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A Quick Change of Plans
FRIDAY | OCTOBER 5, 2007
When Brian Ottenweller did not make the Wolverines' lineup for the Windon Memorial Classic, he was realistic about seeing his seven-tournament run as a starter come to an end. "I haven't played at my best lately," said the senior co-captain. "I am just going to take the time this weekend to work on some of the things I need to work on and cheer on my teammates from here." It is that type of attitude that has helped make Ottenweller a special player for the Wolverines. He always wants to do what is best for the team, which led to his selection as one of two captains for this season, an honor Ottenweller cherishes.
"Not just to be a golf team captain, but to be a University of Michigan captain feels really good," he said about his selection. "I have talked to a lot of guys in the past that have told me that they played on a Michigan golf team, and one of the first things they tell me is that they were a captain. It sticks with you for a long time. I know it's going be a good experience. It already has been."
Ottenweller realizes that he and fellow co-captain Tim Schaetzel need to use their experiences to help the Wolverines. "I feel like Tim and I have kind of brought the team together a little bit. Tim and I are easily approachable. I feel like we've both shown pretty good leadership skills over the last three years. I know there won't be any problems, and if there are, I feel like we'll be well suited enough to handle them."
Ottenweller's plans for this weekend quickly changed with a late phone call from the Windon Classic organizer to U-M coach Andrew Sapp. Allowed to bring an individual to the tournament, Sapp selected the obvious choice. Ottenweller will join U-M starters Schaetzel, Bill Rankin, Lion Kim, Alexander Sitompul and Nick Pumford on the trip to Lake Shore Country Club in Glencoe, Ill.
"You just get a break every so often, what else can I say," Ottenweller commented. "At least I can cheer from there now." Bringing a Trophy Back to a Small Town
TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 25, 2007
A two-shot difference in the practice round at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate put Nick Pumford in the individual spot instead of the U-M starting lineup. But the Wolverine junior made the most of the opportunity, winning the event with a near career-best performance. "It still hasn't sunk in yet," Pumford said a few days later. "I won a college golf tournament. A lot of guys have great college careers but never win a tournament. To do this is pretty special." Pumford, who comes from a very large family -- his dad is one of 13 children, while his mom has two siblings -- spent a lot of time on his cell phone after claiming medalist honors for the first time. "I got calls from all of my family. Probably that first day, I think my dad called just about everyone. I was just talking on the phone all day, and they were all congratulating me. You really have no idea how big my family is."
The growth of Pumford's golf game has mirrored his progression as a person. Moving from the small town of St. Charles, Mich., (population 8,000) to Ann Arbor's campus with 38,000 students alone was a definite growing experience. "Coming from a small town like I came from, everything was new to me. Truthfully, coming in I didn't know what to expect. I can honestly say that from day one to now, I have changed as a person for the better. Being in this environment has opened my mind to everything."
Not highly recruited despite a solid junior playing career, Pumford has become one of the mainstays on this year's Wolverine squad. He played in just one tournament as a freshman before playing in seven last season, with five starts. "Playing a lot last year, it only helped me grow. Last year I was more in awe of traveling with the team. It was a whole new experience for me. Now since I've done that, I think I am a lot more prepared. I hope to be able to play as much and be in the lineup a lot more now."
If he has learned anything from last year's experiences on the golf course he knows that it is going to take just as much patience and relaxing his mind to repeat his success. "I won an event and so my mindset should be that I should win every event. Ultimately, that is not realistic. You have to, at every event, play at your best potential."
Spoken like a matured person. For Pumford, it's not always about winning the tournaments; sometimes it's about winning at life. Competition to Make Lineup Intense
THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 20, 2007
The Wolverines' lineup for the Wolf Run Intercollegiate is four-fifths set following three days of qualifying rounds. Three players -- senior co-captain Tim Schaetzel, junior Bill Rankin (pictured) and freshman Alexander Sitompul, a first-time starter -- earned automatic spots based on their qualifier results, and freshman Lion Kim made the starting five as a coaches' selection. Senior co-captain Brian Ottenweller and junior Nick Pumford will travel to Zionsville, Ind., and play for the fifth spot during Friday's practice round. The player who does not make the starting lineup will compete in the tournament as an individual.
The competition to make the travel squad has been intense, with a deep, 10-player roster making it difficult for the coaches to select a lineup. But it's a good problem to have. "You only get better as a team when you have competition among your teammates," said coach Andrew Sapp. "We've got a very deep team this year. We ought to be able to feel comfortable with a lot of different players in the lineup, because a lot of them have a lot of experience. So it makes qualifying very interesting, and it makes qualifying very competitive."
Veterans like Ottenweller are no strangers to the competition involved in trying to make the travel squad. "It is what it is," said Ottenweller of his situation this week. "I get to go to a tournament and help my team, either as a starter or as an individual. It's just another opportunity, and you just have to take the opportunities when you get them. I know Nick and I will play our best and just try to help our team win. That is what matters the most." | | 2007 Archive
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