Bulldogs In Solid Position At Notre Dame Golf Tournament
9/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 27, 2010
Complete 36-Hole Results in PDF Format 
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Gonzaga University's men's golf team finds itself in 10th place after 36 holes of the fifth annual Fighting Irish Gridiron Golf Classic Monday, but the Bulldogs are within striking distance of moving well up the leaderboard with a solid performance in Tuesday's final 18 holes.
The Bulldogs put together rounds of 299-297 for a 36-hole total of 596 over the 7,023-yard, par 72 Warren Golf Course on the University of Notre Dame campus. But the Bulldogs are only six shots out of a tie for seventh and seven shots out of sixth.
The University of Iowa, ranked 15th in the country according to the latest Golfstat rankings, and the 41st-ranked and host Fighting Irish are tied for the lead at 567, good for a 10-stroke cushion over 32nd-ranked University of San Francisco.
Spokane freshman Peter Gullickson continued his solid play in his rookie season of collegiate golf, shooting 71-74 for a 145 and a tie for 18th. Senior Kyle Huus and sophomore Travis Johnsen each shot 149 for a tie for 33rd, Huus with a 77-72 and Johnsen a 74-75.
Tom Usher of Notre Dame and Taylor Travis of USF are tied for the individual lead at 1-under 139 for a 1-shot lead over a trio of golfers.
"The course played tough today with the leading teams at 7-over after 36 holes," Gonzaga head coach Robert Gray said. "The greens are small and the rough is deep so there's a premium on keeping it in the fairway and hitting greens."
Gray said his squad adapted to the course and "overall did a pretty good job of keeping it in play and giving ourselves a chance to post some good numbers. We had a couple of hiccups that would've gotten us closer to moving up the board for tomorrow, but overall we hung in there."
The Bulldogs did a better job of finding their putting touch, according to Gray, and Gullickson continues to play well.
"We finally made some putts today, which we've struggled with during the first two events. Peter played solid all day and struck the ball more consistently than the first two events. He continues to learn more each week," Gray noted.
Gullickson was complemented by Johnsen to give the Bulldogs a solid one-two punch.
"Travis played a solid first round even though he didn't hit the ball very well. He ended up 4-over with a quadruple bogey on his 17th hole in the first round. Kyle bounced back the second round with a 72, following his opening round of 77, which included a triple bogey."
In addition to Iowa, UND and USF the tournament also features 46th-ranked College of Charleston, which trails the Bulldogs by two strokes in 11th, and 50th-ranked University of Missouri, sixth at 589.
