March 8, 2003
Ocala, Fla. – The Notre Dame men’s golf team, making its first appearance outdoors for the spring, shot rounds of 300 and 284 for a 584 total after 36 holes at the Big Red Classic on Saturday. The tournament is being played at the par 72, 6,625-yard Lake Diamond Golf and Country Club.
The Irish will go into Sunday’s final 18 holes 23 strokes behind tournament leader Kent State. The Golden Flashes lead the 18-team tournament after shooting opening rounds of 290 and 271 for their 561. They have a nine-stroke lead on second-place Austin Peay (283-287-570). Miami (OH) is in third place with a 571 (289-292), Xavier is fourth with a 573 (289-284) and North Carolina-Greensboro rounds out the top five with a 576 (292-284).
Individually, Notre Dame was paced by a pair of freshmen who will go into Sunday with one-over par totals of 145, good for a tie for 18th. Eric Deutsch (Fr., Rochester, Minn.) and Scott Gustafson (Fr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) led the Irish after 36 holes. Deutsch fired an opening round 76 and followed with a 69 for his 145, while Gustafson shot 73-72 for the day.
The freshmen duo are 11 strokes behind the tournament leader – Korey Mahoney of Eastern Michigan – who had an impressive 10-under par 134 for the day after shooting 64-70 on the par 72 course. He has a five-stroke lead over three golfers tied for second. Eric Phipps of Miami (68-71), Adam Shanks of Austin Peay (68-71) and Ryan Yip of Kent State (71-68) have five-under par totals of 139. Tim Pemberton of William and Mary (69-71) and Gregg Blainey of North Carolina-Greensboro are six shots off the lead with four-under par 140s.
Following Deutsch and Gustafson for the Irish is senior Brandon Lunke (San Antonio, Texas) and Tommy Balderston (Boca Raton, Fla.) as both are tied for 30th at three-over par 147. Lunke had rounds of 74 and 73 while Balderston opened with a 77 and finished strong with a 70.
Mark Baldwin (Fr., Laconia, N.H.) is tied for 62nd with a 152 (78-74) and Ryan Marshall (So., Marco Island, Fla.) is tied for 78 after rounds of 80 and 74 gave him a 10-over par 154.
The final round of play begins on Sunday morning with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m.
TEAM RESULTS (36 holes): 1. Kent State 290-271-561; 2. Austin Peay 283-287-570; 3. Miami (OH) 289-282-571; 4. Xavier 289-284-573; 5. North Carolina-Greensboro 292-294-576; 6. Indiana 295-287-582; 7. Eastern Michigan 290-293-583; 8. Notre Dame 300-284-584; 9. Michigan State 291-294-585; t10. James Madison 295-294-589; William and Mary 297-292-589; 12. Ball State 300-292-592; 13. IUPUI 301-293-594; 14. Bowling Green 302-296-598; 15. Akron 301-300-601; 16. Wright State 308-295-603; 17. Northern Illinois 306-300-606; 18. Ohio University 307-303-610.
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (of 106): 1. Korey Mahoney (Eastern Michigan) 64-70-134; t2. Eric Phipps (Miami OH) 68-71-139; Adam Shanks (Austin Peay) 68-71-139; Ryan Yip (Kent State) 71-68-139; t5. Tim Pemberton (Wm.&Mary) 69-71-140; Gregg Blainey (NC-Greensboro) 71-69-140; 7. Eric Jorgenson (Michigan State) 69-72-141; 8. Barry Londeree (James Madison) 72-70-142; t9. Andy Bare (NC-Greensboro) 73-70-141; Joe Humston (Austin Peay) 69-74-143; Mark Weghorst (Miami OH) 74-69-143.
NOTRE DAME PLAYERS (of 106): t18. Eric Deutsch 76-69-145; Scott Gustafson 73-72-145; t30. Brandon Lunke 74-73-147; Tommy Balderston 77-70-147; t62. Mark Baldwin 78-74-152; t78. Ryan Marshall 80-74-154.