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Men's Golf Travels To Participate In 33rd Annual Marshall Invitational

April 4, 2002

Notre Dame, Ind. – The Notre Dame men’s golf team returns to action this weekend for their final tuneup the BIG EAST Championship when the Irish participate in the 33rd annual Marshall Invitational in Huntington, W.Va. The tournament will be played at the par 71, 6,446-yard Guyan Golf and Country Club and features 20 teams from the Midwest.

Last year, the Irish finished 13th in the 19-team tournament firing their best 54-hole total of the year with a 28-over par 880 (298-289-293). Alex Kent was the top finisher with a three-over par 216. Steve Ratay (Sr., Arlington Heights, Ill.), the only team member to play last year, tied for 59th with a 12-over par 220.

Friday’s action will include the first 36 holes with play to begin with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. The final 18 holes will be played on Saturday beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The Marshall Invitational will be the final tune-up for the Irish before hosting the BIG EAST Tournament at the Warren Country Club on April 20-21.

Joining the Irish in this year’s field are Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Marshall, Miami (OH), Michigan, Ohio University, Ohio State, Toledo, Wisconsin, Wright State and Xavier.

Coach John Jasinski will take two seniors, a junior and two freshmen to West Virginia as he gets his team prepared for the BIG EAST tournament.

Ratay has been Notre Dame’s top golfer all season with three top-five finishes and five top-20 performances on the year. His average for the year stands at 72.74 which would break the Irish record of 73.13 (Joe Grace, 1955-56), which has stood for 46 years. For his career, Ratay owns a 74.53 average for 96 rounds that ranks him second all-time, just .10 off the career-mark of 74.43, which is held by Charles Thurn (1956-58).

Chris Whitten (Sr., Rockford, Mich.) has played in seven tournaments this season and has a 78.00 average after not playing in the Johnny Owens Invitational.

Brandon Lunke (Jr., San Antonio, Texas) is coming off his best week of the spring as he finished in a tie for 29th at the Johnny Owens Invitational with a seven-over par 220 on rounds of 73, 75 and 72. For the year, Lunke is third among Notre Dame golfers with a 76.59 average.

K.C. Wiseman (Fr., South Bend, Ind.) is second among Irish golfers for the year with a 76.43 average after shooting a 13-over par 226 in Lexington, Ky., last weekend. Wiseman fired consistent rounds of 76-75-76 for his 54-hole total.

Ryan Marshall (Fr., Marco Island, Fla.) rounds out the Irish contingent and is fifth on the team with a 77.64 average. Marshall struggled at the Johnny Owens Invitational in the first two rounds with a pair of 82’s but closed strong with a three-over par 74 for his 238 finish.