Michigan
NCAA Championships (Round 2)
Wolverines Complete NCAA Second Round, Climb to Seventh
5/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Site: Toledo, Ohio
Course: Inverness Club (par 71, 7,255 yards)
Tournament: NCAA Championships (Completion of Round 2)
U-M Standing: 7th Place of 30 Teams (296-285/581) After Round 2
Top U-M Individual: Lion Kim, tie-5th (72-68/140)
Next Event: Thu-Sat., May 28-30 -- at NCAA Championships (Toledo, Ohio)
TOLEDO, Ohio -- After darkness halted play in the already weather delayed second round, the University of Michigan men's golf team was back at Inverness Club at 6:45 a.m. today (Thursday, May 28) to complete its second round, closing with a one-over 285 to help the Wolverines move into the seventh spot with a 581 total after 36 holes. With 18 holes remaining, the Wolverines and the rest of the 30-team field will try to get back on schedule with the third round starting at 10 a.m.
After heavy rains and storms halted second-round play for four and a half hours yesterday, the Wolverines were able squeeze in between eight and 10 holes before play was called due to darkness. Paced by 12 birdies in their first nine holes, the Wolverines were at six under par for the round before play was suspended. The Maize and Blue played the front side at seven over par this morning to close the second round with a one-over 285 that moved them up two spots to seventh place and in contention for one of the eight match-play berths.
U-M sophomores Lion Kim (Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary Prep School) and Alexander Sitompul (Jakarta, Indonesia/Bradenton Prep) continue to pace the way as they are both among the top 10 individually. Kim is just two shots out of the lead, sitting tied for fourth with a two-under 140 total. After opening with a one-over 72 in Tuesday's first round, he carded six total birdies in the second round to close with a three-under 68. After his 72 in the first round, Sitompul set the early pace for Michigan in the second round, posting five birdies and no bogeys in his 10 holes Wednesday evening en route to a two-under 69 that moved him into a tie for 10th at one-under 141.
After a slow start to the second round, freshman Matt Thompson (Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview HS) played his last eight holes in two under par to close with a 74 and is tied for 65th with a 149 total (75-74). Senior co-captain Bill Rankin (Traverse City, Mich./Central HS) is tied for 94th at 151 after he rallied from a first-round 77 with a 74 in the second. Senior co-captain Nick Pumford (St. Charles, Mich./St. Charles HS) is tied for 140th at 156 (81-75).
The 30-team field will look to close out the third round starting at 10 a.m. today. Michigan will go off the No. 1 tee starting at 10:47 a.m. paired with Central Florida and Duke, which was one of U-M's playing partners the first two rounds. At the end of the 54 holes, an individual champion will be crowned and the top eight teams will advance to a match-play playoff to determine the 2009 team national champion.
Team Standings (After Round 2)
1. Oklahoma State 288-280 = 568 (E)
2. Georgia 288-285 = 573
3. Texas A&M 298-276 = 574
4. Arizona State 294-281 = 575
5. Washington 293-286 = 579
6. Arkansas 297-283 = 580
7. MICHIGAN 296-285 = 581
8. Duke 297-285 = 582
9. Central Florida 300-283 = 583
Tennessee 294-289 = 583
11. TCU 299-285 = 584
12. USC 305-281 = 586
Georgia Tech 301-285 = 586
San Diego 293-293 = 586
Alabama 298-288 = 586
16. Chattanooga 292-297 = 589
17. Illinois 299-291 = 590
18. South Carolina 305-286 = 591
19. Texas Tech 303-292 = 595
20. Iowa 301-296 = 597
Florida 310-287 = 597
22. Oregon 306-293 = 599
23. UCLA 306-295 = 601
24. Northwestern 298-304 = 602
25. Virginia 306-297 = 603
Stanford 305-298 = 603
27. Ohio State 294-310 = 604
28. Wake Forest 302-304 = 606
29. Texas 308-300 = 608
30. Arizona 310-302 = 612
Top Individuals
1. Alex Ching, San Diego 70-68 = 138 (-4)
Russell Henley, Georgia 71-67 = 138
Matt Hill, N.C. State 69-69 = 138*
4. Bronson Burgoon, Texas A&M 72-67 = 139
5. LION KIM, U-M 72-68 = 140
Tom Hoge, TCU 70-70 = 140
Scott Pinckney, Arizona State 73-67 = 140
Michael Quagliano, Duke 73-67 = 140
Nick Taylor, Washington 70-70 = 140
10. ALEXANDER SITOMPUL, U-M 72-69 = 141
Morgan Hoffmann, Oklahoma State 72-69 = 141
David Holmes, Tennessee 70-71 = 141
Jesper Kennegard, Arizona State 72-69 = 141
Trent Leon, Oklahoma State 71-70 = 141
Cameron Tringale, Georgia Tech 74-67 = 141
* playing as individual
Other Michigan Individuals
T65. Matt Thompson 75-74 = 149 T94. Bill Rankin 77-74 = 151 T140. Nick Pumford 81-75 = 156
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Andrew Sapp
On the quick turnaround between rounds today... "Fortunately, if there is an advantage, we have been on the golf course, whereas the teams we are playing with -- outside of Duke -- haven't. So, hopefully we will take that advantage and play well. We have quick early lunch and we will get warmed up again and get after it."
On if U-M lost momentum during the morning play... "We knew the front side was much more difficult than the back side. So, I thought if we were able to shoot under par that would be great. We didn't quite do that. But some guys gained momentum. Matt (Thompson) shot two-under this morning to actually count for us after it looked like he wasn't going to after last night. It's a new round. We just have to start fresh and go after it this afternoon and see what we can do."
U-M Senior Bill Rankin
On coming back to complete the second round... "We were fortunate yesterday because the conditions were perfect with no wind really at all. So we did what we could in the time we had. Coming back today isn't really that big of a deal. That is college golf sometimes. This morning it was perfect conditions again, just a little drizzle at the end. The front is definitely the harder nine, so it looks like we lost so momentum but I think everyone is playing well. We are in a good position and we are right where we want to be."
On if playing right away helps at all... "Yea, it definitely helps. It's nice to be able to play the front nine back-to-back. Even though the pins are going to be different, we get to go out there on the same nine we just finished, which makes it more comfortable. The nerves are gone and you just want to re-tee it and take advantage of it."
On U-M's trend of being a stronger team as tournaments go on... "All year we have been able to play better the second round of the day. Since we are playing 27 holes today, you hope that trend will continue. The guys have a lot left in the tank. We are not tired at all, even though we have played a bunch of holes already. We are going to be focused and that is all there really is to it. We just cannot make any mental mistakes and just give it all you can."
NOTES
• Michigan is making its first NCAA Championships appearance in 12 years. U-M's last appearance was in 1997, when the Wolverines closed 25th after a 36-hole total of 597 (300-297). The score did not advance them past 36 holes. Overall, it is U-M's 23rd NCAA postseason appearance as a team.
• All five Wolverines are making their NCAA Championships debut. Four of U-M's five starters have two years' experience playing in an NCAA Regional. Bill Rankin, Nick Pumford, Alexander Sitompul and Lion Kim have back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances for the Maize and Blue.
• Andrew Sapp has now taken three different schools and four total programs to the NCAA Championships. Overall, he is making his 11th trip to nationals. In his coaching career, he has helped lead North Carolina, Purdue's men's and women's teams and now the Wolverines to the national tournament.
• After U-M dedicated the 2009 Big Ten Championships to former U-M great Ed Schalon, who passed away in December, the Wolverines dedicated U-M's NCAA postseason run to another U-M legend, Woodrow Malloy, who passed away this May. Malloy was the last surviving member of U-M's 1934 and 1935 NCAA championship team
• With his start at the NCAA Championships, Bill Rankin has now made 37 straight and has not missed a start in the last three seasons. Nick Pumford made his 23rd straight start for the Wolverines dating back to his junior year, while Lion Kim extended his consecutive start streak to 19. All three are the only Wolverines to start all 13 events this season.
Players Mentioned
