Michigan
Bruce Fossum/TaylorMade Intercollegiate
Wolverines Place 11th at MSU to Close Regular Season
5/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's golf team closed out its regular season with an 11th place showing at the Bruce Fossum/TaylorMade Invitational today (Sunday, May 2) at Forest Akers West Course. With winds picking up and short periods of rain in the final round the Maize and Blue closed out with a 902 54-hole total after tallying back-to-back 297 team totals in Saturday's first 36 holes, followed by a 308 in today's final round.
For the sixth time this season, junior Christian Vozza (Traverse City, Mich./Grand Rapids Baptist) led the Wolverines as he garnered a top 25 finish as he tied for 24th with a 222 54-hole total. After opening with a three-over 75, he dropped two strokes with a one-over 73 in the second round. He closed out with a two-over 74 in the final round.
Fifth-year senior Rob Tighe (Traverse City, Mich./West HS) used a final round two-over 74 to move himself up 13 spots as he tied for 33rd with a 225 total. He opened with a one-over 73 in the first round and carded a three-over 75 in the second round. Freshman Tim Schaetzel (Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) started out on fire posting a career-best two-under 70 in the first round, but fell off the pace in the next 36 holes as he tallied rounds of 78 and 80 to give him a career-best-tying 228 total and a tie for 45th.
Other Wolverine totals included: sophomore Matt McLaughlin (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook HS), tied for 70th with a 234 (79-72-83) and freshman Brian Ottenweller (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central HS), tied for 74th with a 235 (81-74-80). Sophomore Kevin Dore (Dundas, Ontario/St. Mary's) played as an individual and tied for 67th with a 233 (80-76-77).
Minnesota used a four-under 284 final round to jump three spots to win the team title with a three-over 867 54-hole total. The Gophers had rounds of 292 and 291 in Friday's first two rounds. Illinois (292-293-285) and Xavier (287-283-300) both tied for the runner-up spot with an 870 total. In addition to the team title, Minnesota's Ben Greve used a six-under 66 final round to vault him from seventh to a first place tie with Indiana's Jeff Overton (68-67-75) with six-under 210 54-hole totals. Greve had rounds of 70 and 74 in the first 36-holes. Michigan State's Matt Harmon (70-72-71) and Xavier's Jason Kokrak (70-6-74) both tied for third with 213 totals.
With the regular season now completed, the Wolverines will switch gears to the postseason as they head to Madison, Wis., Friday through Sunday (May 6-8) for the 2005 Big Ten Championships at University Ridge. For the second year, the conference championship will be played as 54-holes. In the fall preview of the championships, the Northern Intercollegiate, held at University Ridge, the Maize and Blue finished sixth of the 13 teams with a season-best 886 total (299-287-300).
Team Standings
1. Minnesota 292-291-284 = 867 2. Illinois 292-293-285 = 870 Xavier 287-283-300 = 870 4. Michigan State 289-291-294 = 874 5. Northwestern 297-287-293 = 877 6. Indiana 290-293-298 = 881 7. Ball State 295-294-296 = 885 8. Ohio State 295-295-302 = 892 9. Eastern Michigan 292-306-296 = 894 10. Wisconsin 302-301-296 = 899 11. Michigan 297-297-308 = 902 12. Iowa 310-290-307 = 907 13. Toledo 304-306-301 = 911 14. Eastern Kentucky 305-298-316 = 919 15. Marshall 306-304-315 = 925
Top Individuals
1. Ben Greve, Minnesota 70-74-66 = 210 (-6) Jeff Overton, Indiana 68-67-75 = 210 3. Matt Harmon, Michigan State 70-72-71 = 213 Jason Kokrak, Xavier 70-69-74 = 213 5. Kyle Hosick, Illinois 73-73-68 = 214 David Merkow, Northwestern 77-70-67 = 214 7. Korey Mahoney, Eastern Michigan 75-73-69 = 217 Andy Pope, Xavier 68-76-73 = 217 Patrick Wilkes-Keier, Ball State 72-73-72 = 217 10. Chris Wilson, Northwestern 69-73-76 = 218 11. Garrett Chaussard, Illinois 72-76-71 = 219 Bronson LaCassie, Minnesota 70-78-71 = 219 Jaime Miller, Ohio State 72-74-73 = 219 Mike O'Neal, Illinois 78-71-70 = 219 Heath Peters, Indiana 69-74-76 = 219
Michigan Individual Scores
T24. Christian Vozza 75-73-74 = 222 T33. Rob Tighe 73-78-74 = 225 T45. Tim Schaetzel 70-78-80 = 228 T70. Matt McLaughlin 79-72-83 = 234 T74. Brian Ottenweller 81-74-80 = 235 T67. Kevin Dore 80-76-77 = 233* * played as an individual
Q U O T E S
Michigan Coach Andrew Sapp
On the weekend at the Fossum ... "I was really pleased with the way that we played the first day, even though we had to count a 79. But to get three goods scores, when we really have been only getting two all season was a really good sign. Today, Christian (Vozza) and Rob (Tighe) really hung in there, but we just had some bad play throughout the rest of the lineup. When you have three guys shoot in the 80s that is just not good. After the first day I was really pleased. In the final round, the wheels just came off for three of our guys.."
On how the Wolverines prep for Big Tens ... "We are done with classes, so that will give us an opportunity to play, practice and get our games in shape for next week. Hopefully, we will continue to shoot some better scores, like we did on the first day of this weekend, and maybe get four good scores instead of three. We need to keep working towards that."
On going back to University Ridge, where the Wolverines had success in the fall ... "Any time you go to a golf course where you've played well in the past is a good sign. It's a course that we are comfortable with and we know we can shoot some good scores there. So, it is definitely and positive and something we can look forward to. It's a great golf course and we played well there in the fall. Hopefully we can go there and play our best tournament of the year."
N O T E S
Tim Schaetzel's first round two-under 70 at the Bruce Fossum/TaylorMade Invitational (April 30-May 1) was a career-best single round tally. His prior best was a one-under 71 in the second round of the Furman Intercollegiate (March 25-27). With the career-best in East Lansing, it marks the third straight tournament he has lowered or tied a career best mark.
Tim Schaetzel's 54-hole tournament total of 228 at the Bruce Fossum/TaylorMade Invitational (April 30-May 1) tied his career-best mark. He set the total one tournament prior at the Boilermaker Invitational (April 16-17).
Christian Vozza, Kevin Dore, Rob Tighe and Brian Ottenweller are the only Wolverines to have played in all 10 tournaments this season.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
