Michigan
Pinehurst Intercollegiate
Top Fives from Rankin, McKay Lead U-M at Pinehurst
3/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
PINEHURST, N.C. -- With a career-best runner-up finish from sophomore Bill Rankin (Traverse City, Mich./Central HS) and a career-best top-five finish from freshman Billy McKay (Grand Blanc, Mich./David Leadbetter Golf Academy), the University of Michigan men's golf team took its battle with conference rival Indiana to the final holes but could not close the gap, as the Wolverines closed with a runner-up finish Tuesday (March 20) at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate at the Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 8.
The Maize and Blue closed with an 885 54-hole tournament total, which was five strokes behind the Hoosiers, who closed in the top spot with an 880 team tally. After posting a 298 team total on the first day of play, the Wolverines found themselves in the fifth spot after 18 holes. Using a strong 292 in the second round, U-M vaulted itself into a tie for the lead with Indiana as they both stood at 590 after day two of the tournament. In a back-and-forth battle in the final round, the Wolverines tallied a 295 total, while the Hoosiers posted a 290 to take the team title by five strokes.
Individually, Rankin posted a career-best runner-up finish, closing with a career-best one-under 215 tournament total. After opening with a two-under 70, he fell back slightly in the second round with a one-over 73 but was still in a tie for second individually. Battling top tournament individuals Jorge Campillo (Indiana) and Colt Knost (SMU) for medalist honors in the final round, Rankin closed with an even-par 72 to tie for the runner-up spot with Knost (71-72-72), while Campillo took advantage of a second-round 67 to earn medalist honors with a three-under 213 total (73-67-73).
McKay followed suit with his first career top-five finish with an even-par 216 54-hole tournament total. After opening with an even-par 72 on the first day, he followed with a one-under 71 in the second day, putting him in a tie for the second spot with teammate Rankin. In the final round, he posted a one-over 73 to stay among the top five with a 216 total.
After not playing in his last four tournaments, junior Brian Ottenweller (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central HS) cracked back into the line-up and tied for 38th with a 228 total (80-72-76). Other Wolverines finishes included: Senior Kevin Dore (Dundas, Ontario, Canada/St. Mary's) tie for 44th with a 229 total (79-76-74) and junior Tim Schaetzel (Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) tie for 52nd with a 231 total (77-78-76).
The Wolverines will move into the stretch run of its schedule with a key conference and district battle at Purdue's Boilermaker Invitational Saturday and Sunday, April 7-8, in West Lafayette, Ind. The 54-hole tournament will played at the Kampen Course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex.
Team Standings
1. Indiana 297-293-290 = 880
2. MICHIGAN 298-292-295 = 885
3. Penn State 299-298-292 = 889
4. Wisconsin 301-298-291 = 890
5. SMU 293-299-303 = 895
Mississippi 294-304-297 = 895
7. VCU 301-300-299 = 900
8. Eastern Michigan 302-307-294 = 903
9. North Florida 309-297-300 = 906
10. Marquette 306-298-304 = 908
UNC Greensboro 297-303-308 = 908
12. East Carolina 306-296-307 = 909
13. Toledo 310-304-300 = 914
14. Marshall 304-309-305 = 918
15. Western Illinois 312-307-301 = 920
16. UNC Wilmington 315-306-307 = 928
17. Ball State 321-309-301 = 931
18. Northern Illinois 319-318-308 = 945
Top Individuals
1. Jorge Campillo, Indiana 73-67-73 = 213
2. BILL RANKIN, U-M 70-73-72 = 215
Colt Knost, SMU 71-72-72 = 215
4. BILLY MCKAY, U-M 72-71-73 = 216
Graham Hill, Eastern Michigan 75-72-69 = 216
6. Trent Schambach, Marshall 69-75-74 = 218
7. Kevin Foley, Penn State 73-73-73 = 219
Mike Van Sickle, Marquette 75-71-73 = 219
Dan Woltman, Wisconsin 74-74-71 = 219
10. Drew Allenspach, Indiana 71-74-75 = 220
Garrett Jones, Wisconsin 73-75-72 = 220
Jeff Kaiser, Wisconsin 75-72-73 = 220
Other Michigan Individuals
T38. Brian Ottenweller 80-72-76 = 228 T44. Kevin Dore 79-76-74 = 229 T52. Tim Schaetzel 77-78-76 = 231
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
