Oct. 1, 2003
Cleveland -
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Men's Squad Rolls on to Muncie
After placing sixth overall at the De Paul Blue Demon Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 30, the Cleveland State men's golf team heads to Muncie, Ind. for the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational. The first and second rounds will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4 with a shotgun start and continuous play throughout the day. The final round will take place on Sunday, Oct. 5 with tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m.
"This tournament is the biggest event on our schedule this fall," commented head coach Tom Porten. "It has the best field of any tournament in District IV, so it will prove to be a good barometer of what kind of team we have. Plus, we get to go head-to-head with Butler and Wright State, which have always been front-runners in the [Horizon] League."
At last fall's Invitational, the Vikings posted a 13th-place finish. As a team, Cleveland State carded a three-round total of 897 (301-297-299) to finish only four shots behind Butler. Mike Bognar (Seven Hills, Ohio/Normandy) paced the squad, shooting a 216 (71-74-71) en route to a 10th-place tie.
Austin Peay (286-284-286---856) won the team title, edging out Eastern Kentucky (280-284-295---859) by three strokes. Matt Galant of Austin Peay shot 209 (69-70-70) for individual medalist honors.
Women's Golf at Golden Grizzly Invitational
The Viking women's golfers will resume their fall schedule at the Golden Grizzly Invitational, hosted by Oakland University. The tournament will be held at the Katke-Cousins Golf Club, a par 72 course in Rochester, Mich on Sunday, Oct. 5 and Monday, Oct. 6. The tournament will be the first action for the Vikes since the rain-shortened Butler Fall Invitational on Sept. 22-23, where they finished sixth overall with a 740 (357-383).
"We're looking to regroup this weekend from the Butler tournament," noted coach Porten. "We've been working on our short game since then and assistant coach Joe Denton is confident that we will be prepared. Hopefully, the weather won't be a factor like it was in Indiana."
Cleveland State posted a sixth-place finish at last season's Invitational, shooting a two-round score of 747 (383-364). Sophomore Kristen Obush (Indiana, Pa./Indiana Area) led all Viking scorers, carding a 177 (91-86) for a 21st-place finish.
Bognar Guides CSU to Sixth at Blue Demon Invite
The Viking men finished in sixth place at the Blue Demon Invitational on Monday, Sept. 29 and Tuesday, Sept. 30. The squad combined to shoot a 914 (303-297-314) at Prairie Landing Golf Club in Chicago.
The start of the first round of the Invitational was delayed due to frost, forcing the second round to be only partially completed and postponed until Tuesday.
Mike Bognar led the team, posting a 221 (71-76-74) for a sixth-place tie. Senior Billy Houle (Joliette, Quebec/Georges Vanier), after registering a first-round double-eagle on the par-5 18th hole, went on to card a 227 (75-74-78) for 15th place.
Freshman Mike Rutgers (Kingsville, Ontario/Cardinal Carter) tallied a 233 (79-79-75) for 36th. First-year Viking Ben Grandy (Southgate, Mich./Gabriel Richard) struggled in the final round after a recording a career-best 69 in the second round, finishing in 36th with a 234 (78-69-87).
"Cold and windy pretty much summed up the tournament," remarked coach Porten. "Ben [Grandy] had some trouble in the final round with the weather. It ended up being a learning experience for the young players.
"We're taking little steps in the right direction, but I don't think we're playing as good as we're capable of."
Southern Illinois (290-294-290---874) finished first as a team, out pacing runner-up Tennessee-Chattanooga (300-289-303---892) by 18 strokes. The Salukis were led by individual medalist Brian Norman, who recorded a final score of 210 (69-69-72).
