Sept. 10, 2016
By Claire Kramer
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Notre Dame Men’s Golf Team will continue the 2016-2017 season Monday and Tuesday at the USF Olympic Invitational, hosted by the University of San Francisco at the Olympic Club Golf Course.
Coming off a dominant win in the Notre Dame Kick off Challenge, the Irish will look to keep up momentum in the three-round, 13-team tournament.
“We’re heading out to California with some momentum from last weekend’s strong play. In fact, over the couple of weeks we’ve been back together at school and competing, we’ve seen very, very low scoring from the majority of our roster,” Notre Dame Head Coach Jim Kubinski said. “It’s a testament to the hard work our players have put forth the last several months and should offer a great deal of confidence as we arrive at Olympic Club.”
Details
Date: Sept. 12-13, 2016
Format: 36 holes Monday, 18 holes Tuesday
Tee Times: Shotgun start at 11:15 a.m. ET on Monday and Tuesday
Location: San Francisco, California
The Course: The Olympic Club (Par-71, 6,934 Yards)
Tournament Field: Alabama, Wyoming, Saint Mary’s, San Diego, LMU, Santa Clara, BYU, Notre Dame, UC Davis, Fresno State, TCU, Dominican and San Francisco.
Live Scoring: GolfStat.com
The Course
The Olympic Club is a favorite for collegiate and professional events, having hosted 10 USGA events including the U.S. Open in 1955, 1966, 1987, 1998 and 2012. At the 1966 Open, former Notre Dame student Billy Casper, won the major. The Olympic Club has not hosted the USF Olympic Invitational since 1991, when San Jose State claimed the title and Pepperdine’s Todd Andrews took home the medalist honors.
“It’s exciting to return to the historic Olympic Club. Our last visit was 2008 but the golf course has seen changes since that visit, largely undertaken ahead of the 2012 U.S. Open and future major championships,” Coach Kubinski said. “The bunkers are now a bit more severe. I’ve been told the greens, while undulating and challenging, are both very good and very fair.”
Lineup
After placing third in the Kickoff Challenge, freshman Hunter Ostrom will again lead the Irish in the #1 position, followed by senior Blake Barens and freshman John Felitto in the #2 and #3 positions. Felitto comes off a standout performance as the Kickoff Challenge medalist, keyed by a second round 65. Sophomore Ben Albin and senior Matthew Rushton round out the Irish squad in the #4 and #5 spots.
Coach Kubinski on the lineupââ’¬¦
“Our lineup is a nice mix of talented senior leadership, with Matt’s three strong years representing us and Blake’s emergence the last year, particularly off making match play at the US Amateur, and high achieving underclassmen. Ben is a sophomore now but, given his prominent finishes last season, he’s an experienced player as well. Our two freshmen, John and Hunter, are coming off a win and a 3rd, respectively, in their first collegiate competition, so they’re very confident in their play. It’s a very talented and competitive group. We’re looking forward to the opportunity this weekend.”
— ND —
Kramer is a junior student assistant for Fighting Irish Media, working closely with the Athletics Communications Directors for the men’s golf, basketball and tennis programs. An American Studies major with minors in Theology and Journalism, Ethics and Democracy, Kramer is from Olathe, Kansas.