Weekly Release #8

Upcoming Schedule
Sat-Sun., March 15-16 -- at El Diablo Intercollegiate (Citrus Springs, Fla.)
Sat-Sun., March 29-30 -- at Johnny Owens Invitational (Lexington, Ky.)

Next on the Tee: El Diablo Intercollegiate
The University of Michigan men's golf team will have only two days off before heading south again for its next tournament action. The Maize and Blue will compete in the El Diablo Intercollegiate, Saturday and Sunday (March 15-16) at the El Diablo Golf Club in Citrus Springs, Fla. The 54-hole tournament, which is hosted by Marshall, will be 36 holes Saturday with a final 18 on Sunday. El Diablo with be set up for a par of 72 and 7,045 yards.
 
The El Diablo Intercollegiate Field
The El Diablo Intercollegiate features 20 teams and will include: Ball State, Colorado State, Elon, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa State, James Madison, Kent State, Louisville, Marshall, Methodist, Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Penn State, Rhode Island, Richmond, West Florida, Wichita State, William & Mary and Xavier.

The El Diablo Intercollegiate Schedule
The El Diablo Intercollegiate will consist of 54 holes, 36 being played Saturday (March 15) and a final 18 Sunday (March 16).

Friday, March 14	Practice Round	Tee times throughout the day
Saturday, March 15	First Round	7:30 a.m. (shotgun start)
	Second Round	12:30 p.m. (shotgun start)
Sunday, March 16	Final Round	7:30 a.m. (shotgun start)

The El Diablo Intercollegiate Scoring Format
Scoring for the El Diablo Intercollegiate will be five players, count the low four scores each round. Teams will be allowed one individual player.

The Michigan Lineup at the El Diablo Intercollegiate
The Wolverines will carry five players for the Michigan squad at the El Diablo Intercollegiate. The Wolverine lineup will be determined after an evaluation of the Coastal Carolina Invitational. Lineup spots could include junior Dave Nichols (Mesa, Ariz./Rochester Adams HS, Mich.), redshirt junior Scott Carlton (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS), redshirt freshman Mark McIntosh (Gaylord, Mich./Gaylord HS), redshirt freshman Jimmy Wisinski (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern HS), freshman Blake Burman (Miami, Fla./Palmetto HS), junior/sophomore Rob Tighe (Traverse City, Mich./West HS), freshman Brandon Duff (Goodrich, Mich./Flint Powers Catholic HS) and freshman Bruce Svechota-Kingsbury (Ann Arbor, Mich./Greenhills School).

Last Year at the El Diablo: Chapman Ties for Sixth, U-M Ties for 10th at El Diablo
Playing in their first spring tournament of the season the Wolverines tied for 10th at the 2002 El Diablo Intercollegiate (March 16-17) at El Diablo Golf Club in Citrus Springs, Fla. Paced by former Wolverine Andrew Chapman (1999-2002), who tied for sixth (71-74-73/218), the Maize and Blue remained consistent through the two-day tournament to tally a solid middle-of-the-pack finish. The Wolverines opened the first round with a 298 team total, led by Chapman's one-under-par 71 and former Wolverine Andy Matthews' (1999-2002) one-over 73. In the second round, the Wolverines tallied a 300 to slip into a three-way tie for 10th after the first day of competition. They then rallied behind Chapman's one-over-par 73, Matthews' two-over 74 and three-over 75 performances by Dave Nichols and Scott Carlton in the final round for their lowest team total of the tournament (297), allowing them to stay in the 10th position with an 895 tournament total. Besides Chapman's season-best tie for sixth place (71-74-73/214), Matthews tied for 16th (73-75-74/222), Nichols tied for 48th (75-78-75/228), Carlton tied for 60th (79-77-75/231) and former Wolverine Kyle Kilcherman (1999-2002) was 83rd (83-74-80/237).

Last Time on the Links: Final Round Drops Wolverines a Spot at Coastal Carolina
After carding back-to-back 308 in the first two rounds at the Coastal Carolina Invitational (March 10-11), the Wolverines found some struggles in the final round, tallying a 326 team total to drop a position and finish 14th at the TPC of Myrtle Beach in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Wolverines finished with a 942 total for the two-day, 54-hole event. For the third consecutive tournament, Dave Nichols was the top Wolverine as he tied for 41st with a 231 total. After opening with a three-over-par 75, Nichols carded back-to-back 78s to finish the tournament. After missing the last three tournaments Scott Carlton was back into the Wolverine lineup as he tied for 47th with a 233 total (79-74-80). Mark McIntosh tied for 58th (76-78-82/236), Jimmy Wisinski tied for 77th (78-78-89/245), Blake Burman finished 79th (82-80-86/246) and Rob Tighe, who played as an individual, tied for 53rd (80-76-79/235).

Nichols Continues to Blossom in Junior Season
Dave Nichols continues to have a blossoming junior season, after leading the Wolverines in their last three tournaments. Nichols' 54-hole total of 216 at the Landfall Tradition was a career best by two strokes. Earlier in the fall, Nichols tied his previous career best with a 218 at the 2002 Wolverine Invitational (Oct. 5-6), matching his 218 from the 2001 Xavier Invitational (Oct. 8-9, 2001). Nichols' first- and third-round scores of one-under 71 at the Landfall Tradition were the third and fourth times this year he has broken par for 18 holes. He fired a one-under 70 in the first round at the Northern Intercollegiate (Sept. 28-29) and a career-best two-under 69 in the first round of the Wolverine Invitational (Oct. 5-6). He leads the Wolverines with a 74.81 scoring average.

Carlton Back In the Mix
At the Coastal Carolina Invitational Scott Carlton made his first appearance in the Wolverine lineup since playing in the Wolverine Invitational (Oct. 5-6). Carlton tied for 47th in Myrtle Beach, finishing with a 233 total, his third best of the season. For the season he is averaging 76.66 strokes per round.

Rotation Continues
For all five fall tournaments the competition in the weekly qualifiers was tough, as the Wolverines used four different lineups in the five tournaments. With two spring tournaments already completed, the Wolverines have continued the trend, as there have been six different lineups in the seven tournaments this season. As a team, Michigan is averaging 304.53 per round and 913.6 for a 54-hole tournament average.

Duff Makes His Lineup Appearance
When freshman Brandon Duff played at the Puerto Rico Classic, he became the sixth different Wolverine this season to crack the Maize and Blue lineup card this season. He finished 88th in San Juan after rounds of 84-83-80 for a 247 total. Duff made his collegiate debut playing in the Wolverine Invitational (Oct. 5-6). He finished 90th after rounds of 80, a career-best 74 and 91 for a 245 total.

Burman Gets the Nod
Freshman Blake Burman played in his third tournament of the season as he traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to play in the Coastal Carolina Invitational. He finished 79th with a 246 54-hole total. Burman made his collegiate debut at the Wolverine Invitational, tying for 73rd (82-72-77/231). He then played in the Xavier Invitational, tying for 70th (76-78-73/227). Burman is averaging 78.22 per round.

Steadily Improving
After only playing in two of 11 tournaments last year, Rob Tighe has played in all seven tournaments this year. He has continued to rewrite his career-best numbers after his second-round score of one-under 70 at the Wolverine Invitational (Oct. 5-6) set a new career best. It topped the 72 he fired in the final round of the Northern Intercollegiate (Sept. 28-29). In addition, his 217 54-hole total at the Wolverine was also a career best, topping the 223 he had at the Ridges (Sept. 28-29). For the year, he is averaging 76.57 per round.

Going Low
Jimmy Wisinski's final-round score of two-under-par 69 at the Wolverine Invitational (Oct. 5-6) set a new career best by nine strokes. His previous best was 78 in the second round of the Wolverine Invitational and in the second round of the Ridges (Sept. 14-15). He then shattered his career-best 54-hole total with a 220 performance at the Xavier Invitational (Oct. 14-15). His total was eight strokes better than the 228 he tallied at the Wolverine Invitational. He has played in six tournaments, averaging 79.16 per round.

Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423