Michigan
Minnesota
Michigan Splits Final Day, Weekend at Big Ten Match Play Championship
2/9/2019 7:27:00 PM | Men's Golf
» Like Friday's first day of matches, Michigan began the final day tying with Minnesota, only to lose via a tiebreaker. U-M then followed with a 3.5-2.5 win over Penn State to finish 2-2 at the Big Ten Match Play Championship.
» U-M was led by sophomore Charlie Pilon and fifth-year senior Ian Martin, both of whom won both of their single matches and finished undefeated with 3-0-1 records.
» The Big Ten hosted its annual spring season opening match play event for the 11th straight year.
» The Wolverines return to traditional stroke play when they head to Florida's Gator Invitational (Feb. 16-17).
Site: Palm Coast, Fla. (Hammock Beach Resort)
Tournament: Big Ten Match Play Championship (Day 2 of 2)
Course: Ocean Course (par 72, 7,183 yards)
Scores: Minnesota 3, Michigan 3 (Gophers win via tiebreaker); Michigan 3.5, Penn State 2.5
Next U-M Event: Sat-Sun., Feb. 16-17 – at Gator Invitational (Gainesville, Fla.)
PALM COAST, Fla. -- In a repeat performance of its opening day of matches, the University of Michigan men's golf team split its matches Saturday (Feb. 9) to finish with a 2-2 record at the Big Ten Match Play Championship held on the Conservatory and Ocean Courses at Hammock Beach Resort.
Opening the day, the Wolverines used wins from sophomore Charlie Pilon, fifth-year senior Ian Martin and junior Brent Ito to tie with Minnesota, 3-3. For the second straight day, the Wolverines would have a match awarded to their opponent by virtue of the tie-breaking procedure.
Facing Penn State to close the event, additional wins by Pilon and Martin as well as three matches halved, the Wolverines were able to defeat the Nittany Lions, 3.5-2.5.
"I thought this week was a good first step for the spring," said U-M head coach Chris Whitten. "We won two matches against very good teams and tied the two others, losing by tiebreakers. The guys struck the ball really well throughout the lineup yesterday in great weather and today was just a grind with winds reaching over 25 mph. They came through in a few tight matches. I was very proud of them.
"Charlie (Pilon) was totally in control all week and really led us both days. That was great to see. Ian (Martin) also got off to a nice start with the team going undefeated in his matches (3-0-1)."
Pilon guided the Wolverines with an undefeated record during the two-day event going 3-0-1. That mark was match by Martin, who made his varsity debut after earning a roster spot for his final semester after three years with U-M's club program.
"Ian's been a great addition to the team so far," said Whitten. "His biggest strength is probably his overall competitiveness. He really wants to win and that helped him today in the tough conditions for sure. He hits the ball solid and far which will make him dangerous on any golf course."
In other Wolverine highlights, Nick Carlson finished 2-2 during the championship, while freshman Ben Dunne went 1-1-2. Ito closed 1-2-1 and sophomore Henry Spring finished 0-2-2.
The Maize and Blue will play is first stroke play event on next Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 16-17, when the Wolverines travel to Gainesville, Florida, for the Gator Invitational to be played at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.
No. 7 seed Minnesota ties with #11 Michigan, 3-3 (Gophers win via tiebreaker)
Ian Martin (U-M) defeats Will Grevlos (MINN), 3-and-2
Evan Long (MINN) defeats Ben Dunne (U-M), 6-and-5
Lincoln Johnson (MINN) defeats Henry Spring (U-M), 8-and-7
Charlie Pilon (U-M) defeats Noah Raskinski (MINN), 5-and-4
Brent Ito (U-M) defeats Peter Jones (MINN), 5-and-4
Angus Flanagan (MINN) defeats Nick Carlson (U-M), 4-and-2
No. 11 seed Michigan defeats No. 5 seed Penn State, 3.5-2.5
Ian Martin (U-M) defeats James McHigh (PSU), 1-up
Ben Dunne (U-M) halves with Alec Bard (PSU), halved
Ryan Davis (PSU) defeats Henry Spring (U-M), 8-and-7
Charlie Pilon (U-M) defeats JD Hughes (PSU), 4-and-3
Brent Ito (U-M) halves with Charles Huntzunger (PSU), halved
Nick Carlson (U-M) halves with Ryan Dornes (PSU), halved
2019 B1G Match Play Records
Ian Martin (3-0-1)
Charlie Pilon (3-0-1)
Nick Carlson (2-2-0)
Ben Dunne (1-1-2)
Brent Ito (1-2-1)
Henry Spring (0-2-2)
Previous Results: Day 1
Players Mentioned
