2007-08 GFM Wolf Run Intercollegiate -- Notes & Quotes
9/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Andrew Sapp
On his thoughts about the weekend at Wolf Run ... "I am definitely pleased with the way we played yesterday. You have to put yourself in contention if you're ever going to win, but Penn State just played great today. We have to tip our hats to them. For them to shoot two-over par on that golf course today was a fantastic round. We didn't really make it difficult for them to win. We didn't play well. We had a poor finish. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. Even the second place is a strong finish in this field, and we are glad to finish that high, but we need to make sure we close the door. Nick (Pumford) played tremendous. His 67 today was just an amazing round. I am just very proud of him. I am excited for him to get his first collegiate win. I was excited to see Alexander (Sitompul) get his first start and finish in the top 10. We had a lot of good things, but right now it is a bittersweet that we didn't close the deal and get the victory."
On if he had any regrets about not inserting Nick Pumford in the starting lineup ... "That's the way it goes. You just never know. I am just so excited for the way Nick played."
On coming back with a strong performance as the disappointment at Inverness ... "We just came out and played really good golf. We played the way we are capable of playing. That's what was nice. I think beating a lot of the teams we did, it continues to show -- with a win and a second place finish already this fall -- we can continue to be in this position to win golf tournaments. It's a good way to bounce back after a poor showing at Inverness. We are looking forward to going to the Windon in a couple of weeks and hopefully competing to win that one."
Senior Tim Schaetzel
On coming back strong as a team after Inverness ... "After playing so well in the first round, it is very encouraging to see what we can do and how good we can play. It really gets our confidence going. To go out and shot one-under as a team in the first round, really helps put Inverness out of your mind quickly. This was also a very challenging golf course. We proved to ourselves that even on a tough golf course we can go out and play well. So, this can only help us as we move forward."
On the impact of the freshmen ... "They played great this weekend. They bring a lot of energy. It is so much fun having them around. They hit it really well this week. They made so of those mistakes that freshman will make, but they obviously they showed they have enough talent to overcome a lot of those mistakes and still play well. If they continue to mature and improve, I expect them to keep finishing high in these fields."
Junior Nick Pumford
On what it feels like to win his first tournament ... "Cool. I don't really know what I am feeling right now actually. I just played really well and putted well."
On gaining momentum throughout the tournament to his first win medalist honor ... "When I shot the 70 in the first round, I made a lot of putts and just played solidly. The second round 73, I still played solid, but the putts just weren't falling for me. Today, I was lights out. As soon as I got on the green I knew it was in. I birdied my first hole and then made a great up and down on my second hole and I just took that momentum and went with it."
On if there is less pressure when playing as an individual ... "It narrows your focus more. You're not worried about what your teammates are doing; you are just worried about yourself. So, I think in that sense it does take some pressure off."
On not making the starting lineup ... "You know, Brian (Ottenweller) and I knew what we had to do to make it into the lineup. Coach (Sapp) was clear with what he wanted. I didn't play the way I wanted to in that round and Brian beat me by two strokes. It's as simple as that. That is the way it works sometimes. I just wanted to play well and cheer on my teammates. The fact that I did play well and won is just a bonus. For me, it's always been about the team first."
N O T E S
Playing as an invited individual, Nick Pumford claimed the first medalist honor of his Michigan career. He is the first U-M golfer to win a tournament since former Wolverine Christian Vozza (2004-07) won the 2005 Wolverine Intercollegiate (Sept. 24-25).
Nick Pumford's final round four-under 67 at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate tied his career best single round tournament total. He equaled the four-under 67 he posted in the first round of the Wolverine Intercollegiate (Sept. 23-24, 2006).
Nick Pumford's three-under 210 54-hole tournament total was just a stroke away from equaling his career best. He tallied a career-best of four-under 209 at the 2006 Wolverine Intercollegiate finishing as the medalist runner-up. Coincidentally, he competed as an invited individual at the Wolverine Intercollegiate.
In three tournaments this season, Michigan has posted two top two finishes, after winning Purdue's Midwest Shootout (Sept. 8) and posting a runner-up finish at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate.
With the first round one-under 283, Michigan was the only team to tally a sub-par round of the Wolf Run Intercollegiate. Nick Pumford's four-under 67 in the final round was also the tournament's lowest single round score.
The Wolverine starters produced five par-or-better rounds at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate. If you threw in Nick Pumford's individual play, the Maize and Blue had seven total on the weekend.
Lion Kim posted back-to-back career best rounds of 71 in the first and second round of the Wolf Run Intercollegiate. His previous best was a 74 in his first collegiate round at Purdue's Midwest Shootout.
Alexander Sitompul posted a career-best one-under 70 in the first round of the Wolf Run Intercollegiate. In his first collegiate start and second career tournament, his only other round recorded was an 80 at Purdue's Midwest Shootout.
Tim Schaetzel started his 31st straight tournament for the Wolverines at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate. Bill Rankin started in his 15th straight tournament and Brian Ottenweller started his eighth straight. Lion Kim has started all three tournaments this season. Alexander Sitompul started his first career tournament at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate.
Players Mentioned
