Cole Isban became the first three-time all-region golfer in school history when he collected his third honor on Wednesday from the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). <i>(photo by Todd Drexler/Sideline Sports)</i>

Irish Hold Steady With 11th-Place Finish At CordeValle Collegiate

Nov. 7, 2006

SAN MARTIN, Calif. – The Notre Dame men’s golf team carded a season-low total of five-over par 869 (292-286-291) en route to an 11th-place finish at the 17-team CordeValle Collegiate, which concluded Tuesday afternoon at the CordeValle Golf Club (par 72/7,119 yards) in San Martin, Calif. The Irish also collected their first win of the season over a Top 25 opponent, finishing five shots ahead of No. 22 TCU in the final team standings. The high-powered CordeValle Collegiate featured five of the nation’s top 10 teams, as well as 13 of the top 50 squads (according to Golfweek), with No. 9 Stanford taking top honors at 822 (-42).

Senior All-America candidate Cole Isban (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian) was Notre Dame’s top individual finisher, tying for 19th place at three-under par 213 (76-66-71). Isban’s second-round 66 was a career-best and his final score of 213 was a season low. The Irish co-captain now has placed in the top 20 at each of his four tournaments this year and eight of his last 12 events, dating back to last season. At CordeValle, Isban was playing at less than 100 percent due to an injury and struggled early with five bogeys and one birdie in his opening round. However, he rallied in impressive fashion with 11 birdies and an eagle over his final 36 holes, including five birdies in an eight-hole stretch early in round two. For the season, Isban has carded five of 12 rounds under par with another at even par.

Sophomore Josh Sandman (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford) continued his consistent play this fall, tying for 25th place at one-under par 215 (69-75-71). Sandman now has placed 25th or better in all four of his events this season and seven of nine tournaments in his college career. Junior Eddie Peckels (Pinehurst, N.C./Pope John Paul II (Fla.)) capped his first tournament of the year as a member of the Irish travel squad by tying for 50th place at three-over par 219 (73-69-77) — his second-round 69 tied a career-best, while his 54-hole mark of 219 matched a season standard.

Senior co-captain Adam Gifford (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth) closed well and finished tied for 68th place at eight-over par 224 (74-78-72). Meanwhile, junior Greg Rodgers (Phoenix, Md./St. Paul’s School) ended up in 87th place with a score of 16-over par 232 (78-76-78).

Notre Dame will wrap up its 2006 fall season Nov. 22-23 when it takes part in the inaugural Aloha Purdue Collegiate Invitational, to be held at the Kiahuna Golf Club in the town of Poipu on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It will mark the first time the Irish have visited the Aloha State in the 77-year history of the program.

— ND —

CordeValle Collegiate
Nov. 6-7, 2006 — San Martin, Calif.
CordeValle Golf Club (par 72/7,119 yards)

FINAL TEAM RESULTS (54-hole totals): 1. Stanford 822 (281-273-268); 2. USC 836 (288-279-269); 3. Arizona 841 (281-283-277); 4. Coastal Carolina 847 (284-282-281); 5. (tie) Lamar 849 (280-288-281) and Northwestern 849 (282-283-284); 7. (tie) UCLA 860 (293-286-281) and Washington 860 (287-287-286); 9. Augusta State 865 (287-287-291); 10. Pepperdine 867 (291-283-293); 11. NOTRE DAME 869 (292-286-291); 12. (tie) Santa Clara 871 (295-293-283) and Arkansas 871 (285-285-301); 14. (tie) California 872 (294-288-290) and South Carolina 872 (284-292-296); 16. TCU 874 (294-287-293); 17. Oklahoma 876 (291-296-289).

TOP SEVEN INDIVIDUALS PLUS NOTRE DAME FINISHERS (of 88): 1. (tie) Rob Grube (Stanford) 202 (69-68-65) and Zack Miller (Stanford) 202 (72-63-67); 3. Jamie Lovemark (USC) 204 (69-68-67); 4. (tie) Zack Byrd (Coastal Carolina) 206 (67-71-68) and Dan Doyle 206 (66-69-71); 6. Casey Clendenon (Lamar) 207 (68-70-69); 7. Dawie Van Der Walt (Lamar) 208 (68-71-69); 19. (tie) Cole Isban (Notre Dame) 213 (76-66-71); 25. (tie) Josh Sandman (Notre Dame) 215 (69-75-71); 50. (tie) Eddie Peckels (Notre Dame) 219 (73-69-77); 68. (tie) Adam Gifford (Notre Dame) 224 (74-78-72); 87. Greg Rodgers (Notre Dame) 232 (78-76-78).