Senior Greg Rodgers is tied for fifth after 36 holes at the Gopher Invitational.  Rodgers shot 69-74 for a one-under par 143 in his first two rounds for 2007-08.

Irish Golfers Are Third After 36 Holes At Gopher Invitational

Sept. 15, 2007

Wayzata, Minn. – The Notre Dame men’s golf team fired rounds of 294 and 291 on the way to a nine-over-par 36-hole total of 585 in the opening rounds of the University of Minnesota Gopher Invitational on Saturday. The Irish will go into Sunday’s final 18 holes just nine strokes behind tourney leaders Lamar and three behind second place Wisconsin. The tournament is being played at the par-72, 7,020-yard Spring Hill Golf Club.

Two Irish golfers, senior Greg Rodgers (Phoenix, Md.) and freshman Connor Alan-Lee (Solana Beach, Calif.), got their 2007-08 campaign off to strong starts as both completed the opening 36 holes tied for fifth and alone in ninth respectively. Rodgers fired a one-under par, 143 (69-74) and is tied for fifth with three other golfers, seven strokes off the pace set by tourney leader, Danny Zimmerman of Wisconsin, who is eight-under par with a 136 (66-70). Alan-Lee, playing in his first collegiate event, is ninth after two rounds with an even-par, 144 after shooting rounds of 74 and 70.

Lamar University, ranked 16th in the preseason Golf World/Nike Coaches Top 25 poll, shot a 36-hole total of 576 (290-286) and will enter Sunday with a six-stroke lead over Wisconsin as the Badgers shot a six-over par 582 (293-289). Lamar has three golfers in the top 10 individuals while the Badgers have two. The Irish rank third after the first day and own a four-stroke edge over fourth place Michigan State (306-283-589) and are seven strokes ahead of fifth-place Indiana (297-295-592) in the 12-team tournament.

Individually, Zimmerman, who shot a six-under par 66 in the opening round on his way to the eight-under mark of 136, has a five-stroke edge on his teammate Dan Woltman in second. Woltmen shot 73-68 for his 141 total. Two golfers are tied for third, six strokes behind Zimmerman. Arkansas’ Andrew Landrey fired rounds of 69-73 for his 142, while Illinois’ Mark Ogren was the tournament’s Mr. Consistent after rounds of 71-71.

Rodgers is among a group of four golfers tied for fifth that includes Indiana’s Jorge Campillo (72-71-143) and a pair of golfers from Lamar – Russell Helson (72-21-143) and Hugues Joannes (69-74-143). Both Rodgers and Joannes were tied for second behind Zimmerman after 18 holes with three-under par opening rounds of 69.

Alan-Lee is second among Notre Dame golfers and ninth in the tournament. He is followed by sophomore Doug Fortner (Tustin, Calif.) who is tied for 24th after shooting a six-over par 150 (76-74). Junior Josh Sandman (Greensboro, N.C.) is fourth among Irish golfers and tied for 30th in the 65-player field with an eight-over par 152. Sandman was seven-over par in the opening round and bounce back to fire a one-over par 73 in the second round. Senior Eddie Peckels (Pinehurst, N.C.) rounded out the Notre Dame contingent with an 11-over par total of 144 (75-80).

Gopher Invitational September 15, 2007 • Wayzata, Minn. Spring Hill Golf Club (par 72/7,020 yards)

TEAM SCORES (36-hole totals): 1. Lamar 576 (290-286); 2. Wisconsin 582 (293-289); 3. NOTRE DAME 585 (294-291); 4. Michigan State 589 (306-283); 5. Indiana 592 (297-295); 6. Arkansas 593 (298-295); 7. Illinois 598 (303-295); 8. University of San Diego 602 (304-298); 9. SMU 603 (304-299); 10. Minnesota 612 (308-304); 11. Georgia Southern 621 (312-309); 12. Princeton 640 (316-324).

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (of 65): 1. Danny Zimmerman (Wisconsin) 136 (66-70); 2. Dan Woltman (Wisconsin) 141 (73-68); t3. Andrew Landry (Arkansas) 142 (69-73); Mark Ogren (Illinois) 142 (71-71); t5. Jorge Campillo (Indiana) 143 (72-71); Russell Helson (Lamar) 143 (72-71); Greg Rodgers (Notre Dame) 143 (69-74); Hugues Joannes (Lamar) 143 (69-74); 9. Connor Alan-Lee (Notre Dame) 144 (74-70); t10. Victor Almstrom (Minnesota) 145 (71-74); Casey Clendenon (Lamar) 145 (73-72); Clayton Rask (Minnesota) 145 (74-71).

NOTRE DAME GOLFERS: t5. Greg Rodgers 143 (69-74); 9. Connor Alan-Lee 145 (74-71); t24. Doug Fortner 150 (76-74); t30. Josh Sandman 152 (79-73); t45. Eddie Peckels 155 (75-80).