Michigan State University
Aggie Invitational
No. 21 Men's Golf Finishes Ninth At Aggie Invitational
4/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
April 17, 2005
Bryan, Texas - The No. 21 men's golf team slipped three spots during the final round of the Aggie Invitational, finishing ninth with a 294-300-307 - 901 total at the 7,235-yard Traditions Golf Club on Sunday, April 17.
Top-ranked Oklahoma State outlasted the deep 14-team field and claimed the team title after shooting three straight rounds of two-over-par 290 (870). No. 5 New Mexico entered the final round tied with Oklahoma State, but fell two shots short on Sunday and finished second (872), followed by Big XII opponents No. 30 Texas Tech (882) and No. 39 Oklahoma (889).
Senior Andrew Ruthkoski (Muskegon, Mich.) led the Spartans and finished in a tie for 18th with a three-round total of 222 (72-72-78). With this week's top-20 finish, Ruthkoski has finished in the top 20 in seven of this season's eight tournaments, and 10 of the last 11 tournaments overall. New Mexico's Spencer Levin and Oklahoma's Anthony Kim took home medalist honors as each player finished at 6-under 210.
A final-round 80 dropped sophomore Matt Harmon (Grand Rapids, Mich.) out of the top 20 and into a tie for 27th with a score of 225 (71-74-80). Sunday's score was Harmon's worst round since an 83 at the 2004 Alabama Spring Invitational (March 12, 2004), and only his second round in the 80s as a Spartan.
Freshman Ryan Brehm (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) improved 19 positions and finished in a tie for 36th with a three-round total of 228 (78-76-74). Brehm was the model of consistency this week, as he pared 14 holes in each round. The difference in each round was limiting the big numbers, as Sunday's round featured a mere three bogies and a birdie.
Senior Jimmy Chestnut (Grand Blanc, Mich.) used experience to successfully recover from a poor second round. Chestnut opened the final round with birdies on two of his first three holes, and capped the week with a final-round 76 and a 238 total (73-89-76).
Rounding out the Spartan lineup was freshman Nathan Gunthorpe (Ovid, Mich.). Like Chestnut, Gunthorpe spent the weekend trying to recover from a nearly disastrous opening round. In his third-career collegiate start, Gunthorpe recovered and closed the tournament with a round of 79, giving him a 244 total (87-78-79).
Michigan State returns to action next week when the team travels to Columbus, Ohio, for the Kepler Invitational April 23-24.
Aggie InvitationalTraditions Golf Club (Bryan, Texas)April 16-17, 2005
Final Team StandingsPlace Team Rd. 1 Rd. 2 Rd. 3 Total1. (#1) Oklahoma State 290 290 290 8702. (#5) New Mexico 286 294 292 8723. (#30) Texas Tech 294 291 297 8824. (#39) Oklahoma 296 299 294 8895. (#29) SMU 293 289 309 8916. (#17) Texas 300 291 301 8927. (#42) Baylor 303 294 297 8948. (#31) Kent State 296 301 302 8999. (#21) Mich. State 294 300 307 90110. (#33) Texas A&M 302 294 306 90211. (#66) Northwestern 305 292 308 90512. (#73) Ohio State 294 305 307 90613. Texas A&M (B) 294 307 308 90914. (#55) Notre Dame 318 304 297 919
Final Individual StandingsPlayer (school) Rd. 1 Rd. 2 Rd. 3 TotalT1. Anthony Kim (Oklahoma) 72 69 69 210T1. Spencer Levin (New Mex.) 67 69 74 210T3. Charlie Beljan (New Mex.) 71 71 71 213T3. Jeff Bell (Texas) 72 68 73 213T3. Tyler Leon (Ok. St.) 69 72 72 2136. Jeremy Alcorn (Baylor) 70 72 72 2147. Andrew Dresser (Texas Tech.) 73 73 71 217T8. Colt Knost (SMU) 71 71 76 218T8. Pablo Martin (Ok. St.) 74 73 71 218T10. Oscar Floren (Texas Tech.) 73 71 75 219T10. Zack Robinson (Ok. St.) 75 70 74 219
Final MSU Individual StandingsT18. Andrew Ruthkoski 72 72 78 222T27. Matt Harmon 71 74 80 225T36. Ryan Brehm 78 76 74 228T65. Jimmy Chestnut 73 89 76 23871. Nathan Gunthorpe 87 78 79 244
