Michigan State University Athletics
Men's Golf Heads To Big Ten Championships
5/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 6, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
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Site: Ann Arbor, Mich.Dates: May 8-9, 2004Tee Times: Saturday - First Round (18 holes) - beginning at 8 a.m., off No. 1 and No. 10 tees Saturday - Second Round (18 holes) - beginning at 1 p.m., off No. 1 and No. 10 tees Sunday - Final Round (18 holes) - beginning at 8 a.m., off No. 1 and No. 10 teesHost: University of MichiganCourse: University of Michigan Golf Course (par 71, 6,704 yards)Tournament Format: 54 holes total (36 holes on Saturday and 18 on Sunday)Tournament Field (11 Teams): Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State,Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and WisconsinLive Scoring: Golfstat.com or msuspartans.com2003 Team Champion: Minnesota (283-282-280-277=1,122)2003 Individual Medalist: Matt Anderson, Minnesota (71-67-71-67=276)
The Michigan State men's golf team heads to the 2004 Big Ten Championship this weekend (May 8-9) at the par 71, 6,704-yard University of Michigan Golf Course in Ann Arbor, Mich. The 2004 season marks the 86th year of the Big Ten Men's Golf Championship.
Michigan State Big Ten Championship Line-Up Events Rounds Strokes Avg.Andrew Ruthkoski (Jr., Muskegon, Mich.) 10 29 2,160 74.48Matt Harmon (Fr., Grand Rapids, Mich.) 10 29 2,176 75.03Mitch Pierce (Fr., Fenton, Mich.) 4 12 931 77.58Casey Lubahn (Sr., Sand Lake, Mich.) 4 12 939 78.25James Chestnut (Jr., Grand Blanc, Mich.) 5 15 1,154 76.93
LAST TIME OUT - The Spartans finished fifth out of 14 teams at the 2004 Bruce Fossum/TaylorMade Invitational at the Forest Akers West Golf Course last weekend (May 1-2). State shot a 54-hole score of 893 (293-301-299), the team's best mark of the spring season and the team's third-best mark of the year.
State was led by junior Andrew Ruthkoski, who finished tied for ninth with a 221 (71-75-75). Freshmen Matt Harmon (76-76-74) and Mitch Pierce (81-70-75) along with junior James Chestnut (72-77-77) finished tied for 21st with a 226. Chestnut, however, was competing as an individual.
SEASON SPOTLIGHT - MSU has golfed in 10 tournaments this season, finishing in the top 20 in all 10 events, including five in the top 10. Among State's top-10 showings are a second-place finish at the Adams Cup of Newport (Sept. 29-30); third-place mark at the Badger Invitational (Sept. 12-14); and a fifth-place finish at the Bruce Fossum/TaylorMade Invitational (May 1-2). The Spartans also finished seventh at the Inverness Intercollegiate (Sept. 19-20) and the Duke Classic (Oct. 19-20).
IN THE RANKINGS - Michigan State is ranked 74th in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings (rankings as of May 3, 2004).
THE STATISTICS - Junior Andrew Ruthkoski paces MSU with a 74.48 stroke average, while freshman Matt Harmon is second with a 75.03 stroke average. Both players pace the squad with five top-20 finishes, including two in the top 10.
Rounding out Spartan line-up is junior James Chestnut, who holds a 76.93 stroke average; freshman Mitch Pierce, who carries a 77.58 stroke average; and senior Casey Lubahn, who has a 78.25 stroke average.
2003 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP - Michigan State finished seventh at the 2003 Big Ten Championships. The Spartans shot a 72-hole total score of 1,168 (286-290-293-299) at the Indiana University Golf Course. Individually, State was paced by Eric Jorgensen and Casey Lubahn as both players tied for 13th with a 289.
EXPERIENCE COUNTS, DOESN'T IT? - MSU's five-member traveling party features just two players (senior Casey Lubahn and junior Andrew Ruthkoski) with experience at the Big Ten Conference Championship. Both players are making their third straight treks to the conference tournament.
Three Spartans - junior James Chestnut, freshman Matt Harmon and freshman Mitch Pierce - are making their first-ever showings at the conference tournament.
LOOKING AT THE RECORD BOOK - Junior Andrew Ruthkoski sits sixth on MSU's single-season chart with a 74.48 stroke average. In addition, freshman Matt Harmon is 18th on the list with his 75.03 average.
Former Spartan Eric Jorgensen holds MSU's single-season mark with a 72.00 average, set in 2002.
NOT BAD FOR A FROSH - Freshman Matt Harmon shot a 66 in the second round of the Duke Classic, the second-lowest 18 hole score in MSU history. He shares the mark with five other individuals, including Brent Goik who fired a 66 three times (1998 and 1999 Detroit Invitational and 1999 Northern Intercollegiate) in his career.
Heath Fell set the school record with a 65 in the 1994 Big Ten Championships.
ONLY ONE - In 2002, Eric Jorgensen became the first Michigan State men's golfer to take medalist honors at the Big Ten Championships. The Big Rapids, Mich., native shot a 280 (70-72-69-69) en route to his victory and All-Big Ten First-Team accolades.
The 1969 MSU men's golf team captured the school's only Big Ten Championship.
