Tom Usher (pictured) and his fellow seniors Chris Walker and Max Scodro hope to anchor a very talented, very deep rotation in 2011.

Irish Finish Second At Fighting Irish Gridiron Golf Classic

Sept. 28, 2010

Final Team Scores Get Acrobat Reader

Final Individual Scores Get Acrobat Reader

Final Team Scores With Individuals Get Acrobat Reader

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame men’s golf team finished in second place (out of 14 teams) at the Fighting Irish Gridiron Golf Classic (FIGGC) on the Warren Golf Course. Tom Usher (Bradford, England) led the way for the Irish individually, posting a 54-hole total of 212 (+2) and earning a seventh-place tie (out of 81 entrants).

The Irish entered day two in a stalemate with the Iowa Hawkeyes at seven-over par 567. However, Iowa used a third round score of 286 (+6) to capture the title, while the Irish carded a final day 292 (+12) to finish in second at 859 (+19) and secure the spot by one stroke over San Francisco (860, +20).

Usher finished his tournament at two-over par (212) after turning in a 73 (+3) on his final 18 holes. He continued his mastery of the par 5’s as he eagled the 17th hole to take him to five under on the tournament on par 5 holes. Usher also recorded a birdie on the fourth along with 10 pars on the round.

Max Scodro (Chicago, Ill.) ended in second for the Irish and ninth overall after closing his tournament out with a 73 (+3) for a total of a three-over par 213. On the day, Scodro carded two birdies, both of which came at par 3’s (4th and 14th holes). He finished in the top 10 individually for the second-consecutive tournament after finishing eighth at The Invite at Kiawah to open the year.

Niall Platt (Santa Barbara, Calif.), on the heels of a runner-up finish, concluded the FIGGC at six-over par (216) after posting a final round 73 (+3). He recorded three birdies on the day, but was hurt by a triple bogey (7) on the sixth hole. Platt earned a share of 14th place.

Chris Walker (The Woodlands, Texas) took advantage of four birdies on his final round to record the fourth 73 (+3) for the Irish on the day. He concluded the FIGGC at 11-over par (221) and finished tied for 27th.

Connor Alan-Lee (Solana Beach, Calif.) rounded out the Irish rotation after carding a final round 75 (+5). For the tournament, Alan-Lee recorded a 225 (+15) and earned a share of 44th.

Individual Entrants:

Ryan Coughlin (Rye, N.Y.) posted the low round of the day for the Irish after turning a 71 (+1). He carded a pair of birdies to go along with only three bogies and 13 pars. Overall, Coughlin concluded the tournament as the highest-finishing individual entrant for the Irish at 225 (+15), good for a share of 44th.

Jeff Chen (Walnut, Calif.) used 12 pars and two birdies on his way to a third round 72 (+2). Overall, he finished at 226 (+16), which earned him a share of 52nd place.

Andrew Carreon (San Antonio, Texas) played his final 18 holes at six-over par (76). He carded three birdies, including back-to-back on the 12th and 13th holes, but was hampered by seven bogies and a double bogey. Carreon finished his 54 holes with a 227 (+17) to place in a tie for 55th.

Andrew Lane (Fairport, N.Y.) concluded his tournament with a third-round score of 76 (+6). He netted 10 pars and his lone birdie of the day came on the par-4 seventh hole. Lane finished in a tie for 58th with an 18-over par, 228.

Paul McNamara III (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) ended on a high note, carding a final round 72 (+2). He posted 12 pars to go along with a pair of birdies on the back nine. McNamara ended the tournament in a tie for 67th at 232 (+22)

Dustin Zhang (Calgary, Alberta) fired his best round of the tournament with a five-over par 75. He recorded three birdies on the back nine and ended with a 54-hole total of 244 (+34).

The Irish return to action in two weeks when they take part in the Firestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio at Firestone Country Club on Mon.-Tues., Oct. 11-12.

Fighting Irish Gridiron Golf Classic – Warren Golf Course, Par 70 – 7,023

Top-Five Team Scores (54-hole totals): 1. Iowa (+13/853); 2. NOTRE DAME (+19/859); 3. San Francisco (+20/860); t4. Houston (+31/871); t4. Lamar (+31/871)

Top-Five Golfers (54-hole totals): t1. Ji Hwan Park (San Francisco/208); t1. Taylor Travis (San Francisco/208); 3. Brad Hopfinger (Iowa/209); t4. Nathan Sutherland (Miami (OH)/211); t4. Jace Long (Missouri/211); t4. Curtis Loop (Georgetown/211)

Notre Dame Scores (36-hole totals): t7. Tom Usher (70-69-73-212); t9. Max Scodro (70-70-73-213); t14. Niall Platt (69-74-73-216); t27. Chris Walker (75-73-73-221); t44. Connor Alan-Lee (72-78-75-225); t44. Ryan Coughlin (81-73-71-225); t52. Jeff Chen (71-83-72-226); t55. Andrew Carreon (75-76-76-227); t58. Andrew Lane (77-75-76-228); t67. Paul McNamara III (80-80-72-232); 80. Dustin Zhang (85-84-75-244)

–ND–