Oct. 21, 2003

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Cleveland State men's golf team shot a final round 315 on Tuesday to card a 16th-place score of 925 at the East Carolina Pirate Fall Intercollegiate. The Vikings posted rounds of 305-305-315 in concluding their 2003 fall season at the Bradford Creek Golf Club in Greenville, N.C.

Freshman Mike Rutgers (Kingsville, Ontario/Cardinal Carter) continued his strong first season with the Vikings, leading the team in scoring for the fourth time six fall tournaments. Rutgers tallied a final round of 73, the third-lowest lowest total of the day, for a 226 (78-75-73). Senior Mike Bognar (Seven Hills, Ohio/Normandy) trailed Rutgers by five shots at the end of the day, carding a 231 (75-76-80) while junior Bill Schaefer (Independence, Ohio/Independence) tallied a 234 (77-75-82).

Cleveland State fielded a youthful squad at the tournament in North Carolina, as three freshmen comprised the starting five. Rutgers and Ben Grandy (Southgate, Mich./Gabriel Richard) represented the Vikings as true freshmen while Kurt Parker (Sharon Center, Ohio/Highland) played in his first tournament with Cleveland State after redshirting last season.

East Carolina (289-293-300---882) won their home event, rallying in the final round to defeat Elon (285-289-310---884) by two strokes. Freshman Ryan Leveque of ECU took individual medallist honors, carding a 213 (68-72-73) while competing as an individual.

The Vikings spring season begins on March 26-27 at the Eastern Kentucky Spring Invitational in Richmond, Ky.

CSU Scores:
T34. Mike Rutgers 78-75-73---226
T58. Mike Bognar 75-76-80---231
T74. Bill Schaefer 77-75-82---234
76. Ben Grandy 76-79-80---235
82. Kurt Parker 77-79-82---238