Men's Golf Keeps Rolling At Marshall Invitational

Irish three shots off the pace, Hardin one shot out of first.

April 9, 1999

NOTRE DAME, Ind. (4/9/99) - The Notre Dame men's golf team-led by senior co-captain Brad Hardin (Martinsville, Ind.)-resumed its impressive run through the spring season by firing rounds of 304 and 291 on Saturday to stand just three shots off the lead heading into Sunday's final-round action of the Marshall Invitational, at the par-71, 6,446-yard Guyan Golf and Country Club.

Notre Dame-coming off a runner-up finish at the Kentucky Intercollegiate-kept alive its faint chances at advancing to the NCAAs, thanks to Saturday's impressive showing in a 20-team field that includes some of the top golf programs in the Midwest district. Northwestern (298-294) leads the team competition, with Toledo (302-292) and Notre Dame just a couple shots back.

Two of the district's top programs-Miami of Ohio (307-294) and Ohio State (298-305)-stand behind the Irish, in fourth and fifth place respectively.

Saturday's first round was played in heavy winds of up to 40 miles-per-hour, which caused a one-hour and 15-minute rain delay between rounds. Notre Dame's second-round 291 represented Saturday's best team round, with Hardin carding an even-par 71 while senior Willie Kent and junior Jeff Connell both shot 73 and junior Todd Vernon carded a 74. Hardin, who shook off illness heading into the day, posted a 73 in the first round before closing with a 71 for a 144 total, good for second place in the 100-player field and just two shots behind D.A. Points of Illinois (72-70). Hardin had two birdies and four bogeys in his first round before bouncing back from a double-bogey on the par-four third hole in the afternoon round, when he closed with birdies on the par-four fourth, 13th and 18th holes (plus a bogey on the par-four 17th).

Michigan's Michael Harris (74-71) stands one shot behind Hardin. Harris posted a tournament-record 208 at the 1998 Marshall Invitational, edging Connell by one shot for medalist honors.

Hardin could become the third Notre Dame men's golfer to finish first or second at a tournament this spring. Kent won the Golden Ocala (Fla.) Intercollegiate (138) while Connell took second at last week's Kentucky Intercollegiate (212).

Vernon pieced together two of his best back-to-back rounds of his frustrating 1998-99 season and stands tied for 16th (75-74). Connell and Kent posted matching scores of 78-73 and are tied for 31st while freshman Steve Ratay did not factor in the count-four team score (88-81).

Hardin needs to shoot a 75 or lower in Sunday's round to post a career-best, 54-hole score (he shot a four-under 220 at last fall's Air Force Invitational).

TEAM STANDINGS (36 of 54 holes): 1. Northwestern 298-294/592; 2. Toledo 302-292/594; 3. Notre Dame 304-291/595; 4. Miami, Ohio 307-294/601; 5. Ohio State 307-294/603; Wisconsin 304-299/603; 7. Marshall 305-299/604; 8. Eastern Michigan 304-301/605; Kentucky 300-305/605; 10. Eastern Kentucky 310-296/606; Michigan 309-297/606; 12. Kent 306-301/607; 13. Illinois 305-303/608; 14. Ohio 309-300/609; Indiana 301-308/609; 16. Akron 304-306/610; 17. Purdue 311-301/612; 18. Louisville 316-302/618; 19. Murray State 309-317/626; 20. Michigan State 320-314/634.

TOP INDIVIDUALS (of 100): 1. D.A. Points (ILL) 72-70/142; 2. Brad Hardin (ND) 73-71/144; 3. Michael Harris (MICH) 74-71/145; Andrew Chapman (MICH) 73-72/145; 5. Richard Elliott (TOL) 72-74/146; 7. Jess Daley (NW) 75-72/147; Chuck Radabaugh (TOL) 77-70/147.

OTHER NOTRE DAME SCORES: 16. Todd Vernon 75-74/149; 31. Jeff Connell 78-73/151; 31. Willie Kent 78-73/151; 94. Steve Ratay 88-81/169.