Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Head to Charlotte for Irish Creek Collegiate
3/30/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
March 30, 2012
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's golf team returns to action this weekend for the Irish Creek Collegiate, hosted by Charlotte, Davidson and the Charlotte Sports Commission at The Club at Irish Creek in Kannapolis, N.C. The tournament begins Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with 36 holes before Sunday's 18-hole finale.
"The Irish Creek Collegiate is a special event run by the Charlotte Sports Commission, and they really make the experience wonderful for the student-athletes. Additionally, Irish Creek is a first rate club," said Spartan head coach Casey Lubahn. "Our guys have been close to putting together some nice rounds and there has been a quiet determination as we have prepared for this strong field."
For the third-straight tournament, the Spartans feature the same lineup of senior Chris Mory, juniors Dan and Dave Ellis, and Matthew Moseley, and freshman McCormick Clouser.
Joining MSU, Charlotte and Davidson in the field is No. 17 Duke, Kansas, No. 21 Kent State, Louisville, Mercer, Michigan State, Northern Illinois, Queens, Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth and Xavier.
Mory led the Spartans last weekend at the FAU Spring Break Championship, posting his fourth top-10 finish of the season, tying for seventh. Mory shot a career-low 211, lowering his season stroke average to 72.6. He is tied with Dan Ellis for the low average on the team, which would be fifth on the MSU single-season scoring list, and paces the squad in birdies and top-10 finishes. In addition, Mory's career average of 74.8 is seventh on the Spartan career list.
Dan Ellis was the top Spartan golfer in the fall, posting a top-15 finish in all five events, including three top-5 showings, but has been inconsistent so far this spring. In addition to his team-best tying stroke average, he is second to Mory in birdies this season, but leads the team in eagles, including three last weekend at FAU.
After appearing in only two events in the fall - just one as part of the Spartan lineup - Dave Ellis has played in both spring events for MSU. He is third on the team in scoring at 73.3, including matching his career low 18-hole score (70) last Sunday at FAU.
Moseley also has not been able to match his success in the fall, so far this spring season, but still ranks fourth on the team with a 74.2 scoring average. Clouser is one of three golfers to appear in the Spartan lineup in all seven stroke play events this season, tallying a 74.7 scoring average and four top-25 finishes.
As a team, the Spartans look to continue their push for their first NCAA Regional appearance since 2009. MSU posted four top-5 finishes in the five spring events, but have finished in the middle of the pack in the two stroke play events in the spring.
