Oct. 1, 2004
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Upcoming Men's Event
October 4-5: William & Mary Joe Agee Invitational
Course/Location/Holes: Royal New Kent Golf Club/Providence Forge, Va./54
Yards/Par: 6,965/72
Teams: 17 -- Boston College, Bucknell, Cleveland State, Delaware, Fordham, Georgetown, James Madison, Lehigh, Liberty, Loyola (Md.), Old Dominion, Rutgers, St. Francis (Pa.), St. Joseph's (Pa.), Temple, Towson & William & Mary
Upcoming Women's Event
October 3-4: Northern Illinois Huskie Classic
Course/Location/Holes: Whisper Creek Golf Club/Huntley, Ill./36
Yards/Par: 5,896/72
Teams: 9 -- Cincinnati, Cleveland State, Dartmouth, Detroit, Eastern Illinois, IPFW, Loyola, Northern Illinois & Saint Louis
Chip Ins: Both the men's and women's teams are in action in the upcoming week. The women will travel to Huntley, Ill. for the Huskie Classic hosted by Northern Illinois on Oct. 3-4. Meanwhile, the men will head to Williamsburg on Oct. 4-5 to compete in the William & Mary Joe Agee Invitational.
Head Coach Tom Porten: Tom Porten is in his 14th season at the helm of the Viking men's program. He guided the team to its first ever Horizon League Championship in 1998. He was instrumental in founding the women's program in 2001 and was named the league coach of the year just two seasons later. A three-time letterwinner and captain of the golf team, he graduated from CSU in 1990. After serving as an assistant for the Vikings during the 1990-91 season, he assumed the head coaches' role the following year.
Joe Agee Invitational: The men's squad will head to Williamsburg, Va. for the Joe Agee Invitational, hosted by William & Mary on Oct. 4-5. The Vikings are part of a 17-team field that will test the 6,965-yard, par 72 Royal New Kent Golf Club. CSU is the only Horizon League school in W & M's first fall tournament in over 20 years. The Vikings finished 12th at the Tribe's spring tourney last March at Kingsmill, as Mike Rutgers carded a two-round total of 149 to finish in a tie for sixth.
Huskie Classic: Northern Illinois is hosting the Huskie Classic for the 20th consecutive year -- and for the fourth straight year at the 5,896-yard, par 72 Whisper Creek Golf Club. The nine team field also features Horizon League schools Detroit and Loyola. This mark CSU's first appearance at the event.
Porten's Take: "This week will provide a good test for both teams against some competition that we have yet to face this fall. On the women's side, we need to find some more consistency in our lineup -- knowing that Kristen is capable of winning every time she steps on the course. With the men, I am looking for continued improvement. The team has exceeded my expectations to this point and I would like to see us continue to battle for the title each week."
Recapping Last Week: The women had a week off while the men travelled to the Chicago area for the DePaul John Dallio Memorial Invitational. The Vikings finished fifth out of 13 schools competing at the 6,968-yard, par 72 Prairie Landing GC. Sophomore Mike Rutgers fired a school-record 66 in the second round en route to a career-best fourth-place finish. Classmate Ben Grandy finished 17th, while senior Bill Schaefer opened with a career-low round of 72 in his first action of the fall.
How Low Can You Go?: Sophomore Mike Rutgers' career-low 66 in the second round at the John Dallio Memorial Invitational on Sept. 27, not only gave him the overnight tournament lead, it broke the school single-round scoring mark. The old record of 67 was set by Christian Komsa at the Ohio Collegiate Classic on Oct. 23, 2000.
Obush Wears Third Crown: Junior Kristen Obush claimed her third career tournament title at the Butler Fall Invitational on Sept. 20-21. She posted consistent rounds of 78-77-78 to finish at 233 -- three shots clear of the rest of the field. She also claimed medalist honors in the Bucknell Lady Bison Classic and the Malone Fall Invitational as a freshman in 2002-03. Obush also has runner-up finishes at last year's Horizon League Championship and CSU Invitational to her credit.
The Young & The Restless: Tom Porten's recruiting efforts the past two seasons are paying dividends at this early juncture of the season. The four of the top five golfers in the line-up are all underclassmen. Sophomores Ben Grandy (72.5) and Mike Rutgers (72.8) top the list, with freshmen Doug Barber (76.3) and Joe Ribelli (76.9) not far behind. Barber was a big reason the Vikings finished third at the Butler Fall Invitational (Sept. 20-21), firing a career-low 72 on his way to finishing in a tie for 15th at 221. The only upperclassman in the lineup -- senior Bill Schaefer -- checks in with a 76.0 scoring average. He saw his first action of the year on Sept. 27-28 at the John Dallio Memorial Invitational, opening with a career-low 72 en route to finishing tied for 33rd.
"Barber" Shop Stays Open For The Winter: Freshman Doug Barber has found a unique way to stay busy and in shape in between golf seasons -- the Willoughby native will walk on the men's basketball team. A first team all-district selection at guard as a senior at Willoughby South HS, he was the News Herald and Plain Dealer Player of the Year for Lake and Geauga County. He will more than likely suit up as a shooting guard for the Vikings.
Vikings Return Co-Player Of The Year: Junior Kristen Obush anchors the Viking line-up after earning Horizon League Co-Player of the Year honors in 2004. At the league championship, she shot a second-place score of 242 to finish three-shots out of the lead. After opening the tournament with an uncharacteristic 84, Obush rebounded in the afternoon round with a championship-low 75. She complimented it with an 83 -- the second-best score on a blustery final day. A two-time all-league selection, she is a co-captain this season along with senior Nancy Bowling.
