March 28, 2010
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – The Notre Dame men’s golf team finished in 12th place (out of 16 teams) following final round action at the FAU Spring Break Championship played at Gleneagles Country Club in Delray Beach, Fla. The Irish posted a final day sixteen-over par 300. Senior Doug Fortner (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) moved into a tie for second place among the 93 individuals who competed in the field after posting a final round 70 (-1).
Fortner made easy work of the third and final round, registering 14 pars to go along with two birdies, both on the front nine, and a lone bogey on hole eight. For the weekend Fortner recorded a four-under par 209, which ties his lowest tournament mark of the 2009-10 campaign that came at the rain shortened Mason Rudolph Championship. The two sub-par rounds recorded by Fortner also marks the first time he has accomplished that since last year’s BIG EAST Championship, when he finished six-under par and tied for second place.
Sophomore Max Scodro (Chicago, Ill./Notre Dame Prep (AZ)) ended in second place amongst the Irish rotation after the final day of action. He was able to finish up his tournament with a third-round 76 that was aided by him carding two birdies on the round, including his third consecutive for the tournament on hole 11. He was hurt by a triple bogey on the par four 16th. His three day total of 224 (+11) placed him into a tie for 45th place overall.
Senior Carl Santos-Ocampo (Naples, Fla./Community School of Naples) ended his tournament third amongst the six Irish competitors participating after concluding the three days at 226 (+13). After registering 74’s in each of the first two rounds, Santos-Ocampo played his final 18 holes at 78 (+7). He posted one birdie but was plagued by three double bogeys on the round. He concluded the event in a tie for 57th.
Sophomore Chris Walker (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands) put together a final round 75 (+4) to end his tournament. He notched 10 pars on the round to go along with three birdies but also was victimized by two double bogeys including one on the final hole of his tournament. Walker wrapped up the weekend with a score of 226 (+13), good for a 57th-place tie along with Santos-Ocampo.
Sophomore Tom Usher (Bradford, England/Guiseley School) was the final score used by the Irish on the closing day of competition, as he posted an eight-over par 79. He wrapped up the weekend in a tie for 71st place after recording a 230 (+17) over the three days.
Senior Josh Sandman (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford) rounded out the Irish five after struggling in round three. He finished his final round with an 11-over par 82 to push his three-day total to 231 (+18), good for a share of 75th place. He was able to post a two-over par on the back nine, including a birdie on the 13th hole, but could not find his shot on the front side as he finished in 44 (+9) after carding five bogeys and two double bogeys to go with two pars.
Illinois ran away with the team title after posting a three-day total 842 (-10) with Iowa falling 18 strokes off the pace in second at eight-over par 860. Individually, Illinois’ Chris DeForest was able to capture medalist honors after posting an eight-under par 205.
Notre Dame will return to action on Sun., April 18 at the BIG EAST Championship being played at the Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Notre Dame Individual Totals:T2. Fortner (64-75-70-209)T45. Scodro (74-74-76-224)*T57. Santos-Ocampo (74-74-78-226)T57. Walker (78-73-75-226)T71. Usher (76-75-79-230)T75. Sandman (74-75-82-231)
* - denotes individual competitor
Top-10 Team Totals:1. Illinois (-10/842)2. Iowa (+8/860)3. Penn State (+10/862)4. Eastern Michigan (+13/865)5. Florida Atlantic (+14/866)6. Michigan (+17/869)7. Florida Gulf Coast (+21/873)8. Minnesota (+26/878)9. Murray State (+28/880)T10. St. Mary's (Calif.) (+32/884)T10. Ohio State (+32/884)
12. Notre Dame (+33/885)
–ND–