Michigan
Wolverine Intercollegiate (Day 1)
U-M Tied for Second after Day One of Wolverine Intercollegiate
9/16/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Course: U-M Golf Course (par 71, 6,704 yards)
Tournament: Wolverine Intercollegiate (Day 1 of 2)
U-M Team Standing: Tie-2nd Place of 11 Teams (288-285/573) after Day One
Top U-M Individual: Chris O'Neill, third (69-71/140)
Final Round: Tuesday, Sept. 17 -- at Wolverine Intercollegiate (U-M Golf Course), 8:00 a.m. (tee times)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- With sophomores Chris O'Neill (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run HS) and Brett McIntosh (London, Ontario, Canada/Saunders Secondary School) among the top five individuals, the University of Michigan men's golf team posted a 573 36-hole total today (Monday, Sept. 16) and is tied for second at its own Wolverine Intercollegiate, being played at the U-M Golf Course.
Using a two-under 69 from O'Neill and an even-par 71 from McIntosh in the today's blustery opening round, the Maize and Blue opened with a four-over 288, positioning the Wolverines second after the day's first 18 holes. With the sun breaking through the clouds in the second round, McIntosh's one-under 70; O'Neill's back-to-back closing birdies, giving him an even-par 71; and one-over 72s from sophomore Andrew Yeager (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central HS) and freshman Bryce Evon (Windsor, Ontario, Canada/Vincent Massey Secondary School), U-M tallied a one-over 285 to remain in second place at 573.
The Wolverines will play in the final group tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept. 16), beginning at 8:45 a.m., as they are tied with Lamar (285-288/573) and only trail first-day leader Michigan State (293-277/571) by two strokes.
O'Neill leads U-M after the first day as he is third individually at two-under 140 (69-71). He is eight shots behind first-day leader Cody Blick (San Jose Stats), who posted a 10-under 132 (68-64), and four shots back of Michigan State's Mitch Rutledge (70-66/136). McIntosh is also among the top five, as he is tied for fourth at 141 (71-70).
Yeager's 145 (73-72) first-day total helps U-M have three individuals positioned among the top 20 as he his tied for 18th. Making his collegiate debut, Evon is tied for 28th at 147 (75-72), while freshman Reed Hrynewich (Muskegon, Mich./Mona Shores HS) is tied for 54th at 158 (80-78). Junior Noori Hyun (Seoul, Korea/Centreville HS [Va.]) is playing as an individual and is tied for 23rd at 146 (71-75).
The Wolverine Intercollegiate will conclude on Tuesday (Sept. 17) with the final 18 holes beginning at 8 a.m.
Team Standings (After Day 1 of 2)
1. Michigan State 294-277 = 571
2. MICHIGAN 288-285 = 573
Lamar 285-288 = 573
4. Penn State 291-284 = 575
5. Miami (Ohio) 292-284 = 576
6. Xavier 292-288 = 580
7. Eastern Michigan 297-284 = 581
8. San Jose State 292-292 = 584
9. Toledo 304-295 = 599
10. Detroit 305-297 = 602
11. Oakland 301-309 = 610
Top Individuals
1. Cody Blick, San Jose State 68-64 = 132
2. Mitch Rutledge, Michigan State 70-66 = 136
3. CHRIS O'NEILL, U-M 69-71 = 140
4. Brian Churchill-Smith, EMU 70-71 = 141
BRETT MCINTOSH, U-M 71-70 = 141
Jens Talbert, Penn State 73-68 = 141
Korey Ward, Xavier 71-70 = 141
8. Charlie Netzel, Michigan State 74-68 = 142
Jack Sparling, Miami (Ohio) 72-70 = 142
Other Michigan Individuals
T18. Andrew Yeager 73-72 = 145 T28. Bryce Evon 75-72 = 147 T54. Reed Hrynewich 80-78 = 158 T23. Noori Hyun 71-75 = 146*
* playing as individual
NOTES
• Michigan's starting lineup consisted of three sophomores and two freshmen.
• Bryce Evon and Reed Hrynewich made their collegiate debuts and starting their first event. Tom Swanson did not participate as he continues to rest from a summer injury.
• Today's round was played on Brett McIntosh's 19th birthday.
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Chris Whitten
On his assessment of the team's first day of play ... "I think most of the guys would say they played a little better than what the scores reflected, but we have to go make the score. Tomorrow, we have a chance to go play in the last group, which is where we want to be -- now we have to go execute."
On aspects he was pleased with today ... "I'd say the rough is a little longer than it has been the last couple weeks; the greens are a little faster, but the guys overall adjusted well, and I thought the putting game was something we really handled well today. If we can get a couple more birdie looks, I like the guys' chance to convert on those."
On the keys to the team's success tomorrow ... "We have to play the golf course the right way. We can't get caught up in what the competition is doing. We can only control what we can control, so we need to hit the right shot at the right time and when the chance is there, we have to make them when it's time to make them."
U-M Sophomore Brett McIntosh
On his play today ... "This morning especially, the wind really picked up on us, and it was all about staying in it knowing that there are going to be a couple bad shots that the wind is going to take. It's how you come back from those -- it's the most important thing. Early on in the round I made a couple bogies, but bounced right back with birdies right after, so that was the important thing. I just stayed in it the whole day, knowing that the wind was going to get to everyone. I knew I was hitting it well and that they were going to fall at some point."
On the keys to maintaining the team's success from the first day ... "I think just play our own game. Chris (O'Neill) and I, especially, know this course really well. The freshmen are still learning it, but in this first two weeks, they've learned a lot. We're out here to help them as much as we can. There are a few things out here that we have the advantage on knowing the course. We need to take advantage of those, and I feel that if we play our game, the guys we have are going to be good."
U-M Sophomore Chris O'Neill
On his play today ... "It was a fairly good putting day today, but the rest of the game wasn't really there. I got away with a lot of shots today and probably scored better than what I played. Hopefully, it gets better tomorrow."
On helping this young team stay focused for tomorrow's final round ... "We're right there. It's our home course -- we know it. Honestly, I think we left so much out there today. I know all the guys, myself included, can play better than that. If we dial it up tomorrow, we'll put ourselves in the right position."
Players Mentioned
