Cleveland State men, Butler women lead after first day of Golf Championships

May 1, 2006

Complete Men's Results in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Complete Women's Results in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Three Cleveland State men's players shot 70 or lower in the first round to set the tone early as the Vikings maintain a seven-stroke lead, 565-572, over Loyola after the first two rounds of the Horizon League Golf Championship at Plum Creek Golf Club in Carmel, Ind. The Butler women raced out to a big lead early as well, and lead, 634-653, over Youngstown State.

Junior Ben Grandy fired a four-under 140 (68-72) and Mike Rutgers also carded 140 (69-71) on the par-72 course, while senior Steve Weir added a two-under 142 (70-72). Freshman Jake Scott shot a one-under 143 (73-70) while sophomore Doug Barber, the 2005 medalist, rounded out the Vikings' first-day effort with a 153 (80-73). The Vikings are 11-under par as a team after 36 holes.

Loyola's men (572, -4) got a four-under 140 (67-73) from junior Frank Linquist and freshman Sean Bidzinski added a 141 (68-73) as the Ramblers finished the day four-under as a team. Freshman Armando Favela and sophomore Aaron Harter both carded a three-over 147.

Defending champion Detroit (577, +1), Youngstown State (578,+2 ) and Wright State (580, +4) follow Loyola in the middle of the standings. Butler is currently sixth (582, +6) and UW-Green Bay (586, +10) seventh.

Butler senior Will Turner (71-67) and Detroit sophomore Mark Sommerfeld (69-69) are tied for the lead with a six-under 138 in the medalist race, holding a slim one-stroke lead over Wright State junior Brandon Knutson (71-68) in the medalist race, while Grandy, Rutgers and Linquist are two strokes back.

On the women's side, defending champion Butler leads by 19 strokes behind tournament-leading freshman Lauren Showers. Showers fired an 11-over 155 (77-78) and Butler junior is just one stroke back at 156 (76-80). Junior Lynnsey Showers, a two-time championship medalist, is tied with sophomore teammate Niki Garden for seventh at 162.

Youngstown leads Loyola (655, +79) by two strokes for second place, while Detroit (683, +107) and Cleveland State (684, +108) round out the standings.

Youngstown State sophomore Adrianna DiLonardo fired a 160 (81-79) to finish the day in third place, while Loyola sophomore Michelle Puch and Cleveland State senior Kristen Obush are tied for fourth with identical scores of 161.

Action resumes Tuesday morning with the third and final round beginning with the men teeing off at 8 a.m. The women will begin at 8:20 a.m.