March 15, 2002

Port St. Lucie, Fla. – The Notre Dame men’s golf team finished seventh in a 19-team field at the Treasure Coast Classic held on Mar. 14-15 at the par 72, 6,547-yard PGA Country Club. As a team, the Irish turned in identical rounds of 305-305 for a 610 total to finish 32 strokes behind tournament host St. John’s who won the tourney after shooting a two-over par 578 for the 36-hole event.

Notre Dame was led in the event by senior Steve Ratay (Arlington Heights, Ill.) who continued his red-hot play this spring for the Irish. Ratay finished second in the tournament with a four-under par total of 140 as he fired an opening round four-under par 68 and followed that with an even-par 72 for the final 18 holes. The second-place finish marked the third runner-up finish for Ratay and gives him six first or second place finishes in his Notre Dame career.

Ratay was second to Johnson and Wales Geoffrey Scacher who fired a 67 for the opening 18 holes to lead Notre Dame’s top golfer by one stroke going into the final round. Scacher then matched Ratay with a 72 on the final 18 for his five-under par 139.

St. John’s took the tournament title by 12 strokes over Guilford College and 13 strokes over third-place finisher Johnson and Wales University of Florida. Guilford posted rounds of 295 and 305 for a 600 total while Johnson and Wales shot 302-299 for a 601 total. Navy finished fourth with a 605 (308-297) and St. Louis University rounded out the top five with a 606 (305-301).

The Red Storm placed two golfers in the top five as Jesse Fitzgerald finished three strokes behind Ratay in third place with a one under par 143 (76-67) and Kyle Sleasman was fourth with an even-par 144 (70-74). Navy’s Nick Rogers was fifth with a one-over par 145 (73-72).

For Notre Dame, head coach John Jasinski took his entire squad south for spring break. Playing in the Irish scoring five besides Ratay were freshman Steve Colnitis (Baldwin, Md.), junior Brandon Lunke (San Antonio, Texas), senior Chris Whitten (Rockford, Mich.) and freshman Ryan Marshall (Marco Island, Fla.).

Colnitis finished it a tie for 20th with a seven-over par 151 (75-76). He was followed by Lunke who tied for 51st with a 159 mark (81-78). Whitten tied for 58th with a 160 (80-80) and Marshall rounded out the scoring groug with a 91st-place finish after shooting rounds of 81 and 86 for a 167 total.

Playing as an individual entrant, freshman K.C. Wiseman (South Bend, Ind.) turned in the best finish of his career by tying for 20th with a 151 (76-75). Senior Kevin Ricci (Winter Park, Fla.) tied for 32nd with a 153 (76-77), sophomores William McCaughan (Marco Island, Fla.) and Andrew Kent (Lambare, Paraguay), playing in their first career tournaments, finished 45th and 58th respectively. McCaughan shot a 36-hole total of 157 (83-74) while Kent shot rounds of 79 and 81 for a 160. Gavin Ferlic (So., South Bend, Ind.) tied for 82nd with a 165 (81-84) and Mike Hastings (Jr., Spokane, Wash.) was 107th after shooting a 180 (90-90).

FINAL TEAM RESULTS (36 holes): 1. St. John’s 290-288-578, 2. Guilford College 295-305-600, 3. Johnson and Wales (Fla.) 302-299-601, 4. Navy 308-297-605, 5. St. Louis University 305-301-606, 6. Campbell University 308-300-608, 7. Notre Dame 305-305-610, 8. Radford 306-311-617, t9. UNC-Greensboro 313-307-620, Seton Hall 309-311-620, Florida Atlantic 305-315-620, 12. Appalachian State 321-300-621, 13. Univ. of Indianapolis 313-315-618, 14. Liberty 313-317-630, 15. Pennsylvania 319-320-639, 16. Navy Gold 332-309-641, 17. Bryant College 328-316, 18. Creighton 333-321-654, 19. Pennsylvania 2 333-335-668.

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (of 108): 1. Geoffrey Scacher (Johnson and Wales) 67-72-139, 2. Steve Ratay (Notre Dame) 68-72-140, 3. Jesse Fitzgerald (St. John’s) 76-67-143, 4. Kyle Sleasman (St. John’s) 70-74-144, 5. Nick Rogers (Navy) 73-72-145, t6. Savio Nazareth (Guilford) 73-73-146, Brian McGowan (Seton Hall) 72-74-146, 8. James Huffam (Campbell) 75-72-147, t9. Braxton Wynns (Campbell) 74-74-148, Joe Saladino (St. John’s) 70-78-148, John DeForest (St. John’s) 75-73-148.

NOTRE DAME GOLFERS (of 108): 2. Steve Ratay 68-72-140, t20. Steve Colnitis 76-75-151, K.C. Wiseman 75-76-151, t32. Kevin Ricci 76-77-153, t45. William McCaughan 83-74-157, t51. Brandon Lunke 81-78-159, t58. Chris Whitten 80-80-160, Andrew Kent 79-81-160, t82. Gavin Ferlic 81-84-165, t91. Ryan Marshall 81-86-167, 107. Mike Hastings 90-90-180.