Michigan
NCAA Central Regional
Wolverines Remain in Hunt for NCAA Championships Berth
5/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Site: Columbus, Ohio
Course: Ohio State Scarlet Course (par 71, 7,420 yards)
Tournament: NCAA Central Regional
U-M Standing: 12th Place of 27 Teams (298-300/598) After Day 2
Top U-M Individual: Alexander Sitompul, tie-18th (70-77/144)
Final Round: Saturday, May 17 -- at NCAA Central Regional (Columbus, Ohio), 7 a.m.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The University of Michigan men's golf team tallied a team total of 300 today (Friday, May 16) during the second day of the NCAA Central Regional, dropping the Wolverines into 12th place after 36 holes at the Ohio State Scarlet Course.
The Wolverines, who show a 36-hole total of 598 (298-300), remain in contention for a top-10 finish and advancement to their first NCAA Championships appearance since 1997. Michigan is just one shot out of the top 10 as Indiana (300-297) and Kent State (302-295) are just ahead of the Maize and Blue with 597 totals.
Freshman Alexander Sitompul(Jakarta, Indonesia/Bradenton Prep) continues to lead the way for the Wolverines at the Central Regional as he is tied for 18th with a 147 total. Sitompul began the day in a tie for second individually after firing a one-under-par 70 in yesterday's first round, but five bogeys on his first nine holes of today's second round hampered his second day as he closed with a 77 but maintained his standing among the top 20.
For the second straight day junior Bill Rankin(Traverse City, Mich./Central) posted a four-over 75 to give him a two-day tally of 150, putting him into a tie for 50th overall. In today's round, he was one over after his first nine holes as a birdie on No. 17 helped erase one of two bogeys on the back nine. A bogey on No. 1 and double bogey on the par-5 fifth hole pushed him to four over, where he stayed for the remainder of the round.
Junior Nick Pumford(St. Charles, Mich./St. Charles) and senior co-captain Tim Schaetzel(Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) had Michigan's best rounds of the day, each shooting 74. Pumford is tied for 69th (78-74/152) with one round remaining, while Schaetzel shares 81st place (79-74/153) with freshman Lion Kim(Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary Prep), who has tallied rounds of 75 and 78 during the first two days of play.
Paced by three players sitting among the top four individually, Wake Forest maintained its first-day lead as the Demon Deacons sit nine over par with a 577 total (290-287). Alabama is second at 587 (292-295), while Illinois (298-292) and Penn State (304-286) are tied for third at 590. Individually, Oklahoma State's Kevin Tway used a two-under 69 to move into the lead with a three-under total of 139 (70-69). First-day leader Brendan Gielow of Wake Forest is second at 141 (69-72), while Demon Deacon teammates Dustin Groves and Webb Simpson are third (72-70/142) and fourth (72-71/143), respectively.
With the battle for the 10 NCAA finals spots coming down to the final 18 holes, the Maize and Blue will be paired with its closest competition -- Indiana and Kent State -- and will go off the 10th tee starting at 8:05 a.m. Saturday (May 17). The top 10 teams and top two individuals not from a qualifying team will advance to the NCAA Championships on May 28-31 at Purdue's Kampen Course at the Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Ind.
Team Standings (After Day 2)
1. Wake Forest 290-287 = 577 (+9) 2. Alabama 292-295 = 587 3. Illinois 298-292 = 590 Penn State 304-286 = 590 5. Eastern Kentucky 302-289 = 591 6. Texas A&M 298-294 = 592 Oklahoma State 293-299 = 592 8. Florida 294-300 = 594 Louisville 301-293 = 594 10. Kent State 302-295 = 597 Indiana 300-297 = 597 12. MICHIGAN 298-300 = 598 13. Eastern Michigan 297-302 = 599 14. Lamar University 299-301 = 600 15. Tennessee 301-300 = 601 16. Wichita State 302-300 = 602 Ohio State 299-303 = 602 18. TCU 302-302 = 604 Colorado 301-303 = 604 20. Georgia Tech 307-299 = 606 Texas-Arlington 308-298 = 606 22. Arkansas 304-304 = 608 23. Cleveland State 313-299 = 612 24. Marquette 314-299 = 613 25. Baylor 307-309 = 616 26. Sacred Heart 316-311 = 627 27. Loyola College 318-314 = 632
Top Individuals
1. Kevin Tway, Oklahoma State 70-69 = 139 (-3) 2. Brendan Gielow, Wake Forest 69-72 = 141 3. Dustin Groves, Wake Forest 72-70 = 142 4. Webb Simpson, Wake Forest 72-71 = 143 5. Jorge Campillo, Indiana 71-73 = 144 Mark Harrell, Alabama 70-74 = 144 Jesse Massie, Eastern Kentucky 73-71 = 144 8. Kevin Foley, Penn State 75-70 = 145 Charles Ford,Tennessee 70-75 = 145 Trent Leon, Oklahoma State 71-74 = 145 Robert Rohanna, Penn State 75-70 = 145 Vaughn Snyder, Ohio State 72-73 = 145 Derek Tolan, Colorado 73-72 = 145
Michigan Individuals
T18. Alexander Sitompul 70-77 = 147 T50. Bill Rankin 75-75 = 150 T69. Nick Pumford 78-74 = 152 T81. Lion Kim 75-78 = 153 T81. Tim Schaetzel 79-74 = 153
N O T E S
Michigan is playing its third NCAA regional formatted event in team history. U-M played in the 1997 and 2000 Central Regional. The Wolverines advanced to the 1997 NCAA finals after finishing eighth in the 21-team regional field with an 874 total.
Alexander Sitompul's one-under 70 in the first round of the 2008 Central Regional is his sixth sub-par round of the season and the sixth sub-par round for a Wolverine at an NCAA Regional event. Michael Harris posted a three-under 68 (third round), Mike Affeldt had a two-under 69 (second) and Scott Hayes had a one-under 70 (third) at the 2000 Central Regional, while David Jasper had back-to-back rounds of one-under 71 (first and second rounds) at the 1997 Central Regional.
Tim Schaetzel and Bill Rankin are the only Wolverines to have started all 13 tournaments this season. Schaetzel has started the last 41 events for the Wolverines, while Rankin has started 24 straight events for the Maize and Blue. In addition, Lion Kim has played in all 13 events this season with 12 starts.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
