Post-Event Quotes: Wolverine Intercollegiate
9/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Michigan Coach Andrew Sapp
On finishing off strong to win the 2005 Wolverine Intercollegiate ... "It was definitely harder today than it was yesterday. The hole locations were more difficult, but with that it was really good to get two guys shooting under par. To have a guy to win the tournament is just icing on the cake. So many different players played well during this tournament, but to have two guys in the top five and another in the top six is really a great way to finish. We even had some individuals play very well. It's definitely a good situation right now. We're excited. However, we have reality hitting us tomorrow. We have to work hard and prepare for Memphis now."
On getting the first win with the Wolverines ... "It's exciting. It's been a long journey. These guys have grown up a lot and they are really coming together. That is really exciting to see, but it is early. We didn't win the Big Ten championship today, but this is a great stepping stone. It is always great to win at home and hopefully, we will be able to continue this in the fall, throughout the winter and into the spring season."
On the leadership and play of Christian Vozza this weekend ... "It's tremendous. I am very happy for him and what he accomplished this weekend. He has been through a lot since he has been here. He has been a leader on and off the golf course for us. He has really helped others improve. That is what you want out of your leaders. It's good to have senior leadership, with him and Brandon (Duff) as well as Mark (McIntosh) and Jimmy (Wisinski) too. It's really nice to have guys who have been in the program for four years really stepping up."
On if having so many players play well right now, makes competition better for the starting spots ... "I think it has really helped the guys the last few weeks. There is a lot of competition for starting spots. They know they have to step it up to stay in it when they are there and even to get in it. The competition among the team is really the best thing to help your team improve. This year it has been something great to see. We have a lot of guys playing some fabulous rounds, even in practice. This weekend was just amazing golf. Especially for them to play well with the lead and lose only one shot in the final round is just tremendous."
Senior Christian Vozza
On his first tournament win ... "It is a great accomplishment for myself, but I am much more happy that we won this tournament as a team."
On summing up the weekend ... "It may be tough (to summarize the weekend). It's been an amazing experience. I am just so happy that our team won. It is such a huge confidence boost for us. Even the individuals, they still played some outstanding golf out there. It is just all clicking for us right now."
On finding that balance of closing out rounds ... "I think it all comes from within. Guys are just finding that confidence. Coming down the stretch they know they have to make a birdie to help us come out on top and we are doing that. That is a good feeling to know we can do and to know others are doing it and feeling it as well."
Sophomore Brian Ottenweller
On winning the 2005 Wolverine Intercollegiate at home ... "There is just a comfort level playing here (at the U-M Golf Course). We play it every day in practice and play in tournament settings during qualifying. So, we have a lot of tournament experience out here. It just feels good to see all of us take it low out there. We shot more 60s on our team than I have ever seen since I have been here. To come out and shoot 67 twice, and get the team rolling and build a lead was pretty cool yesterday."
On the confidence of this year's team ... "We believe in ourselves this year. We know and feel we are a good team. Everyone just has that feeling. It is just going through everyone. Everyone is confident. It's a feeling that if someone is playing poorly, you know someone will be there to back you up. Last year, when we started playing poorly, things just snowballed for us, and we all played poorly. But this year, hopefully, things will continue to go in reverse from that trend last year. We are playing well right now and we hope to keep that reversal going."
Sophomore Tim Schaetzel
On the 2005 Wolverine Intercollegiate finish ... "We're all real happy. We played great from top to bottom. Even the individuals put in some good rounds and it felt really good for me to play three straight rounds under par after struggling a few weeks back at Iowa."
On the confidence building throughout the weekend ... "We all got off to a really good start. I knew Brian (Ottenweller) played behind me on the first day and I knew he had gotten off to a really strong start and I was playing solid early and with everyone around even par or better through that first day I just think the confidence built. We knew if we could finish strong we could have a good round. We did that and had a good score in the morning, which catapulted us in the afternoon. Then today, we just maintained our composure and played well to finish strong again and win the tournament. We are all just really happy."
