Thompson Claims Runner-Up at Bridgestone Golf Collegiate

Sunday, October 30

Greensboro, N.C.

8:30 AM

Michigan

Bridgestone Golf Collegiate

Thompson Claims Runner-Up at Bridgestone Golf Collegiate

10/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf

Oct. 30, 2011

Site: Greensboro, N.C.
Course: Forest Oaks Country Club (par 72, 7,212 yards)
Tournament: Bridgestone Golf Collegiate
U-M Standing: Tie-6th Place of 15 Teams (299-294/593)
Top U-M Individual: Matt Thompson, 2nd (71-70/141, -3)
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sat., Feb. 10-11 -- at Big Ten Match Play (Bradenton, Fla.)

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Senior Matt Thompson (Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview HS) claimed medalist runner-up to pace the University of Michigan men's golf team to a tie for sixth today (Sunday, Oct. 30) with a 593 total in the rain-shortened Bridgestone Golf Collegiate played at the Forest Oaks Country Club. It was the final event of the fall for U-M.

With poor weather conditions hampering play during Saturday's (Oct. 29) opening 36 holes, play was reduced to 18 holes, causing U-M to have its second fall event reduced from 54 to 36 holes. Despite the altered format, Thompson led the Wolverine charge in the opening round with a one-under 71, giving U-M to a 299 tally, which put the Wolverines in 11th, while Thompson sat in a tie for third individually.

Thompson followed with a two-under 70 to lead U-M in Sunday's final round, giving him a three-under 141 total and helping him to his second straight top-two individual finish as he was the runner-up, just two shots back of N.C. State's Albin Choi (70-69/139, -5).

With junior Jack Schultz's (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay HS) one-over 73 and junior Miguel Echavarria's (Medellin, Colombia/The Columbus School) two-over 74, the Wolverines closed with a 294 to help them move up and tie for sixth with a 593 total.

Echavarria closed with a top-25 finish as he tied for 22nd at 148 after back-to-back 74s, while Schultz tied for 27th a shot back at 149 (76-73). Junior Rahul Bakshi (Chandigarh, India/St. John's HS) tied for 67th at 155 (78-77) and junior Matt Alessi (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Birmingham Brother Rice) tied for 80th at 162 (83-79) to round out the starting Wolverine finishes.

The Wolverines have completed their fall season and will not return to action until after the New Year when they head to Bradenton, Fla., for the 2012 Big Ten Match Play Championship, to be played Feb. 10-11. In its fourth year, the conference match-play event will be played at the Concession Golf Club.

Final Team Standings

 1. Iowa State          297-285 = 582 2. N.C. State          297-290 = 587 3. Virginia Tech       294-297 = 591    Mississippi State   295-296 = 591 5. South Carolina      291-301 = 592 6. MICHIGAN            299-294 = 593    North Carolina      294-299 = 593    Kentucky            300-293 = 593    Purdue              297-296 = 59310. Pepperdine          304-290 = 594    Mississippi         300-294 = 59412. UNC Greensboro      296-302 = 598    Georgia State       297-301 = 59814. VCU                 307-296 = 60315. Toledo              298-311 = 609

Top Individuals

 1. Albin Choi, N.C. State                70-69 = 139 (-5) 2. Matt Thompson, U-M                    71-70 = 141 3. Sam Daley, Iowa State                 71-71 = 142    Andy Knox, UNC Greensboro             71-71 = 142 5. Josh Anderson, Pepperdine             72-72 = 144    Tyler Gruca, Georgia State            72-72 = 144    Chase Sargent, VCU                    73-71 = 144 8. Bryce Chalkley, Virginia Tech         72-73 = 145    Joe David, Mississippi                76-69 = 145    Tyler Duncan, Purdue                  72-73 = 145    Fletcher Johnson, Mississippi State   73-72 = 145

Other Michigan Individuals

T22. Miguel Echavarria   74-74 = 148T27. Jack Schultz        76-73 = 149T67. Rahul Bakshi        78-77 = 155T80. Matt Alessi         83-79 = 162

N O T E S

• Matt Thompson closed the fall season leading Michigan in four of the five events. In five fall events, he posted four top-20, three top-10, and two top-five finishes -- including winning Windon Memorial Classic and closing as the runner-up at the Bridgestone Golf Collegiate.

• The first day of play was reduced from 36 to 18 holes due to poor weather conditions. It is the second time this fall the Wolverines have had an event reduced to 36 total holes. The Inverness Intercollegiate, Sept. 26-27, was reduced to weather conditions.

Q U O T E S

Michigan Head Coach Chris Whitten
On the weekend at the Bridgestone Golf Collegiate ... "It was unfortunate that we had another event shortened -- that is two in the fall. Still every shot counts the same. We were happier with the way we closed the final round today. We got off to a rough start in the very beginning, but we talked a lot about closing out rounds strong. We did that today. Still, it was not the total final round we wanted, but the finish was better."

On his early thoughts of the fall season ... "I am still getting to know the potential of this team -- the strengths and weaknesses -- but it is going to be great to be able to go into the offseason with a much clearer picture of where we are and how to focus our work in especially with the new practice facility. It is going to offer us such a great resource and way to practice. We will come out for the spring absolutely ready to go."

On Matt Thompson ... "He played a really solid round yesterday and really knew that he would have a chance to win if he had a good round today. He is just very, very steady. Coach (Nick) Pumford was walking with him the last six or seven holes and I believe he had a makeable birdie putt on every one but was just burning the edges. He is just getting very comfortable being in that position of playing with a chance to win. He just continues to lead for us and set examples in exceptional ways."

On Miguel Echavarria's fall season ... "Miguel is really coming into form. His game was a little bit off starting the week, but he is managing his game much better and really doing a good job thinking through his shots and thinking through his rounds. It seems with every tournament he finds a small area where he can improve. I have been really happy with his performance this fall."

Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423