invite record of 39 under (825) set back in 1986. Virginia held on for second place, finishing at 25 under (839). Auburn and Florida shared third place with matching scores of 847 (-17). The Cavaliers’ Ben Kohles completed the wire-to-wire individual victory, claiming first at 18 under (198).
Scodro played another consistent round of golf Sunday for the Irish, carding 14 pars as well as two birdies and two bogeys on the day. Along with being the sixth top-25 finish for Scodro on the season, it is also the fifth tournament-leading effort for him as part of the Irish rotation this year.
Niall Platt (Santa Barbara, Calif.) remained second amongst the Irish rotation but battled through an unorthodox up-and-down round. The sophomore finished with only nine pars on the day, while marking down three birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey on the par-five, ninth to finish the day with a 76 (+4). Overall, Platt claimed a share of 54th at six over (222).
Paul McNamara III (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) used a final round 74 (+2) to move from fifth in the Irish rotation to third. The junior posted three bogeys and one birdie on his first nine holes before recording an even par (36) on his final nine to end the day. McNamara finished tied for 65th overall with a three-day total of 224 (+8).
Chris Walker (The Woodlands, Texas) struggled to get his round going, finishing five over (41) on his opening nine before rebounding over his final nine holes at one over (37). With his final round 78 (+6), Walker finished tied for 68th at 225 (+9). Tom Usher (Baildon, England), meanwhile, did not count toward the team score with his final round 79 (+7). The senior finished 77th in the field with a 54-hole score of 228 (+12).
A positive that emerged from the weekend was the play of Andrew Lane (Fairport, N.Y.), who competed as an individual entrant for the Irish. After playing his first round at three over par (75), the sophomore posted two consecutive under-par rounds over the weekend with a 71 (-1) Saturday and a 70 (-2) Sunday. Lane finished tied for 27th overall with a score of 216 (E).
Notre Dame returns to the links next weekend when it heads to Greensboro, Ga., to compete in the Linger Longer Invitational at the Reynold’s Plantation Great Water’s Course.
Top-Five Teams:1. Alabama 817 -472. Virginia 839 -25T3. Auburn 847 -17T3. Florida 847 -175. UAB 855 -9
Top-Six Individuals:1. Ben Kohles, Virginia 198 -182. Blayne Barber, Auburn 201 -15T3. Justin Thomas, Alabama 204 -12T3. Cory Whitsett, Alabama 204 -12T5. Hunter Hamrick, Alabama 206 -10T5. Bobby Wyatt, Alabama 206 -10
Notre Dame Results:12. Notre Dame 882 +18T13. Max Scodro 212 -4T27. Andrew Lane (Ind.) 216 ET54. Niall Platt 222 +6T65. Paul McNamara III 224 +8T68. Chris Walker 225 +977. Tom Usher 228 +12
–ND–