Michigan State University
Western Intercollegiate
Men's Golf Finishes Fourth at Western Intercollegiate
3/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
March 31, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's golf team completed play at the Western Intercollegiate on Tuesday afternoon in fourth place with a three-round total of 34-over par 874 (290-297-287). Today's round of seven-over par 287 at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calif. was the fourth lowest round of the tournament.
Junior Jack Newman, the defending Western Intercollegiate individual champion, tied for second at three-over par 213 (73-71-69). Newman's final round of one-under par 69 was one of nine rounds for the tournament under par. Newman led the field in the par 4s at two-over par for the week and was second on the par 5s, playing them at five-under par. He ended the three days with nine birdies, good for eighth overall. It was Newman's third top-five finish of the season and sixth of his career.
Sophomore Graham Baillargeon placed ninth at six-over par 216 (71-74-71). Baillargeon also had nine birdies in addition to his first collegiate hole-in-one at yesterday's 177-yard eighth hole. It was his fourth top-10 placement in his eight events this season.
Classmate Payne Gniewek had his fifth top-20 finish in eight events this season as he tied for 20th at 13-over par 223 (71-76-76). Gniewek led the entire tournament with 13 birdies. Redshirt freshman Phil Snow moved up into a tie for 25th with a final round two-over par 72. His total of 14-over par 224 (76-76-72) helped him to his best finish of his career. Snow tied Newman and Baillargeon with nine birdies, including four in today's round. Senior Jordan Ensrud rounded out the MSU competitors, finishing in a tie for 50th at 19-over 229 (75-79-75). Ensrud was second in the field with 37 pars.
Oregon overtook Fresno State today to win the team title. The Ducks shot a tournament low two-over par 282 in the final round to end the tournament at 25-ober par 865. Fresno State and Colorado tied for second at 33-over par 873. Oregon State's Diego Velasquez held on for the individual title topping Newman and Colorado's Derek Tolan by three strokes with an even-par 210.
The Spartans return to the course on April 18-19 for the Purdue Intercollegiate, held at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Ind. Meanwhile, Newman will take a break from collegiate action to compete in the 2009 Masters next week in Augusta.
Players Mentioned
