Spartans In Second Place After Day One Of Boilermaker Invitational

April 7, 2007

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The 44th-ranked Michigan State men's golf team finished day one of the Boilermaker Invitational on Saturday afternoon in second place with a 301 total, one stroke behind the leader, Purdue. Leading the team after 18 holes is Ryan Brehm, who also leads the tournament with an even par performance.

The tourney was cut down today to 18 holes Saturday instead of the scheduled 36 due to cold weather and high winds.

Despite inclement weather, the Spartans were able to top every team except for host college Purdue and lead the third-place teams, Northwestern and Indiana, by seven strokes. Rounding out the top finishers after day one were Illinois (310) and 21st-ranked Auburn (311).

"Our goal was to get five our scores under 80 and we almost did that," head coach Mark Hankins said. "The conditions were extremely tough. I think that our team was very well prepared this week and they all fought hard and they minimized their mistakes."

The Green and the White lead the tournament with 58 pars and the best par-5 scoring average (4.90).

Brehm is the only individual who carded an even par score after day one and leads the three athletes tied for second by two strokes. This is the junior's third even par round of the season, after stringing together 36s on the front and back nine with help from three birdies.

"Ryan (Brehm) started at 2-under par with two birdies on his first two holes and that put him in a good mindset," Hankins said. "He spent a lot of time last week getting ready for this tournament and it paid off. He was extremely determined today and hopefully he can do as well tomorrow."

Matt Harmon is tied for fifth place with a 3-over-par 75. The Mount Pleasant graduate shot a 38 on the front nine and improved on the last nine with a 37.

Jack Newman recorded a 39 on the first nine and improved with a 37 on the back to finish the first round with a 4-over-par 76. He currently sits in a tie for 13th place.

Grant Tungate started the afternoon shooting a 36 and combined a 42 on the back for a 78, good for a 28th-place tie. Steve Cuzzort rounded out the Spartans with an 81 (38-43), tying for 58th place.

The Spartans wrap up play on Sunday with the final 18 holes of the invitational.