July 28, 2005
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Three Notre Dame golfers are among a group of 52 players who have made the cut after the first 36 holes of stroke play at the 2005 Western Amateur Championship, which wrapped up second-round action Thursday afternoon at Point O’ Woods Golf and Country Club in Benton Harbor, Mich. The Irish also are in exclusive company as the only school to have two current players among the top 18 in the 159-man field through two rounds. In addition, Notre Dame joins perennial national power and last year’s top-ranked team, Oklahoma State, as the only schools to have three current players make the first cut at this year’s Western Amateur.
Rising junior Cole Isban (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian HS), a 2005 PING All-Midwest Region selection, leads the Irish contingent, carding an even-par 140 (69-71) to sit among a group of six players tied for seventh place after two rounds. This marks the second consecutive year that Isban has made the 36-hole cut at the Western Amateur, after becoming the first South Bend-area since 2001 to pull off that feat.
Senior-to-be Scott Gustafson (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) continues his return to the form that made him a 2003 all-BIG EAST Conference selection, firing a two-over par 142 (70-72) that puts him in a six-way tie for 18th place. It’s the first time Gustafson has made the initial cut at the Western Amateur.
Rising senior Mark Baldwin (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton Prep) balanced precariously on the cut line for much of Thursday afternoon after posting a six-over par 146 (73-73). As it turned out, Baldwin’s score would be good enough to move him along, as he is one of eight players presently tied for 45th place.
All three Irish players who made the 36-hole trimming will earn automatic exemptions into next year’s Western Amateur, assuming they maintain their amateur status.
“I’m so proud of the way our guys are playing right now,” Notre Dame head coach Jim Kubinski said. “They are representing our program and our University in a first-class way and showing that the brightest days for Irish golf are still yet to come.”
Two others Notre Dame players saw action at this week’s Western Amateur, but did not make the cut. Senior-to-be Eric Deutsch (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes HS) was in contention after an opening-round 73, but wound up at 12-over par 152 (73-79). Meanwhile, rising sophomore Mike King (Sidney, Ohio/Sidney HS) was one shot behind Deutsch with a 13-over par 153 (74-79).
Fans wishing to obtain live in-progress updates of the Notre Dame golfers at the Western Amateur may do so on the Internet by visiting the Golfstat web site. The final 36 holes of stroke play will take place on Friday, with the field then cut to the top 16 competitors for match play. Any ties will be played off immediately following Friday’s final round. The remaining players then will be seeded and bracketed for match play, with the round of 16 and quarterfinals to be contested Saturday, and the semifinal and championship rounds slated for Sunday.
— ND —