Sept. 20, 2014
-THE EVENT
2014 Windon Memorial Classic, hosted by Northwestern University, Sept. 21-22, Evanston Golf Club, Skokie, Ill.
-THE LAYOUT
Evanston Golf Club first opened in 1917 and was designed by famed architect Donald Ross. Ron Pritchard restored the par 70, 6,793-yard layout in 2006. The Windon Memorial Classic returns to the Evanston Golf Club for the first time since 2011, when Arkansas claimed the team championship.
-RICH TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Notre Dame will appear in the Windon Memorial Classic for the third time in program history, and the first time since the fall of 2004, this weekend at the Evanston Golf Club. The tournament has hosted a number of players who later became successful members of the PGA TOUR, including major champions Tiger Woods and Ben Curtis, former World No. 1 Luke Donald, Hunter Mahan and Gary Woodland. Donald (1999), Mahan (2000) and Colt Knost (2006) are among the past event medalists, while Woods (1995), Curtis (1999) and Woodland (2006) have all finished as tournament runner-up.
-ON THE TEE
The 54-hole stroke play tournament begins with an initial wave of tee times off both the front and back nine Sunday at 8:30 a.m. (ET). Players will complete two 18-hole rounds on day one before finishing with a final 18 holes on Monday.
-A TOTAL OF 14 FOES AWAIT THE IRISH
Along with Notre Dame, a total of 14 other teams will compete at the Windon Memorial Classic, and will be scored under the five-count-four scoring format. Joining host Northwestern and Notre Dame in the tournament is California, Iowa, Lamar, Marquette, Michigan, Minnesota, North Texas, Ohio State, Purdue, St. John’s, Tennessee, Tulsa and Wisconsin.
-STARTING FOR THE IRISH…
The Notre Dame starting five are senior Patrick Grahek, senior Tyler Wingo, sophomore Matthew Rushton, sophomore Liam Cox and freshman Thomas Steve.
-TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Results will be posted on the UND Athletic Department Web site (www.UND.com) at the conclusion of each round. Live results will be available through GolfStat.com.
-LOOKING AHEAD
Notre Dame hosts its annual Fighting Irish Gridiron Golf Classic on Sept. 28-30. Rounds one and three will be held at the Warren Golf Course, while round two will be played at Lost Dunes Golf Club in Bridgman, Mich.
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Looking to bounce back from a share of 10th place in its most recent outing, the University of Notre Dame men’s golf team travels to the Windon Memorial Classic, hosted by Northwestern University, this weekend at the Evanston Golf Club in Skokie, Ill.
Day one of the tournament is scheduled to begin with tee times off both sides of the golf course at 8:30 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, with second round play roughly scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. The third and final round will begin Monday at 9 a.m. (ET). Live results will be available via Golfstat.com.
“It’s exciting to be headed to Northwestern’s event in Chicago this weekend, as it’s our first appearance in my 11 seasons at ND and a tournament that brings together a very strong field,” Notre Dame head coach Jim Kubinski said. “The tournament rotates among a few terrific golf course on the North Side, so most players will be playing Evanston Golf Club for the first time. Our job going in will be to learn the golf course as best as we can during our practice round and then put together individual plans for each player.”
The Irish look for an improved effort after tying for 10th (302-305-304=911) during their last competitive event at the Minnesota Gopher Invitational Sept. 7-8. Sophomore Matthew Rushton posted a solid finish at the tournament for the second straight year, claiming solo 11th place at six-over-par 219 (73-75-71). Rushton, senior Patrick Grahek (tied for 30th) and freshman Thomas Steve (tied for 24th) return to the Notre Dame lineup after being in the Gopher Invitational starting five, and will be joined by senior Tyler Wingo and sophomore Liam Cox this weekend at the Windon Memorial Classic.
“Our lineup this weekend will see two official season debuts in Tyler and Liam,” Kubinski said. “Both won their spots in team qualifying this week and are playing well. They’ll join Matthew, Patrick and Thomas as our starting five at Evanston. Each of the five is capable of leading our team in scoring.”
Finding a consistent balance of four quality scores in the collegiate five-count-four scoring format has been Notre Dame’s main focus since opening the fall season with a victory at the Notre Dame Kickoff Challenge at the Warren Golf Course on Aug. 31. The Irish carded rounds of 281-280 (561, -7) to win the home tournament by 19 strokes. Posting multiple quality numbers, Kubinski feels, is the team’s key to success.
“We’re looking to get back to where we were in our first team outing, Aug. 31 at home, in terms of bringing a great attitude and approach,” Kubinski said. “We stubbed our toe in Minnesota, posting two or three good scores each round but not the four required at this level, yet haven’t lost sight of the fact that the approach we’ve committed to has already yielded red numbers this season.”