Oct. 14, 2008

Final Results
Photo Gallery 

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's golf team continued its stellar play today, posting the second-best team score of the day, en route to an overall tie for eighth at The Prestige, held at the Greg Norman course at PGA WEST in La Quinta, Calif. MSU finished the two days at 36-over par 900 (327-290-283).

The Spartans finished the first round yesterday in 16th place, but responded to shoot three-under par as a team over the final 36 holes to move up the final leaderboard. The turnaround began with a second round two-over par 290 on Monday afternoon, after an opening round 39-over par 327 in the morning, and improved even more today as MSU posted a five-under par 283. Over the final 36 holes, the Spartans carded the third-best team total, behind only champion TCU and runner-up UC Davis.

Junior Jack Newman posted his best round of the tournament, scoring a two-under par 70 in today's final round to move him up into a tie for 15th. Newman eagled the par-5, second hole today for the second time in three rounds, having birdied it in the second round. He finished the two days with eight birdies and two eagles. It was Newman's third top-20 finish in four events this season and the 11th in his career.

Sophomore Payne Gniewek had another solid round, coming in at even-par 72 today to finish in a tie for 20th at seven-over par 223 (81-70-72). Gniewek has now matched his total of two top-20 finishes from last season, in only four tournaments. He led the team this week with 13 birdies, including birdieing the par-5, second hole in every round. In addition, he played the par-5's at six-under par.

Senior Jordan Ensrud moved up 15 spots today with an even-par 72, to finish the tournament at 15-over par 231 (86-73-72) and in a tie for 54th. Ensrud, who had only one birdie in the first round, posted eight in the final 36 holes, including the last three holes of today's final round. Sophomore Graham Baillargeon ended the tournament in a tie for 63rd at 16-over 232 (85-73-74), after today's two-over par 74. Senior Randy Hutchison posted the best Spartan round of the tournament with a three-under 69, one of nine rounds today in the 60s. Hutchison concluded play at 20-over 236 (84-83-69) and in a tie for 76th.

UC Davis' Nate Pistacchio and TCU's Johan de Beer tied for the individual title at six-under par.

The Spartans return to the links on Monday, Oct. 27 for the two-day UNCG Bridgestone in Greensboro, N.C.