May. 1, 2005

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland State men's and women's golf teams will travel a couple of hours south for the Horizon League Championship in Galena, Ohio. Held for the second year in a row at Royal American Links Golf Club, the 54-hole event will take place on Monday and Tuesday (May 2-3).

Located just to the northeast of Columbus, Royal American plays as a par 72, with the men's tees measuring nearly 6,900 yards and the women's playing at around 5,200 yards.

"Both teams head into this week playing some their best team golf of the season," head coach Tom Porten noted. "I think if a couple of people step up their games and we get a few breaks, both the men and women can contend for the title."

Mike Rutgers paces the Viking men with a 75.6 scoring average, while Ben Grandy (76.4) and Doug Barber (77.5) are close behind. On the women's side, Kristen Obush leads the squad with an 81.5 average. She is coming off her fourth career tournament title two weeks ago, when she eagled the first playoff hole to claim the Youngstown State Invitational (April 18). Amanda Glatfelter is second on the team with an 87.2 scoring average.

The Wright State men claimed the 2004 championship, defeating Butler on the first playoff hole to earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. On the women's side, Loyola topped three other schools to win the title. The addition of Detroit this year brings the number of women's teams to five -- one shy of the number needed to receive an automatic bid.