Sept. 25, 2003
Cleveland -
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The Cleveland State men's golf team will travel to St. Charles, Ill. for the Blue Demon Invitational on Sept. 29-30. The tournament, hosted by DePaul University, will be held at Prairie Landing Golf Club, a par 72 course located approximately 40 miles west of Chicago. The invitational will open with 36 holes on Monday, Sept. 29 and will wrap-up with 18 holes on Tuesday, Sept 30.
The Vikings will be playing in the Blue Demon Invitational for the first time and head coach Tom Porten is looking forward to the opportunity.
"Prairie Landing is one of the best courses in the state of Illinois and maybe in the Midwest," said Porten. "It will be great to head out there and try to build on our success at Butler last week."
The women's team is idle this week until October 5-6 when they participate in the Oakland Invitational.
Newcomers Step-up as Men's Squad Takes Third
The Viking men's golf team carded a two-round score of 593 (297-296) en route to a third-place finish at the Butler Fall Invitational at Eagle Creek Golf Course Monday and Tuesday. The tournament was shortened to 36 holes after rain delayed the start of the opening round.
The invitational saw some superb contributions from two Viking freshmen. Mike Rutgers (Kingsville, Ontario/Cardinal Carter) paced the team with rounds of 70 and 74 for a sixth-place 144, only three shots off the lead, while Ben Grandy (Southgate, Mich./Gabriel Richard) carded a 150 (77-73) for 16th overall.
Rutgers, a transfer from St. Clair College in Canada, leads the team with a 74.40 stroke average through five rounds and his low round of 70 on Tuesday is a season low. "I couldn't be happier with the way Mike has played," said coach Porten. "He battled strained back at Bowling Green, but stepped-up in a big way at Butler. I expect to see him at the top of the standings for the rest of the fall."
Grandy, playing in his first collegiate tournament, averaged a 75.00 at the Butler Invitational. Originally, however, coach Porten was planning to hold off on playing him until the spring.
"I had hoped to wait to throw a true freshman into the line-up, but Ben responded well," commented coach Porten. "We're young and establishing an identity right now, but we will look to build on this success throughout the fall."
Senior Mike Bognar (Seven Hills, Ohio/Normandy) finished four strokes behind Rutgers, shooting a 149 (75-74) for a 13th-place tie. Senior Billy Houle (Joliette, Quebec/Georges Vanier) (75-77---152) and junior Bill Schaefer (Independence, Ohio/Independence) (77-75---152) rounded out the scoring in 26th.
"I think the performance of the freshmen was kind of a wake-up call for the older guys," added Porten. "Bognar and Houle really stepped it up in the late holes and Schaefer is really beginning to emerge as a great Division I college golfer."
Oakland University won the team title, shooting a 579 (289-290) to outpace the host Bulldogs (287-298---585) by six strokes. Colin Christie of Butler took individual medalist honors, winning a playoff after finishing in a three-way tie with a 141 (68-73).
Viking Women Place 11th at Butler Invitational
The Cleveland State women's golf team carded a two-round score of 740 (357-383) at Eagle Creek Golf Course on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 22-23, earning an 11th-place finish at the Butler Fall Invitational. The tournament was shortened to 36 holes after rain delayed the start of the opening round.
Sophomore Kristen Obush (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) paced the Vikings, shooting a 166 (82-84) for 15th-place overall. Junior Tori Kastl (Hinckley, Ohio/Medina) shot a 180 (88-92).
Bowling Green recorded the top team score of the tournament, posting a 643 (323-320) to out distance runner-up Western Kentucky (330-326---656). Amanda Minchin took the individual medalist honors, carding a 156 (80-76) and defeating BGSU linkster Jenny Schnipke (79-77---156) in a playoff.
