March 29, 2002
Lexington, Ky. – The Notre Dame men’s golf team finds itself tied for 13th-place with two teams after the first round of play at the 17th annual Johnny Owens Invitational hosted by the University of Kentucky. The Irish fired an opening round total of 22-over par 306 along with Ohio University and Youngstown State to trail the host Wildcats by 22 strokes after Kentucky shot an even-par 284 at the University Club of Kentucky.
The second round of play was suspended with all 18 teams on the course due to lightning and heavy rains. The tournament will remain a 54-hole tournament, as the second round of play will resume at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Eastern Kentucky and Xavier followed Kentucky, playing its first collegiate tournament at the par 71, 6,552-yard University Club of Kentucky, in second-place, six strokes behind with 290 totals. Miami (OH) was fourth with a nine-over par 293 and Purdue rounded out the top five 10 strokes back at 294.
Individually, the Irish were led by junior Brandon Lunke (San Antonio, Texas), who turned in a two-over par 73 for his opening round. That puts him six strokes off the pace set by Kentucky’s Andy Dustman who shot a four-under par 67 for his opening round.
Dustman owns a one-stroke lead over teammate John Holmes and Miami of Ohio’s Eric Phipps as those two shot a three-under par 68. In all, eight golfers had rounds of even par or better for the first round.
Rounding out the top five individuals were Morehead State’s Nicholas Atzinger and Kentucky’s Ryan Coyne as that duo turned in one-under par 70’s.
Following Lunke for the Irish was freshman K.C. Wiseman (South Bend, Ind.) who is tied for 32nd with a four-over par 75. Steve Ratay (Sr., Arlington Heights, Ill.) was tied for 46th in the 93-player field after shooting a five-over par 76. Ryan Marshall (Fr., Marco Island, Fla.) and Steve Colnitis (Fr., Baldwin, Md.) were tied for 85th and 88th respectively after 18 holes. Marshall shot an opening round 82 and Colnitis was a stroke behind with an 83.
TEAM RESULTS (18 holes): 1. Kentucky 284, t2. Eastern Kentucky 290, Xavier 290, 4. Miami (OH) 293, 5. Purdue 294, 6. Morehead State 295, 7. Western Kentucky 297, 8. Ball State 298, 9. Wisconsin 300, 10. Louisville 301, t11. Akron 302, Michigan 302, t13. Notre Dame 306, Ohio University 306, Youngstown State 306, 16. Murray State 309, 17. Marshall 310, 18. Wright State 317.
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (of 93): 1. Andy Dustman (Kentucky) 67, t2. John Holmes (Kentucky) 68, Eric Phipps (Miami of Ohio) 68, t4. Nicholas Atzinger (Morehead State) 70, Ryan Coyne (Kentucky) 70, t6. Lee Williamson (Purdue) 71, Miles Maillet (Xavier), Grant Sturgeon (Louisville) 71, t9. Brad Norris (Eastern Kentucky) 72, Chris Mayson (Purdue) 72, Mike Slaven (Miami, OH) 72, Tim Smith (Xavier) 72.
NOTRE DAME PLAYERS (of 93): t15. Brandon Lunke 73, t32. K.C. Wiseman 75, t48. Steve Ratay 76, t85. Ryan Marshall 82, t88. Steve Colnitis 83.