Oct. 24, 2003

Cleveland -

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The women's golfers will wrap up their fall campaign in two weeks when the travel to St. Augustine, Fla. on Nov. 2-4 for the Flager Invitational. The tournament will be held at the World Golf Village, a par 72 5,840 yard course, with single rounds being played Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 3-4.

After nearly a month-long break from competition, the Vikings are poised for success in their final tournament before the spring.

"The women have had a good couple of weeks of practice," head coach Tom Porten noted. "Kate McLaughlan (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) has really improved during the break. She has posted some really good practice scores and is ready to turn the corner. "Kristen Obush (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) has worked on her putting with [assistant coach] Joe Denton which will really improve her game for Florida," added Porten. "Everyone else is making steady progress."

Men's Fall Season Concludes in North Carolina
The Cleveland State men's golf team shot a final round 315 on Tuesday, October 21 to card a 16th-place score of 925 at the East Carolina Pirate Fall Intercollegiate. The Vikings posted rounds of 305-305-315 in concluding their 2003 fall season at the Bradford Creek Golf Club in Greenville, N.C.

"There were a few small signs of progress this weekend," Porten said. "We took a relatively young team to a tournament out of our district and we still had some bright spots. We have a lot to work on this winter, but we will be ready to go for the spring."

Freshman Mike Rutgers (Kingsville, Ontario/Cardinal Carter) carried his success into the final fall tournament this season, leading the Vikings in scoring for the fourth time in six fall tournaments. Rutgers tallied a final round of 73, the third-lowest lowest total of the day, in windy conditions for a 226 (78-75-73).

"He is continuing to improve," Porten boasted, "but he hasn't been able to play three rounds in the same tournament up to his ability. Mike has the potential to be a front-line player and possible all-league candidate. I think we'll be able to see how well he is capable of playing this spring."

Senior Mike Bognar (Seven Hills, Ohio/Normandy) trailed Rutgers by five shots at the end of the day, carding a 231 (75-76-80) while junior Bill Schaefer (Independence, Ohio/Independence) tallied a 234 (77-75-82).

Cleveland State fielded a youthful squad at the tournament in North Carolina, as three freshmen comprised the starting five. Rutgers and Ben Grandy (Southgate, Mich./Gabriel Richard) represented the Vikings as first-year freshmen while Kurt Parker (Sharon Center, Ohio/Highland) played in his first tournament with Cleveland State after redshirting last season.

East Carolina (289-293-300---882) won their home event, rallying in the final round to defeat Elon (285-289-310---884) by two strokes. Freshman Ryan Leveque of ECU took individual medallist honors, carding a 213 (68-72-73) while competing as an individual.

Short-Game Focus for Men This Winter
As the men's golfers head indoors this winter, coach Porten will be focusing two prime aspects of the Vikings' game.

"Chipping and putting," the CSU coach stated. "That is what we will be working on for most of the winter.

"The short-game has been our downfall this season. Everyone seemed to struggle with the putter and short irons, and it really cost them on some holes."

When the Northeast Ohio winter weather bares its ugly head, the Viking golfers will be ready for it. The Golf Tech Center, located in the Physical Education Building, is undergoing it's second phase of remodelling and will be ready in time for the offseason. In addition to indoor practice with short irons, the Vikings will spend time in the weight room and on the track.

"We want to be in the best physical shape we can be in going into the spring," Porten said. "We have a strong seven-tournament schedule in store for us starting in March, including our CSU Invitational at the beginning of April and the Horizon League Championships at the end of April. We want to be playing our best golf when it really counts and those will be the tournaments to do it at."