Michigan
Puerto Rico Classic
Michigan Closes Puerto Rico Classic with Solid Rounds
2/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -- The University of Michigan men's golf team took an 18th place finish with a 922 54-hole tournament total at the Puerto Rico Classic, held Sunday through Tuesday (Feb. 22-24) at Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort. The Wolverines had a strong showing after a 319 mark the first day, coming back with a 302 and 301 to round out the tournament. The Maize and Blue continued to fight for a good finish, almost surpassing No. 21-ranked Illinois but ultimately falling short two strokes.
Freshman Matt McLaughlin (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook) led the Wolverines with a 226 overall score to finish tied for 57th place. McLaughlin proved he could play against the competition, rebounding from an 81 first-round total to post a career-best even-par 72 the following day. He finished off the event with a 73 to match his previous 54-hole best of 226.
Other Michigan finishes included: sophomore Christian Vozza (Traverse City, Mich./Grand Rapids Baptist), tied for 67th (82-72-77/231); freshman Will Kendall (Gerrards Cross, Bucks, England/Oundle School), tied for 74th (78-79-76/233); Brandon Duff (Goodrich, Mich./Powers Catholic), tied for 80th (78-82-76/236); and freshman Kevin Dore (Dundas, Ontario/St. Mary's), tied for 84th (83-79-76/238).
Florida came from behind to take the tournament title from Oklahoma, shooting six strokes better than the Sooners for the third-day totals. The Gators finished four under par overall with an 858 total (289-277-289/855).
The Wolverines will have the next two weekends off before heading to Myrtle Beach, S.C., Monday and Tuesday, March 8-9, for the Coastal Carolina Invitational. The 54-hole tournament will be played at the TPC of Myrtle Beach.
Final Team Standings
1. Florida 289-277-289 = 855 (-9) 2. Clemson 281-289-286 = 856 3. Oklahoma 283-280-295 = 858 4. Georgia 290-292-283 = 865 5. Oklahoma State 292-298-281 = 871 6. North Carolina State 293-283-300 = 876 7. Virginia 292-294-293 = 879 8. Georgia Tech 296-299-285 = 880 Minnesota 288-296-296 = 880 10. Texas 288-299-298 = 885 11. Virginia Tech 295-292-299 = 886 East Tennessee State 304-289-293 = 886 13. Purdue 300-298-292 = 890 14. Kent State 293-297-302 = 892 15. Northwestern 306-313-303 = 901 16. Duke 300-294-311 = 905 17. Illinois 306-313-301 = 920 18. MICHIGAN 319-302-301 = 922
Individual Scores
1. Matt Hendrix, Clemson 70-67-70 = 207 (-9) 2. Tyler Leon, Okla. State 69-71-68 = 208 3. Anthony Kim, Oklahoma 70-69-71 = 210 4. Justin Smith, Minnesota 68-72-71 = 211 5. Matt Every, Florida 73-70-69 = 212 Brett Stegmaier, Florida 72-71-69 = 212 7. Rhys Davies, East Tenn. State 73-68-72 = 213 Jack Ferguson, Clemson 67-72-74 = 213 9. Kevin Kisner, Georgia 73-72-69 = 214 Brendon Todd, Georgia 75-69-70 = 214
Michigan Individual Scores
T57. Matt McLaughlin 81-72-73 = 226 T67. Christian Vozza 82-72-77 = 231 T74. Will Kendall 78-79-76 = 233 T80. Brandon Duff 78-82-76 = 236 T84. Kevin Dore 83-79-76 = 238
Q U O T E S
Michigan Coach Andrew SappOn the Puerto Rico Classic ... "I think we hurt ourselves by playing poorly the first day, but I was pleased with the way we came back the following day. We showed a lot of fight in not giving up after poor performance. Individually, the players were able to stay in the game after not playing well. Today, four of our five guys played under par on the back nine after not shooting well on the front to get strokes back. I was particularly pleased with the way Matt McLaughlin came back after shooting an 81 the first round to shoot a 72 and 73 for the following two."
On playing with the top teams in the country ... "It is always a challenge this time of year. We came into the event ranked the lowest, but we had the chance to do well against these teams. Today we had the chance to pass Illinois, which is in the top 25 in the country, but weren't able to catch them. But it was a great challenge and a good opportunity because where these teams are is what our program is aspiring to be."
On what the Wolverines took away from this tournament ... "It was just a good opportunity to get out and play against good competition. For individuals like Matt and Christian (Vozza), they found out they could play well against the steep competition."
Freshman Matt McLaughlin
On his performance at the Puerto Rico Classic ... "Overall I hit the ball well even though I missed a couple short putts I should have made."
On playing with some of the best collegiate golfers ... "I learned I can handle the competition. It gave me a more confidence in my game. In playing against this competition, I took away that I should play a more conservative game."
N O T E S
Matt McLaughlin matched his career-best 54-hole tournament total with the 226 (81-72-73) he posted at the Puerto Rico Classic. The last time he shot 226 was at the Franklin Street Trust Invitational (Oct. 3-5).
Matt McLaughlin fired an even-par 72 in the second-round of the Puerto Rico Classic. The round topped the 73 third-round total he had Sept. 21 at the Northern Intercollegiate last fall.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
