Hoosiers finish 10th out of 16 teams at tourney

After another tournament weekend with less than desirable weather, the men’s golf team finished 10th at the Kepler Intercollegiate tournament in Columbus, Ohio. After a shortened 36-hole competition, the Hoosiers’ final score was a combined 625 (313-312). \nDue to poor weather conditions, the tournament was shortened, something the Hoosiers viewed as a disadvantage compared with the standard 54-hole competitions. \n“It was very, very tough this weekend,” IU coach Mike Mayer said. “We didn’t handle the weather well. It would have been an advantage to play a 54-hole tournament.”\nBut, Mayer said, the team played well in the elements. \nFinishing first for the Hoosiers and in a tie for 14th overall was sophomore Drew Allenspach, with a weekend score of 152 (75-77). Following closely behind was fellow sophomore Jorge Campillo, with a combined score of 153 (76-77). Next for IU was sophomore Seth Brandon, finishing in a tie for 53rd overall, scoring 161 (83-78). Also finishing in a tie, for 61st, was freshman Alex Martin, with a total score of 162 (82-80). Rounding out the IU lineup was junior Santiago Quirarte with a final score of 165 (80-85), tying for 75th. \nFinishing in first place overall was Louisville, with a team total of 591 (292-299), the only team that scored below 300 for both rounds. Second place went to Michigan State, with a total score of 600 (295-305). Penn State finished third with a weekend total of 606 (296-310). \nThe course, which will be the site for the Big Ten tournament, was newly redone and had undergone several changes from last year’s course. \n“It was one of the hardest golf courses we’ve played on this year, if not the hardest,” Brandon said. \nAllenspach said the new course featured several deep bunkers and drastically sloped greens. The coach who sets up the course likes to make obstacles as difficult as possible, Allenspach said. \nWhile the Hoosiers may not have placed as well as they had hoped, the tournament gave the team a good look at the course, Allenspach said. \nThe team will play again this weekend at the Fossum/Spartan Invitational held in East Lansing, Mich. It will be the Hoosiers’ last tournament before the Big Ten competition. Mayer said he hopes to have better contributions from the fourth and fifth players – and above all, he hopes for better weather.