Feb. 9, 2016
Tournament Bracket | Complete Results
By Dan Colleran
DADE CITY, Fla. – The University of Notre Dame men’s golf team finished as the runner-up in the Earl Yestingsmeier Match Play at the Lake Jovita Country Club on Tuesday after Eastern Michigan edged the Irish in the championship match, 3.5-2.5.
“We got off to a very good start this morning, with four players up in their matches and most at least 2 Up, but we just seemed to lose a little momentum midway through,” Notre Dame Head Coach Jim Kubinski said.
“I give our opponent credit though, they didn’t panic and went on to make a lot of putts. Match play is a Ryder Cup-like experience and making putts wins.”
Juniors Matthew Rushton and Blake Barens accounted for Notre Dame’s two wins on the day. Rushton took his match versus Brett White 1 Up, while Barens, playing Nicholas Ross, posted a 2 Up victory.
Elsewhere, Liam Cox finished all square against Joey Kremer.
“I was pleased by the play of our juniors today, bouncing back with excellent stretches of golf,” Kubinski added.
Miguel Delgado fell to Kyle Rodes 4 & 3, Ben Albin dropped a 5 & 3 match to Beau Breault and Kevin Conners fell to Philippe Weppernig 2 Up.
“Our freshman played brilliantly yesterday in the two wins, but didn’t quite have it today,” Kubinski said. “There were lessons learned though, which will undoubtedly make us a better team.”
On Monday, the Irish defeated Ball State and Toledo to advance to the championship match versus Eastern Michigan.
“I thought our team played well overall this weekend, setting a positive tone for the larger field stroke play events ahead,” Kubinski concluded. “There is no doubt we came here to take home the trophy but the weekend was a success. We took two-of-three here in Florida and are now looking forward to our next tournament in Arizona.”
Notre Dame returns to action at the National Invitational Tournament on Feb. 28-March 1 in Tucson, Arizona at the Omni Tucson National.
Opening Round
#1 Miami def. #8 Ohio, 3.5-2.5
#5 Eastern Michigan vs. #4 Xavier, halved 3-3*
#3 Toledo def. #6 Dayton, 3.5-2.5
#2 Notre Dame vs. #7 Ball State, halved 3-3*
* – Eastern Michigan and Notre Dame advance on tiebreaker (combined margin of victory in individual matches).
Championship Bracket
#5 Eastern Michigan def. #1 Miami, 4-2
#2 Notre Dame vs. #3 Toledo, halved 3-3*
* – Notre Dame advances on tiebreaker (combined margin of victory in individual matches).
Consolation Bracket
#4 Xavier vs. #8 Ohio, halved 3-3*
#6 Dayton def. #7 Ball State, 3.5-2.5
* – Ohio advances on tiebreaker (combined margin of victory in individual matches).
Championship Match
#5 Eastern Michigan def. #2 Notre Dame, 3.5-2.5
Third Place Match
#1 Miami def. #3 Toledo, 4-2
Fifth Place Match
#6 Dayton def. #8 Ohio, 3.5-2.5
Seventh Place Match
#7 Ball State def. #4 Xavier, 4-2
— ND —
Dan Colleran, associate athletics communications director at the University of Notre Dame, has been a part of Fighting Irish Media since August 2015 and coordinates all media and publicity efforts surrounding the Notre Dame hockey and men’s golf programs. A native of Walpole, Massachusetts, Colleran spent the previous three years working with the men’s hockey and soccer programs at Providence College. Colleran also spent two years as an Assistant Executive Director of Communications & Championships at the Ivy League and is a graduate of Providence College (’06 & ’08G).