July 25, 2011

Contact: Greg Murphy

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State sophomore golfer Andrew Bailey (Rocky River, Ohio/St. Ignatius) won the Big Met Course Championship over the weekend, qualifying him for the Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship (GCAC).

In addition, Bailey's junior teammate Michael Klaric (Hermitage, Pa./Kennedy) also qualified for the GCAC by finishing third at the Big Met Course Championship.

The GCAC will take place at Sleepy Hollow G.C. in Brecksville, Ohio, from August 12-14.

Bailey, the 2011 Horizon League Freshman of the Year and co-medalist at the league championship with Klaric, posted a course-record nine-under-par 63 in the first round at Big Met before firing a final round 70 to post a 36-hole total of 133.

He beat former high school teammate and current Loyola junior Brian VanDeMotter (67-68) by two shots.

Klaric, who was a first team All-Horizon League selection this past spring, was four shots back after rounds of 67-70.

Bailey found himself trailing by one midway through the second round, but a double bogey by VanDeMotter on the ninth and back-to-back birdies from Bailey on 16 and 17 helped him to the win.

Bailey's final total of 133 established a new Big Met Course Championship record, besting the 134 posted by Strongsville's Phil Latsko in 2003.

Former CSU golfer Pat Elber (Mentor, Ohio/Lake Catholic) will join the CSU duo at the GCAC after qualifying at Sleepy Hollow over the weekend with rounds of 73-80 (153).

There will be two more 36-hole, two-day Course Championships prior to the GCAC. Those will be contested on Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31 at Manakiki G.C. in Willoughby Hills and Shawnee Hills G.C. in Bedford.