Michigan
South Alabama Spring Classic
Wolverines Close South Alabama Classic in 11th Place
3/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
MOBILE, Ala. -- Battling winds throughout the final round, the University of Michigan men's golf team found some difficulties for a four hole stretch in the third round and tallied a final round 311 to finish 11th today (Tuesday, March 14) at the 2006 South Alabama Spring Classic at the Heron Lakes Country Club. The Wolverines closed with a 904 54-hole tournament total after posting team rounds of 299 and 294 during Monday's first two rounds.
Sophomore Tim Schaetzel (Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) led the Wolverines for the second time this season as he tied for 29th with a 224 54-hole total. After opening with a promising two-under 70 in the first round, he found some struggles in the second round posting a 78. He closed out the tournament firing a four-over 76.
Senior Brandon Duff (Goodrich, Mich./Powers Catholic HS) shot himself into the top 10 individually after first day with a 76 and a three-under 69, but found difficulties throughout the final round positing an 82 as he tied for 39th with a 227 total. Sophomore Brian Ottenweller (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central HS) opened with a 79, but had back-to-back 75s to give him a 229 total and a tie for 46th.
Other Michigan finishes include: senior Christian Vozza (Traverse City, Mich./Grand Rapids Baptist HS), tied for 49th with a 230 total (76-72-82), junior Will Kendall (Gerrards Cross, England/Oundle School), tied for 59th with a 233 total (77-78-78) and freshman Bill Rankin (Traverse City, Mich./Central HS), who played as an individual, tied for 57th with a 232 total (75-72-85).
Overall, Mississippi (279-287-290) ran away with the team title winning by 21 strokes with an eight-under 856 total. Southern Mississippi (299-288-290) was the runner-up at 877, while Middle Tennessee State (290-286-305) finished third at 881. In addition to the team title, Ole' Miss had four individuals finish among the top seven, including the top three spots with medalist Kyle Ellis (68-73-71) winning by four strokes with a four-under 212 total. Teammates Jamie Howarth (69-73-74) and Will Roebuck (73-69-74) were among five players who tied for the runner-up spot with even-par 216 totals.
Michigan will waste no time getting back to the golf course as the Wolverines head to Pinehurst, N.C., Sunday through Tuesday (March 19-21) for the 2006 Pinehurst Intercollegiate, hosted by Indiana. The 16-team field will play 54 holes, 18 each day, at the Centennial Pinehurst Course No. 8.
Team Standings
1. Mississippi 279-287-290 = 856 (-8) 2. Southern Mississippi 299-288-290 = 877 3. Middle Tennessee State 290-286-305 = 881 4. Mississippi State 286-300-297 = 883 5. Iowa 291-298-299 = 888 6. Mercer 302-293-290 = 890 7. Eastern Michigan 293-286-312 = 891 8. South Florida 307-286-301 = 894 9. South Alabama 296-292-307 = 895 10. Louisiana-Monroe 299-297-306 = 902 11. MICHIGAN 299-294-311 = 904 12. Miami (Ohio) 301-307-302 = 910
Top Individuals
1. Kyle Ellis, Mississippi 68-73-71 = 212 (-4) 2. Jamie Howarth, Mississippi 69-73-74 = 216 Will Roebuck, Mississippi 73-69-74 = 216 Justin Elliott, Southern Mississippi 74-71-71 = 216 Chas Narramore, Middle Tennessee State 72-70-74 = 216 Noah Goldman, Mississippi State 68-76-72 = 216 7. David Marino, Mississippi 69-77-71 = 217 Tim Kunick, Louisiana-Monroe 73-71-73 = 217 9. Todd Larson, Iowa 72-74-72 = 218 10. Justin Fetcho, South Florida 77-72-70 = 219 Johnny Caldwell, South Alabama 72-73-74 = 219
Michigan Individual Scores
T29. Tim Schaetzel 70-78-76 = 224 T39. Brandon Duff 76-69-82 = 227 T46. Brian Ottenweller 79-75-75 = 229 T49. Christian Vozza 76-72-82 = 230 T59. Will Kendall 77-78-78 = 233 T57. Bill Rankin 75-72-85 = 232* * playing as individual
Q U O T E S
Michigan coach Andrew Sapp
On the tournament ... "We are not playing very well so far this spring. We are getting flashes of brilliance -- like a 70 in the first round from Tim (Schaetzel) but then he shoots 78 in the second round. We get a 69 and a 72 from Brandon (Duff) and Christian (Vozza) in the second round and then they shoot 82s. Even Bill (Rankin) had a really good 72 in the second round, but had an 85 today. We are just not backing up good rounds with more good rounds. That's the problem. Other than that, we cannot seem to have scores that break 75 so we have to have high round totals for our team score.
"We had a rough stretch of holes, from No. 6 to No. 10. We just had some ugly golf. It has been encouraging to see guys shooting 69 and 70s. It would be more encouraging to see them back it up with a good round after that. It's 54 hole tournament, even though you can throw out one score for your team score we can't afford to have anyone shooting in the high 70s or 80s."
On if it is a positive to have a tournament coming up this weekend ... "I would like to have some time off, if it wasn't snowing (laughing). It would be nice to get some practice and some qualifying outside, but it will be good to get back up on the horse and go. These guys have showed they can shoot a single good round. We just are not shooting two or three good rounds a tournament. That is the frustrating part. It's not that they can't play well, they haven't done it for three rounds."
N O T E S
Michigan continues to add up the red numbers on the scorecards. Through eight tournaments, the Wolverines have 31 rounds under par with 17 rounds under the 70 stroke barrier. During the entire of the 2004-05 season, Michigan recorded 15 rounds under par and five under the 70 strokes.
Brandon Duff's second round three-under 69 at the South Alabama Spring Classic marks his eighth career round under par. In fact, he has had all eight of those rounds this season. Tim Schaetzel's first round two-under 70 was also his eighth career under-par round and sixth of this season.
For the second time this season, Tim Schaetzel has finished as the top Wolverine in a tournament. He closed out the South Alabama Spring Classic tying for 29th with a 224 total (70-78-76). Earlier this year, he led the Wolverines at the Memphis Intercollegiate where he shot an even-par 216 (68-77-71).
Brandon Duff and Tim Schaetzel remain the only two Wolverines to have competed and started all eight tournaments this season.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
