Wolverines in Sixth After 36 Holes of Big Ten Championships

Friday, April 30

Independence, Minn.

8:45 AM CT

Michigan

Big Ten Championships

Wolverines in Sixth After 36 Holes of Big Ten Championships

4/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf

April 30, 2010

Site: Independence, Minn.
Course: Windsong Farm Golf Club (par 71, 7,152 yards)
Tournament: Big Ten Championships (Day 1 of 3)
U-M Standing: 6th Place of 11 Teams (286-294/580) After Day 1
Top U-M Individual: Jack Schultz (69-73), Matt Thompson (73-69), tie-8th (142)
Next Rounds: Sat-Sun., May 1-2 -- at Big Ten Championships (Independence, Minn.)

INDEPENDENCE, Minn. -- The University of Michigan men's golf team sits in sixth with a 580 total following the first 36 holes today (Friday, April 30) at the 2010 Big Ten Championships, held at the Windsong Farm Golf Course. The Wolverines posted team tallies of two-over 286 and 294 in the first and second rounds, respectively, as five teams are separated by just six shots from second to sixth place.

In the day's first 18 holes, Michigan received a two-under 69 freshman Jack Schultz (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay) and an even-par 71 from junior Alexander Sitompul (Jakarta, Indonesia/Bradenton Prep Academy [Fla.]) to close with a 284, three shots behind first-day leader Illinois (281-281-562).

U-M then posted a 294 in the second round as sophomore Matt Thompson (Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview) rallied from an opening 73 to post a Wolverine-best, two-under 69. Schultz and junior Lion Kim (Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary Prep School) chipped in two-over 73s.

Overall, Schultz and Thompson are tied with two others for eighth at even-par 142. Schultz followed his opening-round 69 with a 73, while Thompson did the reversal, shooting a 73 and a two-under 69. Kim is the third Wolverine among the top 20, sitting tied for 20th at 146 following back-to-back rounds of 73.

Sitompul opened strong with an even-par 71 but carded an 81 to finish day one at 152, good for 42nd. In his first conference championships, freshman Rahul Bakshi (Chandigarh, India/St. John's) is tied for 52nd at 156 (77-79).

Michigan will continue its Big Ten Championships on Saturday (May 1) with the third round. The second day of play will begin at 9 a.m. CDT, with the Wolverines paired with Northwestern and Indiana. The three schools will begin off the back nine at 9:00 a.m. CDT. The conference championship will conclude Sunday (May 2) with a final 18 holes at 8 a.m. CDT.

Team Standings (After Day 1 of 3)

 1. Illinois          281-281 = 562 (-6) 2. Iowa              288-286 = 574 3. Purdue            293-284 = 577 4. Northwestern      292-286 = 578 5. Indiana           289-290 = 579 6. MICHIGAN          286-294 = 580 7. Ohio State        293-292 = 585 8. Michigan State    298-291 = 589 9. Penn State        296-294 = 590    Minnesota         301-289 = 59011. Wisconsin         298-300 = 598

Top Individuals

 1. Zach Barlow, Illinois         70-66 = 136 (-6) 2. Bo Hoag, Ohio State           69-69 = 138    Barrett Kelpin, Iowa          69-69 = 138 4. David Lipsky, Northwestern    67-72 = 139 5. Erich Johnston, Purdue        70-70 = 140 6. Luke Guthrie, Illinois        71-70 = 141    Nakarintra Ratanakul, Purdue  73-68 = 141 8. Scott Langley, Illinois       70-72 = 142    Alex Martin, Indiana          71-71 = 142    Jack Schultz, U-M             69-73 = 142    Matt Thompson, U-M            73-69 = 142

Other Michigan Individuals

T20. Lion Kim            73-73 = 146T42. Alexander Sitompul  71-81 = 152T52. Rahul Bakshi        77-79 = 156

N O T E S

• Matt Thompson's second-round, two-under 69 is a career-best single-round tally at the Big Ten Championships. Jack Schultz's two-under 69 in the first round marks a career best in the conference event as well. The mark also gives the rookie his ninth round of par or better this season.

• Both Jack Schultz and Rahul Bakshi are playing in their first Big Ten Championships. Lion Kim and Alexander Sitompul are playing in their third Big Ten Tournament, while Matt Thompson is playing his second.

Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423