FERRIS STATE TAKES TOP TEAM HONORS AT FSU INVITATIONAL

Alex Balog came in third place to lead Ferris State to its own FSU Invitational title.

The Ferris State men's golf team started off the 2004 fall season on a successful note by capturing first-place team honors Friday (Sept. 17) at its 11-team FSU Invitational with a two-round plus nine over par 585-stroke total.

The "Gold" Bulldogs posted tourney bests in each round with a 296 score in opening-round play followed by a 289 in the afternoon's final-round action on the par 72, 6,645-yard Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, Mich.

Saginaw Valley State fired a 595 (+20) to finish runner up, three strokes in front of the Bulldogs' "Crimson" squad which shot a 599 (297-302--599, +23). Northwood Justin Holyszko claimed top medalist honors by defeating Adam Miller of Saginaw Valley State in a sudden-death playoff after both registered a regulation 141-stroke total (-3).

Pacing the FSU "Gold" team was sophomore Alex Balog, who turned in a third-place 144 score (72-72--144, E). Sophomore Jeff Carlson (75-72--147, +3) and senior Aaron Brown (76-71--147, +3) both tied for eighth place overall. Freshman Derek Shelburne (78-74--152, +8) was joined in a tie for 20th place by sophomore A.J. Balulis (73-79--152, +8).

Ferris' "Crimson" squad was led by junior Todd Griffin's seventh-place 146 (74-72--146, +2) while sophomore Kyle Mason carded a 10th-place tying 148 (76-72--148, +4). Junior Brett Hogen tied for 20th with Shelburne and Balulis by tallying a 152 (74-78--152, +8). Junior Derek Radley shot a 153 (73-80--153, +9) and tied for 24th. Sophomore Kyle Snell rounded out the scorers with a 36th-place tying 156 (76-80--156, +12) score.

Ferris State captured the tourney title for the first time since 2001 (April 28-29) when the Bulldogs tallied a 36-hole 563 score. FSU turned in a second-place effort in 2002 (Sept. 13-14) and finished third a season ago (Sept. 12-13).