Michigan
Puerto Rico Classic
Schaetzel Leads Wolverines at Puerto Rico Classic
2/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -- With 10 of the top 25 nationally ranked teams among the field, including four of the top five, the University of Michigan men's golf team opened its spring season with a 17th-place showing Tuesday (Feb. 27) at the prestigious Puerto Rico Classic at the River Course in Westin Rio Mar Country Club. The Maize and Blue closed with a 54-hole tournament total of 904; Michigan descended each of its team totals with a 304, 303 and final round 297.
For the sixth straight tournament, junior Tim Schaetzel (Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) led the Wolverines; he shared the team lead with freshman Billy McKay (Grand Blanc, Mich./David Leadbetter Golf Academy). Both Wolverines tied for 61st with 225 tournament totals. Schaetzel opened the tournament with an even-par 72 and followed with a 77 in the second round. In the final round, he birdied two of his last four holes to close with a 76 and a 225 total. McKay adjusted each round after opening with an 80. In the second round he posted a two-over 74 and closed with a one-under 71.
Senior Kevin Dore (Dundas, Ontario, Canada/St. Mary's) closed the opening spring tournament tied for 70th with a 228 total. After opening with a three-over 75, Dore slipped back in the second round with a 79. In the final round, he tallied his tournament best two-over 74 after an eagle on his final hole.
Other Wolverine finishes: Sophomore Bill Rankin (Traverse City, Mich./Central HS) tied for 73rd with a 229 total after rounds of 77 and back-to-back 76s; sophomore Nick Pumford (St. Charles, Mich./St. Charles HS), who battled illness much of the second and third rounds, tied for 88th with a 241 total after rounds of 82, 76 and 83.
No. 5 Georgia took home the team title with a 14-under 850 tournament total, posting rounds of 279, 277 and 294. No. 12 Clemson (283-284-284) and No. 2 Stanford (281-279-291) closed tied for the runner-up spot at 13-under 851. Georgia Tech's Roberto Castro (68-70-71) and Stanford's Joseph Bramlett (69-67-73) tied for medalist honors with seven-under 209 totals. Oklahoma State's Jonathan Moore (68-72-70) and East Tennessee State Rhys Davies (65-73-72) were third at 210).
Michigan, which will stay in Puerto Rico to train until Friday, has the next three weeks to prep for its next tournament action when the Wolverines head to Pinehurst, N.C., Sunday-Tuesday, March 18-20, for the Pinehurst Intercollegiate. The 54-hole tournament will be played at the prestigious Pinehurst Golf Resort, No. 8.
Team Standings
1. Georgia 279-277-294 = 850 (-14)
2. Clemson 283-284-284 = 851
Stanford 281-279-291 = 851
4. Alabama 284-283-288 = 855
5. East Tennessee State 273-290-293 = 856
6. Oklahoma State 282-295-285 = 862
7. Minnesota 288-284-292 = 864
8. Georgia Tech 287-287-291 = 865
9. Florida 294-283-290 = 867
10. Virginia Tech 294-293-291 = 878
11. Texas 288-293-301 = 882
12. Duke 284-297-303 = 884
13. Kent State 287-297-306 = 890
14. Northwestern 289-296-309 = 894
15. Purdue 294-305-300 = 899
16. Illinois 297-293-310 = 900
17. MICHIGAN 304-303-297 = 904
18. North Carolina State 297-308-305 = 910
Top Individuals
1. Roberto Castro, Georgia Tech 68-70-71 = 209 (-7)
Joseph Bramlett, Stanford 69-67-73 = 209
3. Jonathan Moore, Oklahoma State 68-72-70 = 210
Rhys Davies, ETSU 65-73-72 = 210
5. Hudson Swafford, Georgia 70-70-71 = 211
Matthew Swan, Alabama 69-69-73 = 211
Brendon Todd, Georgia 68-68-75 = 211
8. Tanner Ervin, Clemson 70-73-69 = 212
Sam Saunders, Clemson 69-70-73 = 212
10. Kyle Stanley, Clemson 71-73-69 = 213
Brian Harman, Georgia 71-69-73 = 213
Michigan Individuals
T61. Tim Schaetzel 72-77-76 = 225 T61. Billy McKay 80-74-71 = 225 T70. Kevin Dore 75-79-74 = 228 T73. Bill Rankin 77-76-76 = 229 T88. Nick Pumford 82-76-83 = 241
Q U O T E S
Michigan coach Andrew Sapp
On the opening spring tournament ... "I was very happy to see that we improved with each round. We battled every round. We were only one shot better from the first to the second round, but I felt with the way the course was playing nearly a half shot harder, we really concentrated and made better decisions and shots. In the third round, we just continued to make solid golf decisions and we posted a solid final round tally. To pass one team on the final day was good to see, but we were disappointed not to be able to catch some of the other teams ahead of us. We were six shots away from passing some Big Ten programs. Overall, it was a good start to the spring season."
On playing in such a prestigious tournament to open the spring ... "We know coming into a tournament like this we are at a disadvantage. There are about seven or eight teams who have been able to practice a lot more than we have. But our mindset is to come down here and to beat the Midwest schools that are on equal footing as we are. If we then get a couple of victories over some other southern schools that makes it even better."
On the play of Tim Schaetzel and Billy McKay ... "For Tim he got off to a good start, even despite having a load of putts in the first round. In the second and third rounds, he played well and just got caught with a couple of trouble stretches that hurt his score. He birdied two of his last four holes of the tournament so he closed strong. Hopefully that will carry over to the next tournament. For Billy, to go from an 80 to 71, with a 74 in the middle, shows that he was improving tremendously. After starting with a horrendous score, he proved he can adjust and really score in tough conditions. I am very pleased with the way he played."
N O T E S
• With his start at the Puerto Rico Classic (Feb. 25-27), Tim Schaetzel has started in the last 23 tournaments for the Maize and Blue. In 26 career tournaments, Schaetzel has 25 starts.
• Tim Schaetzel, Kevin Dore and Bill Rankin have started all seven tournaments this season.
• Tim Schaetzel has finished as the top Wolverine in his last six events.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
