Oct. 16, 2012
MUNCIE, Ind. – University of Notre Dame men’s golf sophomore Tyler Wingo (Fairfax, Va.) closed with consecutive rounds of one-under par, 69 to tie for second place Tuesday at the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational at the Delaware Country Club.
The runner-up finish was the best individual performance of Wingo’s Fighting Irish career.
“I’m so thrilled for Tyler,” Notre Dame head coach Jim Kubinski said. “It’s nice to see players who do the right things enjoy great finishes. He has been in our lineup all season with the expectation that he could play this way.”
Wingo bounced back from an opening-round four-over 74 to shoot 138 over his final two rounds (74-69-69-212, +2). Wingo improved his standing in the field by 17 positions after resuming the second round Tuesday morning in a tie for 19th place.
“Tyler just needed more reps and added experience, both of which he’s gained this season,” Kubinski said. “I like how he scrapped just to get his opening 74 and then moved forward with two great rounds.”
Sophomore Peyton Vitter (New Orleans, La.) fired an even-par 70 in his second round to key his finish in a tie for 13th place (77-70-73-220, +10).
“I appreciated Peyton’s performance as well,” Kubinski said. “He finished in 143 over his final two rounds, which was solid golf.”
Sophomore Patrick Grahek (Alpharetta, Ga.) closed with his second 73 of the tournament to earn a share of 19th place (73-76-73-222, +12). Classmate David Lowe (Scottsdale, Ariz.) rounded out the Notre Dame lineup with a three-round total of 227 (79-72-76).
“Patrick and David showed very good stretches of play,” Kubinski said. “They did not put it together for all 54 holes, but they did enough good things that can be used to build on this experience.”
Indiana’s Kyle Perry shot a combined four-under par during his final two rounds to win the tournament by four strokes at 208 (72-69-67, -2). Wingo, Ball State’s Joe Gasser (75-72-65) and Bowling Green’s Joe Cooper (69-70-73) shared runner-up honors at 212. Ball State’s Tyler Merkel (70-68-75) and Alex Stinson (72-69-72) joined overnight leader Nick Huggins of Northern Illinois (67-74-72) in fifth place at 213.
“This tournament did exactly what it was intended to do, offer quality collegiate experience for our sophomores against good players,” Kubinski said. “It was also great experience for (first-year assistant) coach Scott Gump, who was in charge for us this week and did a great job.”
The Fighting Irish return to team action at the Georgetown Intercollegiate Oct. 22-23 at the Members Club at Four Springs in Beallsville, Md.
Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational-Delaware Country Club-Par-70, 6,438 Yards
TOP-FIVE INDIVIDUALS (Final): 1. Kyle Perry (Indiana) 72-67-69-208, -2; T2. Tyler Wingo (Notre Dame) 74-69-69-212, +2; T2. Joe Gasser (Ball State) 75-72-65-212, +2; T2. Joe Cooper (Bowling Green) 69-70-73-212, +2; T5. Alex Stinson (Ball State) 72-69-72-213, +3; T5. Tyler Merkel (Ball State) 70-68-75-213, +3; T5. Nick Huggins (Northern Illinois) 67-74-72-213, +3.
NOTRE DAME INDIVIDUALS (Final): T2. Tyler Wingo 74-69-69-212, +2; T13. Peyton Vitter 77-70-73-220, +10; T19. Patrick Grahek 73-76-73-222, +12; T28. David Lowe 79-72-76-227, +17.
–ND–