Following a three-week layoff, Notre Dame returns to action today at the Crooked Stick Intercollegiate, hosted by Indiana at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind.
"[The break] came at a good time," Irish coach Jim Kubinski said. "We were able to play two tournaments, get some competition under our belts and then assess our games and work on the areas that needed our focus."
Senior Niall Platt, coming off a 12th place finish to lead the Irish at the Fighting Irish Gridiron Golf Classic, headlines the starting lineup for the Irish. He is joined by freshman Matt Rushton, who, after tying with Platt for sixth at the Gopher Invitational on Sept. 8 and 9, finished 27th at the Gridiron Golf Classic. Rounding out the starting lineup for the Irish are junior Tyler Wingo, sophomore Cory Sciupider and freshman Liam Cox.
"I thought our qualifying tournament at home to earn spots in our lineup this week was as good as any we've had in my time at Notre Dame," Kubinski said. "We had six different players post rounds in the 60s this past week, including a 66 and multiple 67's. ... I think we'll bring out some of that good play on the road this week."
Kubinski said Crooked Stick, which played host to the 1991 PGA Championship as well as last year's PGA Tour FedEx Cup BMW Championship, will provide an "exciting venue" and "outstanding test" for the Irish. The course will be set up to play at a long 7,300 yards, but Kubinski was more concerned with Crooked Stick's mental test and its greens rather than its length.
"Designer Pete Dye makes players think," Kubinski said, referring to the course's architect. "The greens are reasonably big, but it's important to hit the ball onto the correct areas or face a difficult attempt to two-putt. [Crooked Stick] is fair though. Players enjoy a strong but fair test."
In addition to the tough test Crooked Stick presents, the Irish will also have a loaded field to compete against this week. The 14-team field includes No. 6 Georgia and No. 25 Arkansas, as well as Florida State. The Seminoles will provide the Irish with their first look of the year at ACC competition.
The Irish enter the Crooked Stick Intercollegiate coming off a 7th place finish at the Fighting Irish Gridiron Golf Classic, their sole home tournament of the year.
The two-day 54-hole Crooked Stick Invitational begins Monday at 8:45 a.m. The first two rounds will be played Monday, with the final 18 holes slated for Tuesday.
Contact A.J. Godeaux at
agodeaux@nd.edu
