Michigan State University Athletics
Men's Golf Team Looks to Make Late Season Push
4/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
April 14, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's golf team heads to Columbus, Ohio, this Saturday and Sunday (April 17-18) to play in the 35th Ohio State Kepler Intercollegiate at the par 72 Ohio State University Scarlet Golf Course. At 7,251 yards, the Scarlet course will be the second-longest course the Spartans face this season.
This year's field includes: Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Indiana, Kansas State, Marshall, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Michigan State, Michigan, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, Illinois, Iowa, Toledo, Wisconsin, Xavier and host Ohio State. Of the 18 teams in the field, 16 are in the Midwest district and are competing for a birth into the regional tournament.
The 54-hole event starts with 36 holes on Saturday followed by Sunday's final 18 holes. Saturday play begins with an 8:30 a.m. EST shotgun start and Sunday rounds will start on both the front and back nines at 8 a.m. EST.
The Spartans are led by senior Ben Fox (Fort Wayne, Ind.), junior Andrew Ruthkoski (Muskegon, Mich.) and freshman Matt Harmon (Grand Rapids, Mich.). Each player has played in all eight events this season and has a scoring average of 76.00 or lower. Ruthkoski has the team's lowest-scoring average (74.74).
Ohio State is returning champion after winning the 2003 Kepler Intercollegiate with a score of 893 (+29). Last year's medalist, senior Brad Heaven of Toledo, also returns after shooting a 219.
The Kepler Intercollegiate is the second of three straight regional tournaments for the men's golf team. The Spartans have next weekend off before concluding the regular season when they host the Fossum/Taylor Made Invitational at Forest Akers West Golf Course May 1-2.
