SJU Golf Races Back in 2nd Round at BIG EAST Tourney, Two Shots Off Pace; Svoboda Fires 67, Second-Best Single Round in Tournament History

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SJU Golf Races Back in 2nd Round at BIG EAST Tourney, Two Shots Off Pace; Svoboda Fires 67, Second-Best Single Round in Tournament History


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JAMAICA, N.Y. -- The St. Johns mens golf team fired a six-over par 286 in the second round and roared back to pull within two strokes of nationally-ranked Virginia Tech at the BIG EAST Championship, being held at the Metacomet Country Club in East Providence, Rhode Island. The two-day tournament started today with two 18-hole rounds, and will conclude on Sunday with 18 holes. The winner of the conference tournament receives an automatic bid to the 2001 NCAA Championship.

The Red Storm found themselves in fourth place, 13 shots off the Hokies pace, after shooting a 24-over par 304 in the first round.

Sophomore Andrew Svoboda (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) and junior Joe Saladino (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) led an inspired charge that saw the Red Storm pull to within two strokes of the lead.

St. Johns, ranked third in District II in the Mastercard Collegiate Rankings, will enter Sundays final day of play at 30-over par 590, just two strokes behind 24th-ranked Virginia Tech, who leads the six-team field at 28-over par 588. Seton Hall stands in third place at 38-over 598, followed by Georgetown (41-over par 601), Rutgers (44-over par 604) and Notre Dame (52-over par 612).

Svoboda, who won three tournaments during the year and is ranked 80th nationally, fired a tournament-best three-under par 67 in the second round. After a seven-over par 77 in the first round, Svoboda came back to shoot the second-best score ever in BIG EAST Tournament history. He is tied for second place at four-over par 144, one shot off the pace of Virginia Techs Brian Krusoe, who leads at three-over par 143.

Saladino shot a 12-over par 82 in the first round, but posted the teams second-best score of the second round, carding a one-over par 71. He stands in a tie for 16th place at 13-over par 153.

Sophomore Jesse Fitzgerald (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) is tied for seventh place at six-over par 146. He posted rounds of two-over par 72 and four-over par 74. Senior Andrew McKay (Collingwood, Ontario/Collegiate Institute) is tied for ninth place at seven-over par 147. Freshman Mike Smith is tied for 29th place at 25-over par 165.

Sundays final round will tee off at 8 a.m.