Sep 9, 2013
INDEPENDENCE, Minn. - The Penn State men's golf squad concluded play at the Gopher Invitational Monday, posting an 875 (292-289-294) and an eighth place finish after 54 holes.
Sophomore JD Dornes (Lancaster, Pa.) finished tied-for-tenth overall, leading the Nittany Lions in the opener of their 2013-14 campaign. Dornes marked a career best three-round score with his 1-over 214 tally.
"JD Dornes played one heck of a tournament," head coach Greg Nye said. "What a lift he gave us. He put us in a position to move up in the field with two or three more low scores."
Junior Xander McDonald-Smith (Rockaway Park, N.Y.) shot a 71 in the final round of the tournament to bring his total to 218, matching his career best 54-hole score. McDonald-Smith improved from 27th place to finish tied-for-19th individually.
Sophomore Chris Houston (Gilford, N.H.) posted a 221 three-round total and finished tied-for-30th. One stroke behind Houston was junior Jens Talbert (Little Rock, Ark.) who placed tied-for-35th.
Sophomore Geoff Vartelas (Cromwell, Conn.) improved his standing by two places on Monday, shooting his tournament-best round of 75 on the final 18 holes. Vartelas finished with a 236 overall.
"It was a top field of teams and the guys hung in there, turning some average starts into quality rounds," said Nye.
New Mexico held on to its first place position at the Gopher Invitational to earn the 2013 tournament championship. Trialing New Mexico by 6 strokes was Baylor, who finished second overall.
Kent State's Corey Conners earned the individual win at the Windsong Farm Golf Club. His 7-under 206 edged California's Brandon Hagy by only one stroke.
Penn State will resume fall play at the University of Michigan for the Wolverine Intercollegiate Sept. 16-17.