March 30, 2007
EVANS, Ga. — Senior co-captain Adam Gifford (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth) carded a one-under par 71, helping the Notre Dame men’s golf team move into ninth place after Friday’s opening round of the Administaff Augusta State Invitational at the Champions Retreat Golf Club (par 72/7,265 yards) in Evans, Ga. The Irish fired a six-over par 294 and are among a logjam of 13 teams separated by just nine strokes in the middle of the 18-team field (No. 17 North Carolina has the overnight lead at 279).
Gifford continued his sharp play this spring, shooting under par for the fourth time in his last seven rounds and standing among a group of golfers tied for 12th place in the 90-man event. Sophomore Josh Sandman (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford) also has picked up his game of late, tying for 16th place thus far with an even-par 72. Sandman now has shot 73 or lower in his last five rounds, dating back to the Triumph at Pauma Valley on March 13.
Senior All-America candidate Cole Isban (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian) showed steady play with 13 pars en route to a one-over par 73 that has him in a 27th-place deadlock through 18 holes. Freshman Doug Fortner (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) is tied for 76th place at six-over par 78, while junior Eddie Peckels (Pinehurst, N.C./Pope John Paul II (Fla.)) completes the Irish scoring in an 87th-place tie at eight-over par 80.
Notre Dame has drawn the early start time on Saturday, going out at 8 a.m. (ET) from the No. 10 tee in the second round of the Administaff Augusta State Invitational. Live in-progress scoring is available on the Golfstat web site and full results will be posted on the official Notre Dame athletics web site (www.und.com) at the conclusion of the day’s competition, as well as on the Notre Dame Sports Hotline (574-631-3000).
— ND —