Men's golf hits where it counts in Ohio

Jim Carras was right.

The Michigan men's golf team finished first in the Xavier Invitational yesterday, a feat predicted by Carras, Michigan's coach.

"This was one tournament that I thought we could win," Carras said. "The only way to get the competition's attention is to take No. 1. I was optimistic that we could do it."

The Wolverines took top honors at the King's Island Golf Course in Cincinnati, beating 19 other schools and showing strong individual talent.

The team led the 56-hole tournament with rounds of 929-281-292 for a total of 865. Marshall was a close second with 867, followed by Notre Dame, which shot 872.

"There were very strong teams in this tournament. Notre Dame and Miami of Ohio are playing extremely well this year. This was no easy task," Carras said.

Four of the five Michigan golfers placed in the top 15. Andy Matthews took 7th place, Michael Harris earned 10th and Mike Affeldt and Andrew Chapman tied for 13th. Scott Hayes followed with a 70th-place finish.

"We had a very solid performance, the numbers are there," Carras said. "I can't be more happy, it was a great tournament."

Matthews, the sophomore battling in the No. 2 slot, stood out for the Wolverines. He shot a team best score of 214.

"I'm just out to shoot the best score I can," Matthews said. "If that puts me as the low man of the tournament, great. If I shoot low, but the other guys beat me, and I rank fifth, that's okay, also. It's a team effort as long as everyone shoots well.

"We're all so excited. We had a good feeling going in."

Harris, shooting a 216, was followed by Affeldt and Chapman (218). Hayes finished with a 231.

"We went out this weekend and proved to everyone that this is what we're capable of," said Harris, who placed second in the team rankings, not his usual first.

"About Andy beating me - I'm not concerned. I would like to see all the guys beat my score and start winning our tournaments.

"We knew we had talent, but yesterday we showed it."

The only other Big Ten schools in the tournament, Iowa and Indiana, placed fifth and ninth, respectively.

Course conditions, which were a wet, soggy mess on Monday turned pleasant yesterday as the sun came out and temperatures ranged in the seventies. Wind continued to hamper the golfers, however Carras said it didn't have a profound effect on the Wolverines.

The win marks the first tournament in which Michigan has won in three years.

The Wolverines hung on for the victory after holding a slim lead for all of yesterday.

"The fact that the guys hung in there takes a special quality," Carras said. "It's easy to let a lead get away from you. There is a lot of pressure on the individual to not screw up the team's score. They held on for the victory. This win was truly a team effort."

10-13-99