Weekly Release #2: U-M Hosts Wolverine Intercollegiate
9/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
This Week
Sat-Sun., Sept. 20-21 -- host, Wolverine Intercollegiate (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Next on the Tee
After a season-opening win at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate, the University of Michigan men's golf team will look to make it two straight wins as hosts of its only home event of the season -- the Wolverine Intercollegiate, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21. at the U-M Golf Course. There will be 16 teams in the 2008 field, playing 54 holes in the two-day event. The tournament will begin with 36 holes on Saturday. Michigan will be paired with California and Virginia Tech on the first day of play. The event will close with a final 18 holes on Sunday. Scoring for the Wolverine Intercollegiate will be five players; count the low four scores each round. Selected schools, including Michigan, will have invited individuals. The U-M Golf Course will be set up for a par 71 and 6,704 yards.
The Tournament Field
There will be 16 schools participating in the Wolverine Intercollegiate: California, Colorado State, Columbia, Eastern Michigan, Gardner Webb, Iowa State, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Oakland, San Diego, Toledo, UC-Davis, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin and Xavier.
The Tournament Schedule
| Fri., Sept. 19 | Practice Round - teams playing throughout the day |
| Sat., Sept. 20 | First Round (18) begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. |
| Second Round (18) will be a continuous play following the first round | |
| Sun., Sept. 21 | Final Round (18) begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. |
Tournament First Day Pairings
Group 1: Michigan, Cal, Virginia Tech
Group 2: Michigan State, Colorado State, Missouri
Group 3: Wisconsin, San Diego, Iowa State
Group 4: EMU, UC Davis, Xavier
Group 5: Columbia, Oakland, Gardner Webb
Group 6: Toledo, U-M Individuals, Selected Individuals
The Tournament Lineup
All 10 members of the Wolverines will see tournament play at the home event as five will play as individuals. Starting for the Wolverines for the second straight weekend will be: senior co-captain Bill Rankin(Traverse City, Mich./Central HS), senior co-captain Nick Pumford(St. Charles, Mich./St. Charles HS), junior Ross Millman(St. Louis, Mo./Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School), sophomore Lion Kim(Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary Prep School) and sophomore Alexander Sitompul(Jakarta, Indonesia/Bradenton Prep Academy). Playing as individuals will be: junior Billy McKay(Grand Blanc, Mich./David Leadbetter Golf Academy), junior Michael Slovitt(Winnetka, Ill./New Trier High School), junior David Weisfeld(Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale HS), freshman Alex Frankel(Atlanta, Ga./Lovett School) and freshman Matt Thompson(Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview HS).
Tournament History
There have been 16 events held at the U-M Golf Course since 1980, with 10 of those serving as the Wolverine Intercollegiate. The Maize and Blue have won two of those 10 events, with the latest coming in 2005 when the Wolverines set 54-hole record with an 839 tournament total.
Last Time on the Course
With the season-opening win at the 2008 Wolf Run, the Wolverines opened with an event trophy for the second straight season. Last season, the Wolverines opened the season by winning the 2007 Purdue Midwest Shootout. The title gives head coach Andrew Sapp his fourth team win and third in the last 14 events. At Wolf Run, U-M had three starters close among the top 10 to lead the Wolverines to the win. Ross Millman started his first career tournament and posted a career-best 226 total, paced behind his career-best 72 in the first round. Newcomer Alex Frankel made his collegiate debut as an individual and tied for 42nd.
Longevity Continuing
With his expected start at the 2008 Wolverine Intercollegiate, Bill Rankin will make it 26 straight events as a Wolverine starter. He has yet to miss a start in the last three years. Throughout his career, he has played in 32 career events, with 29 starts.
Home Course Advantage
Two years ago at the Wolverine Intercollegiate, Nick Pumford set his career-best for a 54-hole tournament with a 209 total on the U-M Golf Course, including a career-best four-under 67 in the first round. Pumford finished as the runner-up playing as an individual. Michael Slovitt posted his career-best of 71 at the same event.
Looking to Repeat
Last season, the Wolverines posted two tournament wins and five individual titles, as well as a fifth-place showing at the Big Ten Championships -- the best in 10 years -- and their first bid to an NCAA Regional in eight years. After missing advancing to the NCAA Finals by three shots, the Wolverines will look to build off their experiences to make a run at the Big Ten title and second straight regional appearance this season.
PLAYER-BY-PLAYER NOTABLES
Senior Nick Pumford
Named team captain, along with Bill Rankin
Played in 20 career tournaments, with 16 starts
Averaging 73.67 strokes per round in final season
Shot a career-best four-under 67, two times -- 2007 Wolf Run Intercollegiate (third) and 2006 Wolverine Intercollegiate (first)
Career Stroke Average: 75.63
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - none ... 36-hole tournament total - 149 (75-74) at the 2007 Boilermaker Invitational ... 54-hole tournament total - four-under 209 (67-71-71) at the 2006 Wolverine Intercollegiate ... 72-hole tournament C 308 (77-77-78-76) at the 2008 Big Ten Championships
Senior Bill Rankin
Named team captain, along with Nick Pumford
Played in 32 career tournaments, with 29 starts
Started 25 straight tournaments for U-M - has not missed a start in three years
Led U-M in opening tournament, with fourth place finish at 2008 Wolf Run Intercollegiate
Averaging 72.67 strokes per round in final season
Won two career individual titles -- 2007 Purdue Midwest Shootout and the 2008 Maxwell
Shot a career-best four-under 66 in the second round of the 2008 Maxwell
Career Stroke Average: 75.35
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament total - one-under 71 at the 2007 Purdue Midwest Shootout ... 36-hole tournament total - 152 (77-75) at the 2006 Pinehurst Intercollegiate ... 54-hole tournament total - eight-under 202 (67-66-69) at the 2008 Maxwell -- U-M Record ... 72-hole tournament total - three-under 285 (69-75-71-70) at the 2008 Big Ten Championships
Junior Billy McKay
Played in 12 career tournaments, with nine starts
Shot a career-best one-under 69 in the third round of the 2006 Nike Purdue Kiahuna Collegiate Invitational (Nov. 22-23)
Career Stroke Average: 76.27
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament total - 77 at the 2007 Purdue Midwest Shootout ... 36-hole tournament total - 153 (76-77) at 2007 Robert Kepler Intercollegiate ... 54-hole tournament total - even-par 216 (72-71-73) at the 2006 Pinehurst Intercollegiate... 72-hole tournament total - 314 (74-82-79-79) at the 2007 Big Ten Championships
Junior Ross Millman
Played in three career tournaments, with one start
Earned first career start at the 2008 Wolf Run Intercollegiate
Averaging 75.33 strokes per round in third season
Shot a career-best 72 in the first round of the 2008 Wolf Run Intercollegiate
Career Stroke Average: 77.78
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - none ... 36-hole tournament - none ... 54-hole tournament total - 226 (72-76-78) at the 2008 Wolf Run Intercollegiate ... 72-hole tournament - none
Junior Michael Slovitt
Played in three career events - all as an individual
Shot a career-best even-par 71 in the first round of the 2006 Wolverine Intercollegiate
Career Stroke Average: 78.89
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - none ... 36-hole tournament - none ... 54-hole tournament total - 227 (71-77-79) at the 2006 Wolverine Intercollegiate ... 72-hole tournament - none
Junior David Weisfeld
Played in two career events - all as an individual
Shot a career-best 72, two times -- the 2007 Wolverine at Mission Inn (second) and 2008 Missouri Tiger Intercollegiate (second)
Career Stroke Average: 76.17
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - none ... 36-hole tournament - none ... 54-hole tournament total - 224 (75-72-77) at the 2007 Wolverine at Mission Inn ... 72-hole tournament - none
Walked onto the Michigan program after taking freshman year off to concentrate on academics ... former roommate of Billy McKay at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy
Sophomore Lion Kim
Played in 13 career tournaments, with 12 starts
Averaging 73.00 strokes per round in second season
Shot a career-best four-under 68 in the second round of the 2008 Puerto Rico Classic
Named Big Ten Golfer of the Week after setting a career-best 54-hole tournament total (213, -3) at 2008 Puerto Rico Classic
Career Stroke Average: 75.39
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament of 74 at 2007 Purdue Midwest Shootout ... 36-hole tournament - none ... 54-hole tournament total of three-under 213 (76-68-69) at the 2008 Puerto Rico Classic ... 72-hole tournament total of 303 (77-76-75-75) at the 2008 Big Ten Championships
Given name is Jun Min Kim, but goes by Lion which is a nickname given to him by his parents
Sophomore Alexander Sitompul
Played in 11 career tournaments, with 10 starts
Averaging 75.33 strokes per round in second season
Shot a career-best four-under 67 in the first round of the 2007 Windon Memorial Classic
Career Stroke Average: 74.31
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - 80 at 2007 Purdue Midwest Shootout ... 36-hole tournament - none ... 54-hole tournament total - four-under 212 (74-70-68) at the 2007 Prestige... 72-hole tournament total - 308 (74-76-80-78) at the 2008 Big Ten Championships
Freshman Alex Frankel
Made collegiate debut as individual at the 2008 Wolf Run Intercollegiate, tying for 42nd
Averaging 77.33 strokes per round in first season
Shot a career-best 75 in the second round of the 2008 Wolf Run Intercollegiate
Career Tournament Bests: 18-hole tournament - none 36-hole tournament - none ... 54-hole tournament total - 232 (76-75-81) at the 2008 Wolf Run Intercollegiate ... 72-hole tournament total - none.
One of two newcomers to the Wolverine roster
Freshman Matt Thompson
One of two newcomers to the Wolverine roster
Four-year letterwinner at Lakeview
2008 Michigan Mr. Golf and two-time Michigan Super Team member
Helped Lakeview to the 2008 Division 2 State title and two-time medalist at Division 2 State Finals
Upcoming Schedule
Sun-Mon., Oct. 5-6 -- at Windon Memorial Classic (Glencoe, Ill.)
Mon-Tue., Oct. 13-14 -- at the Prestige (Palm Springs, Calif.)
Mon-Tue., Oct. 27-28 -- at Bridgestone Intercollegiate (Greensboro, N.C.)
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
