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Men's Golf Stands In Seventh Place After First 36 Holes At Johnny Owens Invitational

March 30, 2001

Lexington, Ky. – The Notre Dame men’s golf team finished the first day of play at the Johnny Owens Invitational in seventh place (in a field of 15) with a 36-hole total of 594 (298-296). That puts the Irish just 16 strokes behind tournament leader, Miami (OH) as the RedHawks shot a 578 (290-288) on the 6,987-yard, par 72, Kearney Hills Golf Club Friday afternoon.

Senior Alex Kent (Lambare, Paraguay) led the Irish through 36 holes as he fired a two-over par 144 for the day which ties him for 14th overall, just seven strokes behind Miami’s Adam Speirs who leads the tournament with a five-under par 139 (70-69). Kent fired an even-par 72 for the first 18 holes and followed that with a 74. Besides Spiers, nine other golfers shot even-par or under for the first 36 holes of the 16th annual tournament.

Miami is trailed in the tournament by Western Kentucky as the Hilltoppers sit two strokes off the pace at 580 (293-287). Eastern Kentucky is third with a 36-hole total of 586 (287-299) and is followed by Xavier with a 589 (298-291) and Eastern Michigan with a 592 (297-295) to round out the top five teams in the tournament. Notre Dame’s 594 total puts the Irish 16 strokes behind Miami and just eight strokes behind third place Eastern Kentucky.

Following Kent among the Irish golfers is junior Steve Ratay (Arlington Heights, Ill.) who is tied for 22nd with a four-over par 148 (75-73), just two strokes behind Kent.

Sophomore Kyle Monfort (Dublin, Ohio) and freshman Peter Rivas (New Orleans, La.) are tied for 45th with 36-hole marks of 152. Monfort shot consecutive rounds of 76 while Rivas navigated the course with an opening round 79 and followed with a one-over 73 for the second round of play.

Senior Pat Schaffler (Dallas, Tex.) rounds out the Irish contingent tied for 53rd as he shot a nine-over par 153 with rounds of 75 and 78.

The final round of play will come on Saturday as the 15-team field tees off at 8:00 a.m. at the Kearney Hills Golf Club.

TEAM RESULTS (36 hole totals):

1. Miami (OH) 290-288-578, 2. Western Kentucky 293-287-580, 3. Eastern Kentucky 287-299-586, 4. Xavier 298-291-589, 5. Eastern Michigan 297-295-592, 6. Murray State 298-295-593, 7. Notre Dame 298-296-594, 8. Ball State 296-299-597, 9. Kentucky 298-299-597, 10. Marshall University 301-299-600, 11. Ohio University 297-305-602, 12. Wright State 305-299-604, 13. Morehead State 304-301-605, 14. Youngstown State 299-307-606, 15. Akron 307-308-615.

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (of 75):

1. Adam Spiers (Miami, OH) 70-69-139, 2. Eric Mason (Western Kentucky) 71-69-140, 3. Matt Kempe (Youngstown State) 69-73-142, John Mullendore (Xavier) 73-69-142, 5. Tim Donovan (Xavier) 74-69-143, 6. Wes Furnish (Kentucky) 71-73-144, Drew Alexander (Eastern Kentucky) 69-75-144, Jesse Hutchins (Wright State) 73-71-144, Lee Curry (Miami, OH) 69-75-144, Aaron Williams (Marshall) 72-72-144.

NOTRE DAME SCORES:

t14. Alex Kent 72-75-146, t22. Steve Ratay 75-73-148, t45. Kyle Monfort 76-76-152, Peter Rivas 79-73-152, t53. Pat Schaffler 75-78-153.