Michigan
Big Ten Championships
Rankin Paces Wolverines on Day One of Big Tens
4/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Site: East Lansing, Mich.
Course: Forest Akers, West Course (par 72, 7,013 yards)
Tournament: 2008 Big Ten Championships (Day 1 of 3)
U-M Standing: T-7th Place of 11 Teams (296-302/598)
Top U-M Individual: Bill Rankin, tie-7th (69-75/143)
Next Event: Saturday-Sunday, April 26-27 -- at Big Ten Championships (East Lansing, Mich.)
EAST LANSING,Mich.--The University of Michigan men's golf team posted a team tally of 598 Friday (April 25) to tie for seventh after the first 36 holes of the 2008 Big Ten Championships at Michigan State's Forest Akers West Course. The Wolverines opened with a 296 first round tally, before closing with a 302 during the second round.
Continuing his strong play during the end of the spring regular season, junior Bill Rankin(Traverse City, Mich./Central) paced the way for the Wolverines during the first day of play, sitting tied for seventh with an even-par 144 36-hole total. Opening on No. 1, Rankin caught fire early in the first round, closing the front side posting a four-under 32 after sinking birdies on Nos. 1, 4, 8 and 9. After making the turn, Rankin hit his first snag of the day with a bogey on No. 11, but he erased that mark with his fifth birdie of the round on No. 13. A second bogey on No. 15 put him back to three-under where he stayed, parring out the remainder of the round to close with a three-under 69, which tied his single round season low.
In the second round, Rankin did not repeat his front side magic. He bogeyed three of his first four holes to fall quickly tothree-over par. A birdie on No. 5 put him back to two-over where he stayed, parring out the rest of the front nine. Like the start of his first nine, the start on the back side was difficult. Rankin opened bogey, double-bogey, bogey to jump to six-over par with six holes remaining. Birdies on No. 13 and 15 helped him get back to four-over, but another bogey on No. 16 pushed him back to five-over. With just two holes remaining, Rankin used a strong drive and second shot to eagle the par 5 No. 17, helping him close the round with a three-over 75.
In his first Big Ten Championship, freshman Alexander Sitompul(Jakarta, Indonesia/Bradenton Prep) closed the first day of play, posting a 150 36-hole total after rounds of 74 and 76. Senior co-captain Tim Schaetzel(Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) is tied for 25th as he carded a 151 36-hole total after rounds of 76 and 75. In their first conference tournament, freshman Lion Kim(Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary Prep) is tied for 32nd with a 153 total (77-76), while junior Nick Pumford(St. Charles, Mich./St. Charles) is tied for 38th at 154 (77-77).
With just five strokes separating the top three teams, Illinois (293-288) took the first day lead, posting a five-over 581 total. Northwestern (293-291) is second at 584 and host Michigan State (291-295) is third at 586. Individually, Indiana's Jorge Campillo holds a one-stroke lead after the first day as he tallied a four-under 140 36-hole total (69-71). Michigan State's Ryan Brehm (72-69) and Illinois' Scott Langley (72-69) are tied for second at three-under 141.
After 36-holes in the books, the Wolverines will continue their 2008 Big Ten Championships run will the third round Saturday (April 26) at Forest Akers, West Course. The Maize and Blue will be paired with Purdue and Wisconsin, starting on No. 10 around 9:45 a.m. The Big Ten Championships will conclude on Sunday (April 28) with a final 18 holes.
Team Standings (After Day 1 of 3)
1. Illinois 293-288 = 581 (+5) 2. Northwestern 293-291 = 584 3. Michigan State 291-295 = 586 4. Ohio State 293-298 = 591 5. Indiana 297-295 = 592 6. Minnesota 293-301 = 594 7. MICHIGAN 296-302 = 598 Purdue 303-295 = 598 9. Wisconsin 296-305 = 601 10. Iowa 304-305 = 609 11. Penn State 299-313 = 612
Top Individuals
1. Jorge Campillo, Indiana 69-71 = 140 (-4) 2. Ryan Brehm, Michigan State 72-69 = 141 Scott Langley, Illinois 72-69 = 141 4. David Gersztein, Purdue 70-73 = 143 David Lipsky, Northwestern 72-71 = 143 Vaughn Snyder, Ohio State 68-75 = 143 7. BILL RANKIN, U-M 69-75 = 144 Jonathan Bowers, Northwestern 71-73 = 144 Jack Newman, Michigan State 70-74 = 144 10. Victor Almstrom, Minnesota 73-72 = 145
Other Michigan Individuals
T22. Alexander Sitompul 74-76 = 150 T25. Tim Schaetzel 76-75 = 151 T32. Lion Kim 77-76 = 153 T38. Nick Pumford 77-77 = 154Â
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N O T E S
Bill Rankin tied a season best with his three-under 69 in the first round of the Big Ten Championships. He also has a three-under 69 this season in the second round of the Wolverine at Mission Inn (Nov. 5-6). It marks his fifth round this season of par or better and 12th of his career.
Tim Schaetzel is playing in his fourth straight Big Ten Championship, while Bill Rankin is making his second appearance. Lion Kim, Nick Pumford and Alexander Sitompul are competing in their first conference tournament.
Tim Schaetzel and Bill Rankin are the only Wolverines to have started all 11 tournaments this season. In fact, with starts at the Big Ten Championships, Schaetzel has started the last 38 events for the Wolverines, while Rankin has started the last 22 straight events for the Maize and Blue. In addition, Lion Kim has played in all 11 events this season, with 10 starts.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
