April 27, 2014
NEW LONDON, N.C. – A final round score of three-over 291 on Sunday capped the very first appearance for the University of Notre Dame men’s golf team in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship tournament. The Irish posted a solo seventh place finish at the Old North State Club with a weekend team total of 872 (294-287-291).
“We did some good things this week,” Notre Dame head coach Jim Kubinski said. “We played very well going out each day, we just didn’t finish off any of the rounds from hole 14 in as a team. Even in posting 287 yesterday we lost a few coming in. It adds up over three rounds.”
No. 5 Georgia Tech claimed the ACC Championship team title after closing with a 15-under-par score of 273 on Sunday, claiming a six-stroke victory at 839 (288-278-273, -25). Yellow Jacket player Ollie Schniederjans took solo medalist honors at 12-under-par 204 (65-70-69).
“I take my visor off to Georgia Tech,” Kubinski said. “They were the class of our league all year long. We have some work to do, it takes four quality scores each round to win this league. We’ll work to keep getting better. It was nice in our first go round to earn wins over traditional stalwarts Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State, it’s a start for us.”
Junior Patrick Grahek continued his steady play at the ACC Championship during Sunday’s final round, birdieing three holes on the front nine as part of an outward score of 33 (-3). Four birdies on the back nine offset a pair of bogies in a five-under-par 67 that vaulted Grahek into a tie for ninth place.
Grahek finished the championship a combined seven-under-par on the par 5 holes at the Old North State Club, which included eight birdies.
“I just can’t say enough about Patrick’s 67 today, a career-low, and his top 10 finish in a high-powered field,” Kubinski said. “He has worked especially hard these last 12-16 months and deserves his success. He’s a very solid player now physically and so strong mentally. He made a couple errors coming in but never let it bother him, making a couple saves and birdies.”
Senior tri-captain Niall Platt capped his Notre Dame career as the program leader in scoring average, on track to graduate with a career clip of 73.08 in 43 starts. Platt birdied the par 5 18th hole as part of a final round one-over 73, tying for 23rd place at 217 (72-72-73).
Classmate Andrew Lane closed his final collegiate start with a birdie of his own at the 568-yard 18th hole, completing a final round six-over-par 78. Lane, who electrified the field with a four-under front nine during Friday’s first round, wrapped up his Irish career with a tie for 56th place (71-78-78-227).
“I really loved that both seniors finished off their team golf careers for us with birdies today,” Kubinski said. “They both did career best things for us at Oak Hill and gave us great leadership this week. They’re a great group. All three of our seniors (Platt, Lane and Andrew Carreon) will represent Notre Dame well in the years ahead.”
Freshman Matt Rushton logged a pair of birdies during his final 18 holes, turning in a third round 76 to tie for 35th place at 222 (76-70-76). Sophomore Cory Sciupider rounded out the Notre Dame lineup with a score of 75, for 47th place at 225 (76-74-75).
–ND–