Nov. 10, 2004

The University of Dayton men's golf team polished their tools and worked on their game this fall to prepare for their upcoming spring season. The Flyers posted two top 5 finishes, with their best being second place at the Dayton Fall Invitational.

The UD men were lead this Fall Senior Brett Gould (Dayton, OH) who averaged 74 strokes per round and had his career low round of 69 and tournament score of 6-under par at the EKU Colonial Classic. Sophomore Sam Morton (Centerville, OH) posted the men's highest tournament finish this year, placing tied for fourth at the UD Fall Invitational.

The Flyers started off the fall season at The John Piper classic in Bowling Green, OH on September 13th and 14th finishing the tournament with a total three-round score of 911 (+47) and placing 14th. Recovering from a rocky start, Gould led the flyers with a score of 10-over par and a 34th place finish individually.

Next for the Flyers was the Eastern Kentucky Colonial Classic on September 24th and 25th, which showcased career highlights for Gould and Junior Adam Myers (Franklin, OH) as well as a good overall showing by the team. Gould shot his career best round of 69, finishing 6-under par for the tournament and coming in 7th place. Myers shot his career best 72 in the third round, posting an overall score 225 (+9). Seniors Tim Skufka (Chardon. OH) and Bill Everding (St. Louis, MO) carried the team as well, shooting 220 (+4) and 222 (+6) respectively. As a team UD finished 12-over and in 7th place out of the 12 teams in the tourney. Gould's outstanding play earned him the Atlantic 10 player of the week honors, as well as being named the UD male athlete of the week.

Following the EKU Classic, the men returned home for action, hosting the Dayton Fall Invitational at NCR Country Club on October 4th. Being at home really paid off for the Flyers as they garnered a second place finish, their highest finish of the fall. As a team, UD shot a one-round score of 312 (+28). The hometown favorite was Morton who led the UD men with a one-round score of 75 (+4), which was tied for fourth place out of 24 golfers in the men's field. Morton's 75 was only 5 strokes off the tournament champion Brian Stuard from Oakland, who shot a 70 (-1) on the grueling 7,055-yard championship South Course in windy conditions. Annually one of Golf Digest's Top 100 Courses, NCR Country Club will host the 2005 U.S. Men's Senior Open in July. It was the site of the 1969 PGA Open won by Raymond Floyd and the 1986 U.S. Women's Open won by Jane Geddes.

The Dayton Men returned to action one week later on the 11th and 12th at the Ironhorse Intercollegiate in Tuscola, IL. In not one of the better tournaments, the Flyers recovered from a first round 315, to finish with 313 and 310 in the final two rounds to finish in 7th place out of 9 teams. Dayton's best finisher was Gould who finished 11 strokes over par and tied for 9th place. Gould followed up his 72 with a 74 in the second round and third-round 81 to shoot 227 for the two-day tournament. His 227 overall, was eight strokes off the tournament medallist, Josh Brown from Bradley University who posted a 3-over par 219.

The men finished things up October 25th and 26th at the F&M Bank Intercollegiate hosted by Austin Peay State University. Myers (Franklin, OH) led the Flyers to a 15th place finish, finishing 3-over par in three tough rounds at the par-72 Links of Novadell in Hopkinsville, KY. Battling through bad weather conditions, the Flyers put forth a tough effort in their final tournament of the fall season. Myers finished the tournament tied for 34th place +3 (219), shooting par in his second round. As a team total, UD posted a three-round score of 889, 47 strokes behind the host team the Governors, who won the Trophy.

The University of Dayton men's golf team will continue play in the spring, when their season resumes. Coach Smith and the men put forth a strong effort in the fall and look to make their mark in the Atlantic 10 conference when the new season begins.