Buckeyes Runner-Up at Fighting Irish Gridiron Classic – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sophomore Dan Charen ties for second in first collegiate tournament
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s golf team was runner-up Tuesday in its second tournament of the fall season, the fourth-annual Fighting Irish Gridiron Classic in South Bend, Ind. The Buckeyes took second in the 15-team field with a score of 874 (+34) just four strokes behind winner and event host Notre Dame.
Ohio State concluded the 54-hole event with the lowest team score of the tournament at 3-over 283 on the par 70, 7,023-yard Warren Golf Course. The Buckeyes shaved 20 strokes off of their second round performance to close in on Notre Dame but fell short as the Fighting Irish won the event with a score of 870. Josh Sandman of Notre Dame was medalist firing a sum of 2-over 212.
The Buckeyes were led by sophomore Dan Charen, who finished in a tie for second after firing an even-par 70 in the final round. Charen, playing in his first collegiate golf tournament, paced the Buckeyes at 4-over par (214) and provided a pleasant surprise for head coach Donnie Darr.
“Dan was impressive,” Darr said. “He did a nice job managing the course. He developed a good game plan in the practice round and executed it well. He stuck to it and he had a chance to win with a couple holes to go.”
Junior Bo Hoag tallied a final round 73 to finish in a tie for 10th. This performance was the Honorable Mention All-American’s second-consecutive top-10 finish and the 14th of his career as he concluded the event with an 8-over 218.
Brad Smith shot an even-par 70 in the final day of play to move into a tie for 32nd at 224. The Buckeye pair of freshman Zachery Sobel and senior Brad Wright finished with a total of 227. They tied for 47th after firing final rounds of 71 and 72, respectively.
The Buckeyes were in first place after posting a 288 in the first round, but followed that with a team score of 303 in the second round. Despite his team’s round-two lull, Darr remains optimistic.
“I am pleased with two of our three rounds,” Darr said. “We shot low those rounds and clearly played well. In the second round we didn’t manage our emotions well and that cost us the tournament. We made a lot of progress from our first to our second tournament; we’re moving in the right direction.”
The Buckeyes will be in action again Oct. 19-20 in Memphis, Tenn., as they defend their title at the Memphis Intercollegiate Golf Classic.
ALSO PLAYING THIS WEEK
Three Ohio State golfers competed as individuals Oct. 5-6 at the Gordin-Myers Collegiate Classic presented by Coca-Cola, a 54-hole event played on the par 72, 7,105-yard Duke Golf Club.
Freshman Alex Redfield finished in a tie for 33rd after posting a final-round 77 to close out at 17-over par 233. Freshman Jamie Sindelar had a closing-round 80 to finish in a tie for 40th at 235, while junior Tanner Murphy finished with a sum of 236 after a round of 78 to tie for 43rd.
Fighting Irish Gridiron Classic – Final
Warren Golf Course, South Bend, Ind.
Par 70, 7,023 yard
Team Standings Scores
1. Notre Dame 290-288-292-870 (+30)
2. Ohio State 288-303-283-874 (+34)
3. Arkansas 295-297-286-878 (+38)
4. Texas-Arlington 300-298-285-883 (+43)
5. Lamar 297-296-291-884 (+44)
T-6. Houston 301-291-293-885 (+45)
T-6. Iowa 297-293-295-885 (+45)
8. Missouri 293-299-294-886 (+46)
9. Brigham Young 299-297-296-892 (+52)
10. Cincinnati 302-296-296-894 (+54)
11. Colorado 304-302-289-895 (+55)
12. San Francisco 296-299-303-898 (+58)
13. St. Mary’s (Calif.) 305-303-291-899 (+59)
14. Miami (Ohio) 303-300-298-901 (+61)
15. Georgetown 306-307-311-924 (+84)
Ohio State Results Scores
T-2. Dan Charen 70-74-70-214 (+4)
T-10. Bo Hoag 72-73-73-218 (+8)
T-32. Brad Smith 74-80-70-224 (+14)
T-47. Zachery Sobel 72-84-71-227 (+17)
T-47. Brad Wright 79-76-72-227 (+17)
