Michigan State University
Kepler Invitational
Harmon Leads The Field At Robert Kepler Collegiate
4/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
April 14, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Senior Matt Harmon finished the first day of the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate in first place at even par after 24 holes at Ohio State's Scarlet Course on Saturday. Poor weather conditions forced play to be suspended, with the Spartans in second place at 16-over-par in the 16-team field, with the second round set to be continued before the third round on Sunday.
"It was really tough day," head coach Mark Hankins said. "Besides it being it cold, it drizzled in the morning and rained in the afternoon. Matt (Harmon), Jack (Newman) and Steve (Cuzzort) played really well in the morning and carried the team. There really weren't a lot of good scores in the whole field, but overall it was a good start for us."
Harmon leads the tournament field after 24 holes, as he started the first round with birdies on the par-5 No. 4, the par-4 No. 10 and the par-4 No. 18. As the weather worsened during the second round, he posted a birdie on the par-4 No. 9. Play was suspended with Harmon at even par after completing the 12th hole, his sixth after the second round's shotgun start.
"Matt played well all day. He had a pretty good putting day and made some good water puts around 20 feet for birdies and kept his momentum up. Matt has played here before and understands that even par is a pretty good score. It is a difficult course. You have to be patience and stick to game plan."
Harmon is one stroke ahead of Northwestern's Kyle Moore, who is 1-over-par and two ahead of South Carolina's George Bryan IV, Penn State's Robert Rohanna and 29th-ranked Derek Fathauer of Louisville.
Michigan State sits in second place at the tournament at 19-over-par, three strokes behind Louisville after play was stopped. Both teams sat at 8-over-par after the first round was completed, good for a tie for first, but scores skyrocketed as the weather worsened in the afternoon.
Steve Cuzzort is in a tie for sixth place, as he sits at 3-over-par after completing 25 holes. Cuzzort posted birdies on the par-5 No. 6 and the par-5 No. 12 during his 1-over-par first round. He was 2-over-par in the second round, earning a birdie on No. 12 again, before his play was suspended after a bogey on No. 15.
Freshman Jack Newman is 7-over-par and tied for 23rd after he was 3-over-par in the final two holes, which were played right before play was suspended. Newman was 3-over-par during his first round, scoring birdies on the par-4 No. 16 and the par-4 No. 18. He was 4-over-par through the first seven holes during the second round.
Senior Ryan Brehm finished the day 12-over-par in a tie for 47th after six holes in the second round. Brehm finished the first round 7-over-par, thanks to 12 pars, and he was 5-over-par during the second round.
Grant Tungate is tied for 60th at 14-over-par. He was 12-over-par in his first round as he posted pars on nine holes. He was 2-over-par after eight holes in the second round, as he had six pars before play was halted.
Play in the Robert Kepler Invitational will wrap up on Sunday.
Players Mentioned
