University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Fighting Irish Classic
Gophers Take Sixth at Fighting Irish Gridiron Classic
10/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 9, 2012
Minnesota combined for a final round 291 on Tuesday at the Fighting Irish Gridiron Classic, its lowest of the tournament. The squad finished in sixth place with a 54-hole score of 880, the team's lowest score of the season and also the lowest team score since the Gophers posted an 880 at the FAU Spring Break Invitational last March.
In comparison, the Gophers opened the fall with a team score of 932 at the Gopher Invitational, improved to card a 911 at the Husky Invitational and improved once again by posting an 890 at the William Tucker in New Mexico.
Minnesota senior Erik Van Rooyen paced the locals by finishing in a three-way tie for fifth place. It is the second-consecutive top-five finish for Van Rooyen, who played the event as the reigning Big Ten Conference Player of the Week following his second place finish in New Mexico. His three-over par 216 (73-71-72) in South Bend was only five shots off the medalist Thomas Bass of UNC-Wilmington.
Fellow senior David Haley Jr. moved up three spots on Tuesday and finished in a tie for 21st place with a three-round total of 220 (75-72-73), his lowest tournament score of the fall season. Freshman Jon DuToit made a move of his own during the final round, climbing eight spots to finish in a tie for 28th with a score of 222 (73-76-73), a career low.
Sophomore Alex Gaugert improved each day in South Bend following an opening round 82 to card rounds of 74 and 73 (229) and finished in a tie for 51st place. Senior Robert Bell finished alone in 69th place.
Michigan State won the team title with a combined total of 869, followed by Houston in second place and UNC-Wilmington in third place. Wilmington's Thomas Bass took home medalist honors with a 54-hole card of two-under 211. He was the only player to finish the tournament under par.
Minnesota will conclude its fall season in Birmingham, Ala. next week as part of the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate field Oct. 15-16 at the Old Overton Golf Course.
Gopher Scores
| T5th | Erik Van Rooyen | 73-71-72--216 |
| T21st | David Haley Jr. | 75-72-73--220 |
| T28th | Jon DuToit | 73-76-73--222 |
| T51st | Alex Gaugert | 82-74-73--229 |
| 69th | Robert Bell | 75-82-78--235 |
Players Mentioned
