Michigan
Big Ten Championships (Day 1)
Wolverines Tied for Eighth After 36 Holes of Big Ten Championships
5/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Site: State College, Pa.
Course: Penn State's Blue Course (par 71, 7,202 yards)
Tournament: Big Ten Championships (Day 1 of 3)
U-M Standing: Tie-8th Place of 11 Teams (285-302/587)
Top U-M Individual: Lion Kim, tie-12th (72-73/145)
Next Event: Sat-Sun., May 2-3 -- at Big Ten Championships (State College, Pa.)
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- After a one-over 285 placed the Wolverines in first after 18 holes, small course mistakes added up to a 302 second-round card, placing the University of Michigan men's golf team in a tie for eighth today (Friday, May 1) after 36 holes of the 2009 Big Ten Championships, held at Penn State's Blue Course.
Lion Kim
In what was expected to be a close conference postseason, the first day did not disappoint as 11 strokes separate first place to 11th in the field. In Ohio State head coach Jim Brown's last Big Ten event following his announced retirement, his Buckeyes took the first-day lead with a 579 (289-290) total, while No. 15 Illinois shot a 580 (292-288). After leading most of the day, Indiana (286-295) and Minnesota (287-294) are in a tie for third at 581. Northwestern's Eric Chun used a four-under 138 (70-68) to take the early lead individually, while Michigan State's Jack Newman (69-70) is just a shot back at 139.
As for U-M, sophomore Alexander Sitompul (Jakarta, Indonesia/Bradenton Prep) helped the Wolverines take an early conference tournament lead as he recorded his eighth sub-par round of the season -- a two-under 69 in the first round. Opening with a birdie on the first hole of the championship, three bogeys in his next six elevated him to two-over before a second red score on No. 8 helped him make the turn at one over. Closing the back side with three birdies, Sitompul finished three under after 18 holes to post a two-under 69, sharing the first-round individual lead with MSU's Newman.
With the additions of senior co-captain Bill Rankin's (Traverse City, Mich./Central HS) first-round, even par 71, sophomore Lion Kim's (Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary Prep School) one-over 72, and freshman Matt Thompson's (Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview HS) two-over 73, the Maize and Blue posted a one-over 285 to hold a slim one-stroke lead over Indiana (286) after the first round.
In the second round, the Wolverines managed to play through small mistakes on the front nine, but the back nine was a different story. After playing two under as a team on the back nine of round one, the Wolverines completed the second round at 13 over, posting a 302 team total and dropping from first to eighth. The Maize and Blue's 285 first-round score was the lowest team round of the day, while the 302 second-round tally was the highest.
Kim highlighted the second round with a two-over 73, including an eagle on No. 15, as he leads all U-M players in a tie for 12th at 145. Kim punched in a 7-iron from 148 yards out for the eagle.
Meanwhile, Thompson's three-over 74 in the second round put him among the top 20 after the first day of play with a 147 total -- good for a tie for 20th. With a strong six-birdie 69 in the first round, Sitompul bogeyed eight holes in the second round on his way to a 79, putting him tied for 28th at 148.
Rounding out the U-M individuals are Rankin in a tie for 30th (71-78/149) and senior co-captain Nick Pumford (St. Charles, Mich./St. Charles HS) in a tie for 49th (77-77/154).
With 36 holes in the books, the Wolverines will continue the 2009 Big Ten Championships will the third round on Saturday (May 2) at Penn State's Blue Course. The Maize and Blue will be paired with Penn State and Wisconsin and start on No. 1 at 9 a.m. The Big Ten Championships will conclude on Sunday (May 3) with a final 18 holes.
Team Standings
1. Ohio State 289-290 = 579
2. Illinois 292-288 = 580
3. Minnesota 287-294 = 581
Indiana 286-295 = 581
5. Iowa 290-292 = 582
6. Northwestern 290-296 = 586
Penn State 290-296 = 586
8. MICHIGAN 285-302 = 587
Wisconsin 295-292 = 587
10. Michigan State 293-296 = 589
11. Purdue 293-297 = 590
Top Individuals
1. Eric Chun, Northwestern 70-68 = 138 (-4)
2. Jack Newman, Michigan State 69-70 = 139
3. Matt Hoffman, Illinois 72-69 = 141
Dan Woltman, Wisconsin 72-69 = 141
5. Jorge Campillo, Indiana 69-73 = 142
Ben Pisani, Minnesota 70-72 = 142
7. Kevin Foley, Penn State 73-70 = 143
Jim Markovitz, Penn State 73-70 = 143
9. Derek Chang, Minnesota 71-73 = 144
Bo Hoag, Ohio State 72-72 = 144
Brad Wright, Ohio State 72-72 = 144
Michigan Individuals
T12. Lion Kim 72-73 = 145 T20. Matt Thompson 73-74 = 147 T28. Alexander Sitompul 69-79 = 148 T30. Bill Rankin 71-78 = 149 T49. Nick Pumford 77-77 = 154
NOTES
• Michigan has not played at Penn State's Blue Course since the 1996 Big Ten Championships. The Wolverines tied for fourth with a 1,195 total in their last event in State College, Pa.
• Lion Kim eagled the par-four No. 15 hole in the second round. He holed in from the fairway on his second shot, punching in a 7-iron from 148 yards out.
• Bill Rankin is making his third Big Ten Championships start, while Nick Pumford, Lion Kim and Alexander Sitompul are making their second. Matt Thompson is making his debut in the conference championship event.
• Bill Rankin has now made 35 straight starts and has not missed a start in the last three seasons.
Players Mentioned
