February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By John Manley
Gr’me McDowell’s three-over-par 74 in the final round of the NCAA Div. I Men’s Golf Championship cost him the individual title. The Alabama-Birmingham junior from Portrush, Co. Antrim, had the lead after three rounds on the strength of consecutive rounds of 67. But his 74 in Saturday’s final round left him tied for fourth place, three strokes behind the medalist, Georgia Tech’s Troy Matteson. The event was played at Ohio State’s Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio.
A report on Golfweek.com said that McDowell, who played in last year’s Walker Cup, will forsake his final year of eligibility to turn professional.
UAB took 27th place in the 30-team scramble, which was won by Minnesota. The victory was especially sweet for the Gophers, as the school had earlier this year intended to eliminate the program in a cost-cutting measure. That action was rescinded and their program is safe for the foreseeable future.
Toledo, which featured a trio of Irish golfers, tied for 14th place. David Jones, a junior from Derry, tied for 46th place at 288 (70-71-71-76). Senior Alan Murray, from Bray, Co. Wicklow, tied for 97th place at 295 (72-71-74-78). Sean McTernan, a junior from Sligo, tied for 111th position at 297 (75-73-74-75).
Kent State’s Martina Gillen tied for 13th place in the NCAA Div. I Women’s Championship, played at the Washington National Golf Club in Auburn, Wash. The sophomore from Dublin was three over par for 72 holes at 291 (74-74-70-73). Gillen played as an individual, as Kent did not qualify in the regionals. Duke’s Virada Nirapathpongpom was low woman at 279.
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Track and Field
Providence College’s Roisin McGettigan finished eighth in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Div. I Championships. McGettigan, a junior from Wicklow, ran the course in 10:08.24. The winner was Brigham Young’s Michaela Manova, who broke the tape in 9:45.94.