The men's golf team experienced lots of bad luck this weekend, so perhaps it is fitting that the Blue Devils finished 13th at the Inverness Invitational, a collegiate golf tournament held at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Oh.
Duke shared the unlucky finish with Northwestern, logging 316-306-302=924 for the three-round, two-day tournament. The only team below the Blue Devils was Notre Dame, who tallied an abysmal 934.
UCLA won the team title with a scanty 886, beating runner-up Kansas State by 10 strokes. Bruins star John Merrick won the individual title with a 71-74-71=216 performance.
"The shortcomings this weekend were hard to pinpoint," Duke senior Mike Castleforte said. "It just worked out that everyone played badly at the same time."
Castleforte's play was the closest thing to a bright spot for the ill-starred Duke squad. The Ohio native shot a 78-73-74 to tie for thirteenth overall. Sophomore Ryan Blaum cooled off on Saturday after a competent 73-76 Friday, shooting a 227 over three rounds.
Nate Smith, Alex Wilson and David French shot 235, 239 and 243, respectively.
The tournament started out badly for coach Rod Myers' squad, with the vestiges of Hurricane Isabel causing 20 mph winds on the course. The Blue Devils were in 12th after two rounds Friday.
"Obviously our main goal coming in was to win," Castleforte said. "But after the way we began, with that horrendous start, we were just trying to move up."
Duke was unable to do so. Despite perfect weather on Saturday, the Blue Devils dropped a spot and finished well below their initial hopes.
One reason for the drop on Saturday was Blaum's 78, which dropped him from ninth to 24th in the individual standings.
"It's disappointing, but we have to remember that it's early in the season," Castleforte said.
The next challenge for the Blue Devils will be the Carpet Capitol Classic in Dalton, Ga. October 3-5.
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