Sept. 16, 2012
Tar Heel Intercollegiate Final 
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Notre Dame men’s golf team fired a final round nine-over par 297 to claim ninth place Sunday at the Tar Heel Intercollegiate at the UNC Finley Golf Course.
“We’re obviously disappointed with the result,” Fighting Irish head coach Jim Kubinski said. “We expected a high finish, given our play at home. Yet, we also knew we had three new starters (in the lineup).”
The Fighting Irish turned in a two-day team total of 887 (298-292-297) in their first tournament of the fall 2012 schedule. Notre Dame birdied eight holes as a team on the tournament’s final day.
“We need to get at least a couple rounds below par each day. We just didn’t putt well enough for that,” Kubinski stated. “We were beaten around the greens pretty badly this week, but I expect improvement there.”
Senior Paul McNamara III (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) capped off a solid opening weekend with a final round 75. McNamara finished the tournament in a tie for 27th place at five-over par (70-76-75-221).
Junior Andrew Lane (Fairport, N.Y.) birdied two holes on his way to a third round one-over par 73. Lane shot a combined score of six-over, 222 (74-75-73) to claim solo 33rd place.
Coming off an even-par 72 in the second round, sophomore Tyler Wingo (Fairfax, Va.) carded a final day 74 for a share of 45th place. Wingo birdied three holes in the third round, finishing with nine total in his first event as a regular Fighting Irish starter.
“I think Andrew and Tyler showed high upside in stretches,” Kubinski said. “They’re both talented and learned a lot this weekend. I’m pleased with the things they shared afterward, they are picking up important things.”
“There are some things that we just can’t simulate at home, so this was a great opportunity.”
Junior Niall Platt (Santa Barbara, Calif.) surged on his back nine with a pair of birdies over the final six holes, closing the day with a three-over par 75. Platt (78-73-75-226) and sophomore David Lowe (Scottsdale, Ariz.) (76-72-78-226) were among six players tied for 52nd place.
“Our goal is to look at the long season and have it marked by improvements each time out,” Kubinski said. “We did some good things this weekend, and we’ll build on that.”
Duke fired a final round 289 (285-282-289-856, -8) to win the team title by six strokes over the host team North Carolina (286-289-287-862, -2). Charlotte (289-286-298-873, +9) took home solo third place, while North Carolina State (282-301-291-874, +10) and East Tennessee State (288-295-294-877, +13) rounded out the top-five.
North Carolina State’s Albin Choi led wire-to-wire to earn the individual victory, firing a two-day score of 205 (66-71-68, -11) to win by six strokes over North Carolina’s Patrick Barrett (69-71-71-211, -5). Tar Heel Michael McGowan (72-68-72-212, -4) finished in third place, while Charlotte’s Dan Hendry (69-73-71-213, -3) and Duke’s Mads Soegaard (73-70-70-213, -3) closed play tied for fourth.
The Fighting Irish return to competition Sept. 29-30 at the Macdonald Cup in New Haven, Conn.
Tar Heel Intercollegiate – UNC Finley Golf Course – Par-72, 7,242 Yards
Top-Five Teams (Final):
1. Duke 856 -8
2. NC 862 -2
3. Charlotte 873 +9
4. NC State 874 +10
5. ETSU 877 +13
9. ND 887 +23
Top-Five Individuals (Final): 1. Albin Choi (NC State) 205, -11; 2. Patrick Barrett (NC) 211, -5; 3. Michael McGowan (NC) 212, -4; T4. Mads Soegaard (Duke) 213, -3; T4. Dan Hendry (Charlotte) 213, -3.
Notre Dame Standings (Final): T27. Paul McNamara III 221, +5; 33. Andrew Lane 222, +6; T45. Tyler Wingo 225, +9; T52. Niall Platt 226, +10; T52. David Lowe 226, +10.
–ND–