Cleveland State men advance to NCAA Tournament

May 2, 2006

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 Cleveland State claimed its first Horizon League Men's Golf Championship since 1998 on Tuesday at Plum Creek Golf Club in Carmel, Ind. The Vikings (-6) edged Youngstown State by five strokes, 858-863, and they earn the League's automatic bid into the NCAA Men's Golf Tournament.   

Viking junior Mike Rutgers led the tournament with three holes to play as five players were within two strokes of the lead. Rutgers (-5) could not hang on to the individual lead, however, and finished one stroke behind Wright State junior Brandon Knutson (-6) and Butler senior Will Turner. Knutson would defeat Turner in a four-hole playoff to claim medalist honors. The playoff was the third in the history of the tournament. 

Junior Ben Grandy added a one-under 215 for the tournament and senior Steve Weir finished at even par. Freshman Jake Scott also shot a four-over 220 for the Vikings.

The final standings were not determined until the final three holes as three teams battled for second place all the way down the back nine. Detroit (+1) looked to take an early hold on second before falling two strokes behind the Penguins and into a tie for third with Loyola. Youngstown State would battle back near the turn as senior Nate Komsa (-3) tied for sixth place and junior Jim Powers (-1) captured a share of eighth place. Freshman Ryan Stocke (+1) fired a third-round 68 to finish in 12^th place.

Sophomore Mark Sommerfeld led Detroit with a five-under 211 and was also in the mix until the very end of the tournament. Junior Ryan Manick (-1) also finished under par for the Titans.

Loyola junior Frank Linquist (-5) also finished one stroke off the lead and freshman Sean Bidzinski would finish with a three-under 213. Both Linquist and Bidzinski garnered All-Tournament Team honors for their efforts.

Wright State (+10), Butler (+22) and UW-Green Bay (+29) would round out the tournament standings. No players from those three teams finished below par except for Knutson and Turner. Sophomores Chip Knuckey and Tyler Miskell both finished with a three-over 219.

The League also announced its awards for Men's Golf after the four-hole playoff. Sommerfeld was honored as Athlete of the Year, Bidzinski was named Newcomer of the Year and Cleveland State's Tom Porten claimed Coach of the Year honors.

2006 Horizon League Men's Golf Awards

Athlete of the Year: Mark Sommerfeld, Detroit

Newcomer of the Year: Sean Bidzinski, Loyola

Coach of the Year: Tom Porten, Cleveland State

All-Horizon League Team

Sean Bidzinski, Loyola

Nate Komsa, Youngstown State

Tyler Miskell, Wright State

Kyler Murphy, Detroit

Mike Rutgers, Cleveland State

Mark Sommerfeld, Detroit

Steve Weir, Cleveland State

All-Tournament Team

Sean Bidzinski, Loyola

Brandon Knutson, Wright State

Nate Komsa, Youngstown State

Frank Linquist, Loyola

Mike Rutgers, Cleveland State

Mark Sommerfeld, Detroit

Will Turner, Butler