Weekly Release #5: Wolverines Close Fall at Bridgestone
10/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Mon-Tue., Oct. 27-28 -- at Bridgestone Intercollegiate (Greensboro, N.C.)
Live Tournament Stats
Next on the Tee
After nearly two weeks away from competition, the University of Michigan men's golf team will close out the fall portion of its schedule with a trip to Wilmington, N.C., Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 27-28, for the 2008 Bridgestone Intercollegiate. The 54-hole event, featuring a 14-team field, will be played at the Forest Oaks Country Club. The tournament will begin with 36 holes on Monday with a final 18 on Tuesday. Scoring for the Bridgestone will be five players; count the low four scores each round. The Wolverines will be paired Mississippi State and Notre Dame for the first 36 holes. The Forest Oaks Country Club will be set up for a par 72 and 7,197 yards.
The Tournament Field
There will be 14 schools participating in the Bridgestone Intercollegiate: Duke, Eastern Michigan, Louisville, Maryland, Memphis, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, UNC Greensboro, Notre Dame, Pepperdine, South Alabama and Toledo.
The Tournament Schedule
| Sunday, Oct. 26 | Practice Round - teams playing throughout the day |
| Monday, Oct. 27 | First round (18) begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. |
| Second round (18) will be a continuous play following the first round | |
| Tuesday, Sept. 28 | Final round (18) begins with a tee times at 8:30 a.m. |
The Tournament Lineup
The Wolverines will carry a five-man roster at the Bridgestone Intercollegiate: sophomore Lion Kim(Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary Prep School), senior co-captain Nick Pumford(St. Charles, Mich./St. Charles HS), senior co-captain Bill Rankin(Traverse City, Mich./Central HS), junior Ross Millman(St. Louis, Mo./Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School) and sophomore Alexander Sitompul(Jakarta, Indonesia/Bradenton Prep Academy). Freshman Matt Thompson(Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview HS) will travel as an individual.
Last Time on the Course
The Wolverines tallied a 908 54-hole total and closed with a 12th-place showing at The Prestige (Oct. 13-14) played at the Greg Norman Course on PGA WEST. Lion Kim paced the way for the Wolverines, closing tied for 25th with a 225 tally. Nick Pumford used a final-round one-under 71 to finish tied for 30th with a 227 total, while Matt Thompson tied for 54th in his first collegiate start with a 231 total.
Senior Leadership
With U-M relying on the backbone of Nick Pumford and Bill Rankin this season, U-M has won two of its four fall tournaments. The co-captain duo has posted nine of the Wolverines' 22 rounds at or below par and finished as the top U-M individual in three out of four events this season. Pumford leads U-M with a 72.92 scoring average, with Rankin is just behind, shooting 73.42 per round.
Longevity Continuing
With his expected start at the 2008 Bridgestone Intercollegiate, Bill Rankin will make it 29 straight events as a Wolverine starter. He has yet to miss a start in the last three years. Throughout his career, he has played in 35 career events, with 32 starts.
Seeing Red
So far this season, the Wolverines have posted 22-of-81 rounds at or below par this season with 17 of those rounds attributed to the starting five. Nick Pumford leads with five out of his 12 rounds at or below par. As a team, U-M has three team rounds at or below par, including a U-M record-tying nine-under 275 in the second round of the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate, Sept. 13-14. Overall, U-M is averaging below par with a 292.17 team average.
Mr. Consistent
So far this season, Lion Kim has started all four events and has not shot a round above 76 the entire season. He is averaging 73.25 strokes with three rounds at or below par -- including a season-best two-under 69 in the second round of the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate. He has three top-25 finishes in his four events this season.
Getting the First Start
After two straight impressive individual performances, Matt Thompson earned his first career start at the 2008 Prestige (Oct. 13-14). In that start he got off to a slow start, posting an 82, only to come back with a two-under 70 for his fourth red number of the season. He closed with a 79 for a 231 total and a tie for 54th individually. This season, Thompson has posted two top-20 finishes after tying for 14th at the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate and finishing 18th at the 2008 Windon Memorial Classic. He shot a career-best three-under 68 in his first collegiate round at the Wolverine Intercollegiate. He is averaging 73.22 strokes per round.
Etching Name as Full Time Starter
Ross Millman has started all four tournaments of the season after playing in just two total events during his first two years at U-M. He has posted two top-25 finishes and posted a career best for a single-round tally with his two-under 69 in the second round of the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate, which helped him to a 213 (74-69-70) -- a career-best for a 54-hole tournament. He is averaging 74.67 strokes per round.
PLAYER-BY-PLAYER NOTABLES
Senior Nick Pumford
Named team captain, along with Bill Rankin
Has played in 23 career tournaments, with 19 starts
Averaging a career-best 72.92 strokes per round in final season
Posted a team-best five rounds this season at or below par
Shot a career-best five-under 66 in the first round of the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Posted a career-best-tying 209 (66-70-73) 54-hole total at the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Career Stroke Average: 75.25
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - none ... 36-hole tournament total - 149 (75-74) at the 2007 Boilermaker Invitational ... 54-hole tournament total - four-under 209 (67-71-71) at the 2006 Wolverine Intercollegiate and four-under 209 (66-70-73) at 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate ... 72-hole tournament C 308 (77-77-78-76) at the 2008 Big Ten Championships
Senior Bill Rankin
Named team captain, along with Nick Pumford
Has played in 35 career tournaments, with 32 starts
Started 28 straight tournaments for U-M - has not missed a start in three years
Averaging a career-best 73.42 strokes per round in final season
Posted a season-best 211 (72-69-70) 54-hole total at the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Won two career individual titles -- 2007 Purdue Midwest Shootout and the 2008 Maxwell
Shot a career-best four-under 66 in the second round of the 2008 Maxwell
Career Stroke Average: 75.13
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament total - one-under 71 at the 2007 Purdue Midwest Shootout ... 36-hole tournament total - 152 (77-75) at the 2006 Pinehurst Intercollegiate ... 54-hole tournament total - eight-under 202 (67-66-69) at the 2008 Maxwell -- U-M Record ... 72-hole tournament total - three-under 285 (69-75-71-70) at the 2008 Big Ten Championships
Junior Billy McKay
Has played in 13 career tournaments, with nine starts
Played as an individual at the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate, tying for 77th
Averaging 76.22 strokes in third season
Posted a season-best 227 (80-74-73) 54-hole total at the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Shot a career-best one-under 69 in the third round of the 2006 Nike Purdue Kiahuna Collegiate Invitational (Nov. 22-23)
Career Stroke Average: 76.22
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament total - 77 at the 2007 Purdue Midwest Shootout ... 36-hole tournament total - 153 (76-77) at 2007 Robert Kepler Intercollegiate ... 54-hole tournament total - even-par 216 (72-71-73) at the 2006 Pinehurst Intercollegiate... 72-hole tournament total - 314 (74-82-79-79) at the 2007 Big Ten Championships
Junior Ross Millman
Has played in six career tournaments, with four starts
Started all four events of the season, had first career start at the 2008 Wolf Run Intercollegiate
Posted first top-20 finish, tying for 16th at 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Averaging a career-best 74.67 strokes per round in third season, which is two strokes better than previous best (76.67)
Shot a career-best 69 in the second round of the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Posted a career-best 213 (74-69-70) 54-hole total at the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Career Stroke Average: 76.11
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - none ... 36-hole tournament - none ... 54-hole tournament total - 213 (74-69-70) at the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate ... 72-hole tournament - none
Junior Michael Slovitt
Has played in four career events -- all as an individual
Played in one event this season, posting first career top-20 finish, tying for 14th, posting a career-best 212 (75-69-68) 54-hole total at 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Averaging 70.67 strokes per round in third season
Shot a career-best three-under 68 in the third round of the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Career Stroke Average: 76.83
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - none ... 36-hole tournament - none ... 54-hole tournament total - 212 (75-69-68) at the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate ... 72-hole tournament - none
Junior David Weisfeld
Has played in three career events - all as an individual
Played in one event this season, tying for 69th at 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Averaging 75.00 strokes per round in second competitive season
Posted a season-best 225 (74-77-74) 54-hole total at the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Shot a career-best 72, two times -- the 2007 Wolverine at Mission Inn (second) and 2008 Missouri Tiger Intercollegiate (second)
Career Stroke Average: 75.78
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - none ... 36-hole tournament - none ... 54-hole tournament total - 224 (75-72-77) at the 2007 Wolverine at Mission Inn ... 72-hole tournament - none
Walked onto the Michigan program after taking freshman year off to concentrate on academics ... former roommate of Billy McKay at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy
Sophomore Lion Kim
Has played in 17 career tournaments, with 16 starts
Averaging 73.25 strokes per round in second season
Posted three rounds this season at or below par
Posted a season-best 214 (74-69-71) 54-hole total at 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Shot a career-best four-under 68 in the second round of the 2008 Puerto Rico Classic
Career Stroke Average: 75.02
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament of 74 at 2007 Purdue Midwest Shootout ... 36-hole tournament - none ... 54-hole tournament total of three-under 213 (76-68-69) at the 2008 Puerto Rico Classic ... 72-hole tournament total of 303 (77-76-75-75) at the 2008 Big Ten Championships
Named Big Ten Golfer of the Week (March 5) after setting a career-best 54-hole tournament total (213, -3) at 2008 Puerto Rico Classic
Given name is Jun Min Kim, but goes by "Lion" which is a nickname given to him by his parents
Sophomore Alexander Sitompul
Has played in 14 career tournaments, with 13 starts
Averaging 73.22 strokes per round in second season
Posted a season-best 213 (70-68-75) 54-hole total at 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Shot a career-best four-under 67 in the first round of the 2007 Windon Memorial Classic
Career Stroke Average: 74.00
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - 80 at 2007 Purdue Midwest Shootout ... 36-hole tournament - none ... 54-hole tournament total - four-under 212 (74-70-68) at the 2007 Prestige ... 72-hole tournament total - 308 (74-76-80-78) at the 2008 Big Ten Championships
Freshman Alex Frankel
Played as an individual in two events this season
Made collegiate debut as individual at the 2008 Wolf Run Intercollegiate, tying for 42nd
Averaging 75.83 strokes per round in first season
Shot a career-best 74 in the second and third rounds of the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - none 36-hole tournament - none ... 54-hole tournament total - 223 (75-74-74) at the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate ... 72-hole tournament total - none
Freshman Matt Thompson
Has played in three events, with one start
Made collegiate debut as individual at the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate, tying for 14th
Started first collegiate tournament at the 2008 Prestige
Averaging 73.22 strokes per round in first season
Shot a career-best three-under 68 in the first round of the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Posted four rounds this season at or below par
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - none 36-hole tournament - none ... 54-hole tournament total - 212 (68-72-72) at the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate ... 72-hole tournament total - none
Upcoming Schedule
Sun-Tue., Feb. 8-10 -- at Big Ten Match Play (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
