Michigan Finishes Up Play at Puerto Rico Classic

Tuesday, February 23

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

7:30 AM AT

Michigan

Puerto Rico Classic

2/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf

Feb. 23, 2016

Kyle Mueller

» With a final-round 302, Michigan posted an 893 54-hole team total to finish 14th at the Puerto Rico Classic.
» Freshman Nick Carlson led U-M for the second time this season, tying for 44th with a 222 total.
» The top four Wolverines all finished within a shot of each other -- Nick Carlson (222), Chris O'Neill (223), Tom Swanson (224) and Kyle Mueller (224).
» Michigan played in its 14th straight Puerto Rico Classic hosted by Purdue.

Site: Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
Course: River Course at Rio Mar Country Club (par 72, 6,945 yards)
Tournament: Puerto Rico Classic
U-M Team Standing: 14th Place of 15 Teams (295-296-301/892)
Top U-M Individual: Nick Carlson, tie-44th (73-76-73/222)
Next U-M Event: Sat-Sun., March 5-6 -- at Desert Mountain Intercollegiate (Scottsdale, Ariz.)

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -- Using a final-round 73 (+1) from freshman Nick Carlson and a 73 (+1) from sophomore Kyle Mueller, the University of Michigan men's golf team closed today (Tuesday, Feb. 23) with a 301 final round total to close with an 892 three-day total and finish 14th at Puerto Rico Classic held at the River Course at the Rio Mar Country Club.

In their 14th straight spring trip to Purdue's annual event in Puerto Rico, the Wolverines positioned themselves in the 12th spot on Sunday (Feb. 21) with a 295 team tally led by 73s (+1) from Carlson and senior Chris O'Neill. After a slow start to Monday's (Feb. 22) second round, U-M rallied behind O'Neill and junior Tom Swanson's even-par 72s to post a 296 and remain 12th with a 591 two-day total.

In today's final round, U-M dropped two positions to finish 14th at 893.

"On the whole, the team was just not very sharp this week," said U-M head coach Chris Whitten. "We were in the upper half of the field for number of pars but last in birdies, which is completely uncharacteristic for us. I felt we hit our tee shots well for the most part but as we were closer to the hole we struggled. I was glad to see Tom (Swanson) and Nick (Carlson) contribute a few good rounds, but we definitely need a more consistent attack from all five players like we have usually had."

For the second time this season, Carlson was the top-finishing Wolverine after he tied for 44th at 222 after sandwiching rounds of 73 around a second-round 76. O'Neill followed a shot back at 223 (73-72-78), tying for 49th, while Swanson closed a 224 (74-72-78) tying for 52nd. Mueller used a 224 (75-76-73) to also tie for 52nd, while senior Brett McIntosh rounded out the starting five tying for 71st at 234 (76-81-77).

The Wolverines will head to Scottsdale, Arizona, for a week of training in conjunction with the U-M's spring break. The Maize and Blue will play and training for the week before closing the trip hosting the Desert Mountain Intercollegiate, Saturday and Sunday (March 5-6).

"Being in Scottsdale for a week of spring break next week before we play the Desert Mountain Intercollegiate will be very important for us," said Whitten. "Our practices there will be extremely focused to get ready for that important event. This is a team that can play exceptional golf and we'll get back to that quickly."

The two-day 54-hole event will be held at the Desert Mountain Resort's Outlaw Course in Scottsdale. U-M will host the event for the second straight year in the Grand Canyon State.

Final Team Standings

 1. Alabama          276-287-276 = 839 (-25) 2. Clemson          283-281-284 = 848 3. Georgia          284-280-287 = 851 4. Kentucky         285-284-284 = 853 5. North Carolina   278-287-290 = 855 6. Georgia Tech     286-283-288 = 857 7. Oklahoma         281-288-290 = 859 8. Northwestern     293-287-285 = 865 9. Maryland         290-286-293 = 86910. Purdue           286-290-295 = 87111. N.C. State       297-295-285 = 87712. Minnesota        299-292-300 = 891    UNC Greensboro   291-298-302 = 89114. MICHIGAN         295-296-301 = 89215. Virginia Tech    302-301-295 = 898

Top Individuals

 1. Robby Shelton, Alabama             70-70-65 = 205 (-11) 2. Jonathan Hardee, Alabama           67-70-69 = 206 3. Carter Page, N.C. State            71-71-66 = 208 4. William Register, North Carolina   69-69-72 = 210    Stephen Behr, Clemson              73-68-69 = 210    David Kocher, Maryland             71-68-71 = 210 7. Austin Eoff, Purdue                69-69-73 = 211    Sepp Straka, Georgia               70-69-72 = 211 9. Chris Petefish, Georgia Tech       71-71-70 = 212    Andrew Whalen, Northwestern        72-70-70 = 212

Michigan Individuals

T44. Nick Carlson     73-76-73 = 222T49. Chris O'Neill    73-72-78 = 223T52. Tom Swanson      74-72-78 = 224T52. Kyle Mueller     75-76-73 = 224T71. Brett McIntosh   76-81-77 = 234