Feb. 23, 2002
Tampa, Fla. – Steady rain and plummeting temperatures have forced Saturday’s second round at the University of South Florida’s Ron Smith Invitational to be canceled. Play will resume tomorrow morning with the final round of the tournament. The tournament will be cut down from a 54-hole tournament to 36 holes as a result of today’s cancellation. The parings and tee times for Sunday’s final round will be the same as those that were scheduled for today’s second round.
The Notre Dame men’s golf team is in ninth place after shooting 305 in the first round on Friday afternoon, February 22. That has them 23 strokes behind tournament leader Jacksonville State’s 282.
Senior captain Steve Ratay (Arlington Heights, Ill.) leads the Notre Dame contingent after a three-over par 74 performance in yesterday’s first round on the par 71, 6,830-yard University of South Florida Golf Course. That has him seven strokes behind tournament leader Justin Kolumber of Georgia Southern University, who shot a four-under par 67.
Following Ratay for the Irish, senior Chris Whitten (Rockford, Mich.) and freshman Ryan Marshall (Marco Island, Fla.) are tied for 36th with a five-over par 76. Fourth among Notre Dame golfers is freshman Steven Colnitis (Baldwin, Md), who is in 62nd after shooting a round of 79 on Friday. Brandon Lunke (San Antonio, Texas) is in 87th place for the Irish, shooting an 85 in the first round.
TEAM RESULTS (18 holes): 1. Jacksonville State 282, 2. Georgia Southern 286, 3. Southern Mississippi 294, t4. University of Memphis 295, Arkansas State 295, 6. University of South Alabama 297, 7. Florida Atlantic University 298, 8. University of South Florida 299, 9. University of Notre Dame 305, 10. Tennessee-Chattanooga 307, 11. Columbus State University 308, 12. Florida Southern College 309, t13. Austin Peay State University 310, Troy State University 311, 15. Central Florida University 311, 16. Middle Tennessee State 312, 17. Marquette University 319, 18. De Paul University 322.
TOP 15 INDIVIDUALS (of 90): 1. Justin Kolumber (Georgia Southern) 67, Jose Campra (Jacksonville St.) 68, t3. Ricky Carrillo (South Florida) 69, Richard Jones (Memphis) 69, t5. Aaron Prize (Georgia Southern) 70, Nick Mackay (Jacksonville St.) 70, t7. Steve Sokol (Florida Southern) 71, Justin Emil (Southern Mississippi) 71, t9 Alan Weant (Memphis) 72, Jason Jackson (Arkansas St.) 72, Steven Mackie (Jacksonville St.) 72, Angel Monguzzi (Jacksonville St.) 72, Scott Kennedy (Florida Atlantic) 72, Adam Rauth (Arkansas St.) 72, Matias Anselmo (Jacksonville St.) 72.
NOTRE DAME PLAYERS (of 90): t20. Steve Ratay 74, t36. Chris Whitten 76, t36. Ryan Marshall 76, t62. Steve Colnitis 79, 87. Brandon Lunke 85.
— ND —