Michigan
NCAA Championships (Day 3)
U-M Advances to Match Play Finals for Chance at National Title
5/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Site: Toledo, Ohio
Course: Inverness Club (par 71, 7,255 yards)
Tournament: NCAA Championships (Day 3 of 3)
U-M Standing: 6th Place of 30 Teams (296-285-287/868)
Top U-M Individual: Alexander Sitompul, 6th (72-69-70/211)
Next Event: Fri-Sat., May 29-30 -- at NCAA Championships, Match Play (Toledo, Ohio), 9:15 a.m.
TOLEDO, Ohio -- In a back-and-forth, dramatic final nine holes, sophomore Lion Kim (Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary Prep School) drained an eight-foot par putt on the 18th hole today (Thursday, May 28) to help the University of Michigan men's golf team secure a spot in the NCAA match play finals and a shot at the NCAA national championship with a sixth-place team finish at the Inverness Club.
With the NCAA altering the format for the team championship this season, the Wolverines finished sixth with a 54-hole total of 868 (296-285-287), placing them among the top eight teams and advancing them to the match play final. U-M will face third-ranked Southern Cal, which used a five-under 279 in the final round to finish tied for third with an 865 total.
With U-M's first trip to the NCAA Championships in 12 years opening up on Tuesday (May 26), the Wolverines had an up-and-down first round as Kim and fellow sophomore Alexander Sitompul (Jakarta, Indonesia/Bradenton Prep) used rounds of one-over 72 to lead U-M to a 296 first-day tally and put the Maize and Blue ninth after 18 holes, just two shots out of the coveted top eight. After heavy rains and storms halted second-round play for four-and-a-half hours yesterday (Wednesday, May 27), the Wolverines were only able to get in anywhere from eight to 10 holes before play was called due to darkness in Wednesday's second round. Paced by 12 birdies in their first nine holes, the Wolverines sat at six under par before play was suspended. Coming back this morning, the Maize and Blue continued its second round on the tougher front side and closed seven over par to finish with a one-over 285, moving them up two spots to seventh place and staying in contention for a match-play berth.
After having already played nine holes on the day, the Wolverines used it to their advantage in today's third round as they made the turn at three over par, keeping U-M right around the top eight positions and setting up the drama for the final nine holes. Sitompul's long drives and freshman Matt Thompson's (Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview HS) play around the greens helped the duo close their final nine holes at three under par as both closed with one-under 70s to put the Wolverines sixth with just Kim left to play.
After Kim hit his final drive into the right-side rough, his approach shot landed in the front-side bunker. With his ball slightly buried, he punched it passed the high-lipped bunker and knocked it eight feet passed the pin. With U-M holding on to a one-shot lead for the sixth spot, Kim drained the putt with his teammates looking on to complete the up and down and secure a spot for the Wolverines in match play and a chance at the national championship.
Sitompul led U-M in stroke play with a sixth-place individual finish, tying his career best with a two-under 211 (72-69-70) 54-hole total. Classmate Kim followed with his sixth top-20 finish of the season at one-over 214 (72-68-74). With his final round, one-under 70, Thompson cracked into the top 50, closing at 219 (75-74-70), while senior co-captain Bill Rankin (Traverse City, Mich./Central HS) finished with a 224 (77-74-73) and fellow senior co-captain Nick Pumford (St. Charles, Mich./St. Charles HS) earned a 237 (81-75-81).
In addition to the Wolverines' match against the Trojans in the No. 3 vs. No. 6 seed match at 9:15 a.m., No. 1 seed Oklahoma State, which won stroke play with a three-under 849 total, will face No. 8 seed Georgia, which tied for seventh at 869, in the opening match at 7 a.m. No. 4 seeded Arkansas goes up against No. 5 seeded Washington at 7:45 a.m., while No. 2 seed Arizona State will face No. 7 seed Texas A&M at 8:30 a.m. A live webcast is available.
Team Standings (Final)
1. Oklahoma State 288-280-281 = 849 (-3)
2. Arizona State 294-281-287 = 862
3. Southern Cal 305-281-279 = 865
Arkansas 297-283-285 = 865
Washington 293-286-286 = 865
6. MICHIGAN 296-285-287 = 868
7. Texas A&M 298-276-295 = 869
Georgia 288-285-296 = 869
9. TCU 299-285-289 = 873
10. Georgia Tech 301-285-288 = 874
Central Florida 300-283-291 = 874
12. Tennessee 294-289-292 = 875
13. San Diego 293-293-291 = 877
14. Duke 297-285-296 = 878
15. Alabama 298-288-293 = 879
16. South Carolina 305-286-294 = 885
17. Iowa 301-296-290 = 887
18. Chattanooga 292-297-299 = 888
19. Florida 310-287-292 = 889
20. Stanford 305-298-288 = 891
21. Illinois 299-291-302 = 892
22. Oregon 306-293-298 = 897
23. Texas Tech 303-292-305 = 900
UCLA 306-295-299 = 900
25. Ohio State 294-310-297 = 901
26. Texas 308-300-295 = 903
27. Wake Forest 302-304-298 = 904
Virginia 306-297-301 = 904
29. Northwestern 298-304-306 = 908
30. Arizona 310-302-297 = 909
Top Individuals
1. Matt Hill, N.C. State 69-69-69 = 207* (-4)
2. Kyle Stanley, Clemson 72-71-66 = 209*
3. Rickie Fowler, Oklahoma State 72-70-68 = 210
Tom Glissmeyer, Southern Cal 74-70-66 = 210
Tom Hoge, TCU 70-70-70 = 210
6. ALEXANDER SITOMPUL, U-M 72-69-70 = 211
7. Blayne Barber, UCF 75-69-68 = 212
Morgan Hoffmann, Oklahoma State 72-69-71 = 212
9. Brian Harman, Georgia 71-71-71 = 213
Russell Henley, Georgia 71-67-75 = 213
Jesper Kennegard, Arizona State 72-69-72 = 213
Nick Taylor, Washington 70-70-73 = 213
13. LION KIM, U-M 72-68-74 = 214
Alex Ching, San Diego 70-68-76 = 214
David Holmes, Tennessee 70-71-73 = 214
Scott Pinckney, Arizona State 73-67-74 = 214
Conrad Shindler, Texas A&M 75-68-71 = 214
Other Michigan Individuals
T36. Matt Thompson 75-74-70 = 219 T79. Bill Rankin 77-74-73 = 224 T153. Nick Pumford 81-75-81 = 237 * played as individual
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Andrew Sapp
On U-M advancing them to match play ... "We needed that putt to make sure we would be able to hold our position. It just was a great moment for this team. Lately, we have had a great level of consistency. We just needed to uphold that this week. It kind of started with the last round at the regional in Austin, Texas. We just built on that momentum this week and played really well. I cannot say enough about our young guys -- Alexander (Sitompul), Lion (Kim) and Matt (Thompson). They did a great job. A lot of that is due to the leadership from Bill (Rankin) and Nick (Pumford). The fact that as seniors they will be able to enjoy this moment means a lot. It is going to be a lot of fun. I told these guys before the regional that we can win the national championship. The hardest part is getting there. Now we are in the final eight and it's a whole new ballgame. Everyone starts at zero."
On letting some of his emotions show after U-M made it ... "It's a blast. I am loving this. This is what I came to Michigan for. This is what I wanted for Michigan's golf program. This is what I have wanted for our players. So, it's exciting. Even looking into the future, it's nice because you have three guys who are experiencing this that have at least two years left. With the NCAA getting back to a match play format for this championship, I am just thrill to be in it. Remember, the last time they had match play, Michigan won it. Hopefully, we will be able to make some noise tomorrow."
U-M Senior Bill Rankin
On U-M advancing to match play ... "It is an amazing feeling. We know we can compete and we know we can compete at a high level. Sitting watching that final putt was nerve-racking. It is funny because it reminded me of the regional, where I was in the same position that Lion (Kim) was in and I had to make the putt. I know how happy he is right now. It means so much to all of us to make that putt for the other five guys."
On using the experiences of the Big Ten match play event at NCAAs ... "The most important thing is we know more than anything we can trust the other four guys out there. That is one of the things we established. You know you can look over your shoulder and count on the guys. As far as the match play goes, it's really not that much different than stroke play. You still have to play better than the other guy. Having the experience of play at the Big Ten match play, making the shots, having the pressure and the success we had will only help us build our confidence even more."
U-M Sophomore Lion Kim
On getting the up and down to help U-M secure a match play spot ... "After my drive went right and my second shot went into the bunker, I knew I had to get a good up and down. When I saw the ball was buried I knew I had to get it out of there. My dad and I have been working on that plugged lie for the last few weeks. We just wanted to make sure that if it happened I would be able to hit it somewhat close. Luckily, I hit a pretty good shot and put it about eight feet away. I wasn't completely happy with where I put it, but I knew I had a good shot at making it. Before the putt I looked at the scoreboard and saw we had a two-shot lead, but I still wanted to make the putt to make sure we kept that cushion and not worry about any other teams sneaking up on us."
On the putt ... "It was just one of those moments where I knew I was striking it well. I saw the line and said just put a good stroke on it and if you do it is going to go in. I just kept telling myself, 'it is going to go in, it is going to go in.' It did. It was a great moment for this team."
U-M Sophomore Alexander Sitompul
On if he thought he was capable of scoring so well at Inverness ... "I haven't really been good with my ball striking this year, but I have been putting well. I knew I could shoot a good score if I could get it on the green, which I was able to do over the last three days."
On U-M advancing to the NCAA Finals match play ... "We got into the regional right on the line and advanced out it by a very close margin. To advance here is even better. I will say it was a little more than luck. We have played well down the stretch. I am proud to be part of this team and what we have been able to do throughout the season. There is so much I want to say, but I cannot put it into words right now. I will say that I am just so proud of this team and to be a part of it."
NOTES
• After U-M dedicated the 2009 Big Ten Championships to former U-M great Ed Schalon, who passed away in December, the Wolverines continued in the NCAA postseason dedicating U-M's run to another U-M legend, Woodrow Malloy, who passed away this May. Malloy was the last surviving member of U-M's 1934 and 1935 NCAA championship team
• Michigan will be competing it its second match play format event this season. Earlier this season, U-M finished as the runner-up in the inaugural Big Ten match play at the TPC of Heron Bay in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Michigan will be competing in its first match play format at the NCAA Championships since the Wolverines won back-to-back NCAA titles in 1934 and 1935.
• Alexander Sitompul tied his career-best, 54-hole tournament score with a two-under 211 at the NCAA Finals. It equaled the five-under 211 he posted at the 2009 River Landing Intercollegiate, playing at par 72. Overall, it marks the eighth tournament this season a Wolverine has finished under par.
• Michigan closed the 2008-09 season with a 292.05 scoring averaging, setting a new U-M record. It topped the record set last season by nearly two-and-a-half shots; the 2007-08 Wolverines averaged 294.42.
• Lion Kim closed the 2008-09 season averaging 72.89 strokes per round to become just the second Wolverine in history to average below 73 in a season. The only other Wolverine to do so was former All-American Michael Harris, who did it three times -- the school record of 72.23 (1999-2000), 72.41 (1997-98) and 72.72 (1998-99).
• Michigan closed the 2008-09 season with 57 total rounds of par or better. Bill Rankin led the way with 12, while Lion Kim, Alexander Sitompul and Matt Thompson each had 10. Nick Pumford finished with nine. Sitompul is the only Wolverine starter to finish the season with all sub-par numbers.
• Michigan made its first NCAA Championships appearance in 12 years. U-M's last appearance was in 1997, when the Wolverines closed 25th after a 36-hole total of 597 (300-297). The score did not advance them past 36 holes. Overall, it was U-M's 23rd NCAA postseason appearance as a team.
• All five Wolverines are making their NCAA Championships debut. Four of U-M's five starters have two years experience playing in an NCAA Regional. Bill Rankin, Nick Pumford, Alexander Sitompul and Lion Kim have back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances for the Maize and Blue.
• Andrew Sapp has now taken three different schools and four total programs to the NCAA Championships. Overall, he is making his 11th trip to nationals. In his coaching career, he has helped lead North Carolina, Purdue's men's and women's teams and now the Wolverines to the national tournament.
• With his start at the NCAA Championships, Bill Rankin has now made 37 straight and has not missed a start in the last three seasons. Nick Pumford made his 23rd straight start for the Wolverines dating back to his junior year, while Lion Kim extended his consecutive start streak to 19. All three are the only Wolverines to start all 13 events this season.
Players Mentioned
