Oct. 13, 2008

Xavier Invitational -- First/Second Round Results (PDF)

LOVELAND, Ohio -- Marquette senior Mike Van Sickle carries a two-stroke lead into Tuesday's final round while the Golden Eagles sit in third place to complete day one of the 20-team Xavier Invitational on Monday. MU will need to make up some ground at the Oasis Golf Club in order to successfully defend its 2007 team title, while Van Sickle is in position to add to his school record seven collegiate victories.

Van Sickle carded a collegiate-low, eight-under-par 64 as Marquette boasted a share of the lead through 18 holes. He moved to 12-under for the tournament with a 68 in round two. Van Sickle is currently two strokes ahead of Jessie Massie of Eastern Kentucky and Toledo's Nathan Wine.

If Van Sickle shoots par or better on Tuesday, he will also set a collegiate best score for a 54-hole event. As a junior, he finished with a 205 after three rounds at the Pacific Invitational. Red shirt sophomore Ben Sieg was the only other MU player to shoot below par Monday with a one-under 71 in the first round.

The par-72, 6,921-yard Oasis Golf Club has yielded three of the lowest scores in Marquette team event history. Michael Bielawski shot a school record 63 at the course in 2003 and senior Dustin Schwab tallied a 65 en route to a ninth pl ace finish at last year's event won by the Golden Eagles.

With a team score of 568 (282-286), Marquette is chasing second place Campbell (563) and first place Eastern Kentucky (560). The Golden Eagles will also need to watch their backs, however, as five schools -- Winthrop (570), Marshall (571), Austin Peay (572), Ball State (572) and Akron (573) are all within five strokes.

Live scoring is not available for this week's event. Results will be posted to GoMarquette.com as soon as they are available.

Xavier Invitational
First and Second Rounds
Loveland, Ohio
Oasis Golf Club
Par 72, 6,921 yards

MU Individuals
1) Mike Van Sickle 132 (64-68)
T35) Dustin Schwab 145 (73-72)
T35) Ben Sieg 145 (71-74)
T50) Kelly Kretz (74-73)
T77) Matt Haase (78-73)

Team Standings
1) Eastern Kentucky 560 (282-278)
2) Campbell 563 (288-275)
3) Marquette 568 (282-286)
4) Winthrop 570 (286-284)
5) Marshall 571 (284-287)
6) Austin Peay 572 (295-277)
6) Ball State 572 (293-279)
8) Akron 573 (286-287)
9) Bowling Green 574 (285-289)
10) Xavier 575 (288-287)
11) Toledo 578 (296-282)
12) San Francisco 579 (287-292)
13) West Florida 585 (297-288)
14) Maryland 586 (294-292)
14) Princeton 586 (303-283)
16) Georgetown 592 (288-304)
16) Ohio 592 (295-297)
18) George Washington 594 (307-287)
19) Cincinnati 597 (306-291)
20) Towson 599 (309-290)