July 27, 2005
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – When the Notre Dame men’s golf team saw its season come to a close back in May with a 13th-place finish at the NCAA Central Regional, head coach Jim Kubinski emphasized to his players the importance of building upon their success by competing well on the amateur level this summer. It’s now apparent his words did not fall on deaf ears, as the Irish have put together numerous strong efforts in amateur play on the regional and national level during the past two months.
One of the highlights of Notre Dame’s summer golf season to date was the qualification of three players for the 2005 U.S. Amateur Championship, which will be contested Aug. 22-28 in Ardmore, Pa., at the legendary Merion Golf Club, the site of more than 20 USGA championships since it opened in 1912. Rising sophomore Eddie Peckels (Pinehurst, N.C./Pope John Paul II (Fla.) HS) was the first Irish player to punch his ticket for the U.S. Amateur, finishing fifth with a four-under par 140 in sectional qualifying on July 20-21 in Durham, N.C., at Old Chatham Golf Club. Then, on Monday, rising junior Cole Isban (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian HS) qualified for the U.S. Amateur for the second consecutive year, firing a four-under par 140 to place second in sectional play at the Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill. In 2004, Isban narrowly missed the 64-man cut for match play at the U.S. Amateur, winding up two strokes off the cut line.
One day later on Tuesday afternoon, senior-to-be Eric Deutsch (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes HS) became the third Notre Dame golfer to qualify for this year’s U.S. Amateur, carding a five-over par 149 to finish second in his sectional, which was contested at Somerby Golf Club in Byron, Minn. Both Peckels and Deutsch will be making their first appearance in the U.S. Amateur Championship.
Isban and Deutsch also headline a group of five Notre Dame golfers who are taking part in the 103rd Western Amateur Championship (considered one of the country’s premier amateur events), which began Wednesday and continues through Sunday in nearby Benton Harbor, Mich., at Point O’ Woods Golf and Country Club. Last year, Isban became the first South Bend-area golfer since 2001 to make the 36-hole cut at the event, earning him an automatic exemption into this year’s Western Amateur.
Joining Isban and Deutsch in the ’05 field are rising seniors Mark Baldwin (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton Prep) and Scott Gustafson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS), as well as sophomore-to-be Mike King (Sidney, Ohio/Sidney HS). Ironically, the Irish quintet is the same lineup Notre Dame rolled out at this year’s NCAA Central Regional, which was held at Notre Dame’s Warren Golf Course. In the regional, the Irish made an emotional charge on the final day, carding a two-over par 282 (tying the third-lowest round in school history), but came up two shots shy of advancing to the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive year.
“This is an exciting time for our program,” Kubinski said. “To have multiple players in both the Western Amateur and U.S. Amateur really signifies that we have several talented players here at Notre Dame and also that playing golf in a northern climate can have little or no impact on a player’s development. I feel the most important factors for a collegiate player’s development are, of course, having talent, but also hard work, a structured environment — where players are working on the proper areas of their game — and playing in a competitive environment, where talented players are pushing each other. We have these things.
“Our recent play is indicative of the direction our program is headed,” Kubinski continued. “We don’t speak of championships and titles. We just try to keep getting better each day. We’re committed to getting better. The titles will take care of themselves. The way the guys are working and playing, they should have many opportunities in the coming years.”
Besides the five current Irish golfers, former Notre Dame standout Steve Ratay (’02) also is in the field at this year’s Western Amateur. Ratay, a two-time all-BIG EAST Conference and Academic All-America selection, ranks second in school history with a 74.46 career stroke average and his mark of 73.03 as a senior in 2001-02 remains the school standard.
Fans wishing to obtain live in-progress updates of the Notre Dame contingent at the Western Amateur may do so on the Internet by visiting the Golfstat web site. Following two rounds of stroke play on Wednesday and Thursday, the field will be cut to the top 50 players including ties. Another 36 holes will be played on Friday, with the field then trimmed to the top 16 competitors for match play (any ties will be played off at that point). The first two rounds of match play will be contested Saturday, with the semifinal and championship rounds slated for Sunday.
Here is a partial recap of how some of Notre Dame’s golfers have performed to date this summer:
Mark Baldwin (Sr., Laconia, N.H./New Hampton Prep) — Won New Hampshire Golf Association Players Championship June 4-5 at Baker Hill Golf Club in Newbury, N.H.; carded a four-under par 140 (69-71) to defeat runners-up Craig Cyr and Matt Giftos by four strokes … Will participate in the 103rd Western Amateur Championship July 27-31 at Point O’ Woods Golf & Country Club in Benton Harbor, Mich. … Will take part in U.S. Amateur sectional qualifier Aug. 1 at The Medalist Country Club in Marshall, Mich.
Eric Deutsch (Sr., Rochester, Minn./Lourdes HS) — Placed fourth in the Minnesota PGA Golf Champions Invitational May 13-15 at the Minneapolis Golf Club, shooting an even-par 216 (69-74-73) to finish as second-best amateur in professional field after holding a share of the first-round lead; one of four golfers to finish at par or better, ending up seven strokes off the pace … Advanced to second round of match play at 27th Minnesota Players Championship June 20-21 at Dellwood Hills Golf Club in Dellwood, Minn.; representing Rochester Golf & Country Club, he defeated Victor Alstrom 5 & 4 in opening round before losing to David Blue 3 & 2 in second round … Took fourth place in the 102nd Minnesota State Amateur July 18-20 at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis,finishing at three-over par 219 (76-72-71) to end up four shots off the pace; was defending champion at event … Qualified for 2005 U.S. Amateur Championship with a score of five-over par 149 and a second-place showing in sectional qualifier July 26 at Somerby Golf Club in Byron, Minn. … Will participate in the 103rd Western Amateur Championship July 27-31 at Point O’ Woods Golf & Country Club in Benton Harbor, Mich.
Scott Gustafson (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) — Advanced to quarterfinals of match play in the 27th Minnesota Players Championship June 20-21 at Dellwood Hills Golf Club in Dellwood, Minn.; representing Hazeltine National Golf Club, defeated Gary Degrio 19 holes in opening round, Mike Fiedler 19 holes in second round and Bryce Handstad 3 & 1 in third round before losing to James Lehman 3 & 1 in quarterfinals … Took fifth place in the 102nd Minnesota State Amateur July 18-20 at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, carding a four-over par 220 (76-75-69) to wind up five shots off the pace; took low-round honors on the final day en route to his second consecutive top-five finish in the event (runner-up in 2004) … Will participate in the 103rd Western Amateur Championship July 27-31 at Point O’ Woods Golf & Country Club in Benton Harbor, Mich. … Will take part in U.S. Amateur sectional qualifier Aug. 2 at Edina Country Club in Edina, Minn.
Cole Isban (Jr., South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian HS) — Finished tied for fifth in the 49th Eastern Amateur Championship July 6-10 at the Elizabeth Manor Country Club in Portsmouth, Va.; shot a six-under par 274 (65-73-69-67) and ended up seven shots off the pace; was one shot off lead after opening round and tied for lowest final-round score in the field … Placed 21st in the sixth annual Players Amateur Championship July 14-17 at Belfair West in Hilton Head, S.C., firing an even-par 288 (72-74-68-74) …Qualified for U.S. Amateur Championship for second consecutive year, carding a four-under par 140 to wind up second in sectional qualifier July 25 at Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill. … Will participate in the 103rd Western Amateur Championship July 27-31 at Point O’ Woods Golf & Country Club in Benton Harbor, Mich. … Will compete in 105th North & South Amateur Championship July 31-Aug. 7 at Pinehurst No. 2 & 8 in Pinehurst, N.C.
Eddie Peckels (So., Pinehurst, N.C./Pope John Paul II (Fla.) HS) — Finished 17th at the 88th Florida State Amateur Championship June 23-26 at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., carding a nine-over par 297 (72-71-73-81); was tied for seventh place (four shots out of second) at even-par for tournament before final-round struggle … Qualified for the 2005 U.S. Amateur Championship with fifth-place finish in sectional qualifier July 20-21 at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C.; shot four-under 140 in two-day competition … Will compete in 105th North & South Amateur Championship July 31-Aug. 7 at Pinehurst No. 2 & 8 in Pinehurst, N.C.
Notre Dame has nine monogram winners returning for the 2005-06 season, including all five golfers who competed at the 2005 NCAA Central Regional and helped post the fifth-lowest single-season stroke average in the program’s history (299.89 in ’04-05). The Irish will open their season in September, with the official schedule pending approval — the complete docket will be released at a later date.
— ND —