Feb. 22, 2002
Tampa, Fla. – The Notre Dame men’s golf team is in ninth place after the first round on Friday afternoon at the 54-hole University of South Florida’s Ron Smith Invitational in Tampa, Fla. The Irish shot a round of 305, putting them 23 strokes behind tournament leader Jacksonville State’s 282.
Senior captain Steve Ratay (Arlington Heights, Ill.) led the Notre Dame contingent with a strong round as he finished day one of the tournament tied for 20th in the 90-man field. Ratay shot a three-over par 74 on the par 71, 6,830-yard University of South Florida Golf Course. That puts him seven strokes behind the four-under par performance by tournament leader Justin Kolumber of Georgia Southern University.
As a team, Georgia Southern is in second place, four strokes off the lead with a 286. Two of the six golfers who are under par after Friday’s round are members of the Georgia Southern squad.
Team leader Jacksonville State also has two of those top six players. They are led by Jose Campra who is in second place at three-under par.
Following Ratay for the Irish, senior Chris Whitten (Rockford, Mich.) and freshman Ryan Marshall (Marco Island, Fla.) who are tied for 36th with rounds of a five-over par 76. Fourth among Notre Dame golfers is freshman Steven Colnitis (Baldwin, Md) who is in 62nd after shooting a round of 79. Brandon Lunke (San Antonio, Texas) is in 87th place for the Irish with a 85.
TEAM RESULTS (18 holes): 1. Jacksonville State 282, 2. Georgia Southern 286, 3. Southern Mississippi 294, t4. University of Memphis 295, Arkansas State 295, 6. University of South Alabama 297, 7. Florida Atlantic University 298, 8. University of South Florida 299, 9. University of Notre Dame 305, 10. Tennessee-Chattanooga 307, 11. Columbus State University 308, 12. Florida Southern College 309, t13. Austin Peay State University 310, Troy State University 311, 15. Central Florida University 311, 16. Middle Tennessee State 312, 17. Marquette University 319, 18. De Paul University 322.
TOP 15 INDIVIDUALS (of 90): 1. Justin Kolumber (Georgia Southern) 67, Jose Campra (Jacksonville St.) 68, t3. Ricky Carrillo (South Florida) 69, Richard Jones (Memphis) 69, t5. Aaron Prize (Georgia Southern) 70, Nick Mackay (Jacksonville St.) 70, t7. Steve Sokol (Florida Southern) 71, Justin Emil (Southern Mississippi) 71, t9 Alan Weant (Memphis) 72, Jason Jackson (Arkansas St.) 72, Steven Mackie (Jacksonville St.) 72, Angel Monguzzi (Jacksonville St.) 72, Scott Kennedy (Florida Atlantic) 72, Adam Rauth (Arkansas St.) 72, Matias Anselmo (Jacksonville St.) 72.
NOTRE DAME PLAYERS (of 90): t20. Steve Ratay 74, t36. Chris Whitten 76, t36. Ryan Marshall 76, t62. Steve Colnitis 79, 87. Brandon Lunke 85.
— ND —