BIG EAST MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Van Sickle leads Marquette to runner-up finish

The Marquette University golf team rallied from a 22-stroke deficit to finish second Tuesday at the Big East Men's Golf Championship, five strokes behind tournament champion Louisville, at Lake Jovita G&CC in Dade City, Fla.

MU carded a 15-under 273 for the final round of competition, the second lowest single-round total ever at Marquette. Marquette finished at 12-under 852 (292-287-273).

Starting the day tied for first with eventual medalist Adam Hadwin of Louisville, senior standout Mike Van Sickle made a double bogey on the fourth hole and was unable to recover, ending the day in a tie for second with two others. After making the turn at even-par for the day, Van Sickle was 3 under on the back through 17 before hitting his tee shot in a bunker on No. 18, effectively ending his shot at a comeback. Van Sickle finished at 6-under 210 (73-67-70).

Redshirt freshman Matt Haase opened they day by shooting a 34 on the front nine before making the turn with a scorching 6-under 30 on the back. He was able to climb the leaderboard and move into a tie for fifth place by converting birdies on five of the last six holes. Haase set a tournament record low round with his 64. He finished at 5-under 211 (73-74-64).

Senior Dustin Schwab and sophomore Kelly Kretz finished the tournament in 11th and 12th place, respectively. Schwab fired a final round 1-under-par 71, while Kretz was the only Golden Eagle on the day over par with a 2-over 74.

Sophomore Ben Sieg, who began the day tied for 41st, moved into a tie for 24th with a final round score of a 4-under 68.

BEU/MUSSATTO INVITATIONAL
UWGB men again led by Pearson

The Green Bay men's golf team went on the move in the second round of the Beu/Mussatto Invitational Tuesday, but inclement weather won out once again as the Phoenix, along with 15 other teams, played just 36 holes.

Play was halted in the third round Tuesday because windy conditions made the Harry Mussatto GC in Macomb, Ill., unplayable. The final results were determined using scores through the first 36 holes played Monday and Tuesday morning.

The Phoenix was knotted in a three-way tie for sixth after the first round, but thanks to a blistering hot 3-under 69 by Aaron Pearson, Green Bay moved up into fourth place in the 16-team field. The team finished 19 strokes behind champion South Dakota State at 43-over 619 (312-307).

Pearson, who was tied for 18th after Monday's first round, charged up to a tie for second place with a 2-over 146 (77-69). Pearson then claimed second place outright on a scorecard tiebreaker.

Tough conditions elevated scores among the tournament's 90 golfers. Brady Mork dropped to a tie for 25th after shooting 80 in the second round. He finished at 12-over 156 (76-80). Adam Austreng, however, moved up after a 5-over 77 put him in a tie for 41st (83-77–160).

Garrett Gosh (80-81) and Austin Ehlenfeldt (79-82) tied with five other golfers at 161. Chris Pural, who played as an individual, turned in a 174 (88-86) to tie for 82nd.

Green Bay will prepare for the 2009 Horizon League Championship April 27-28 in Lexington, Ky.