Michigan
NCAA Central Regional
Thompson Shoots Even Par to Open NCAA Central Regional
5/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Course: U-M Golf Course (par 71, 6,723 yards)
Tournament: NCAA Central Regional (Day 1 of 3)
U-M Team Standing: No Team Score
Top U-M Individual: Matt Thompson, tie-15th (71)
Next U-M Event: Fri-Sat., May 18-19 -- host NCAA Central Regional (U-M Golf Course)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's golf senior Matt Thompson (Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview HS) opened the NCAA Central Regional with an even-par 71 today (Thursday, May 17) at the U-M Golf Course, putting himself in a tie for 15th individually.
Thompson is four shots back of the three co-leaders -- TCU's Julien Brun, Baylor's Joakim Mikkelsen and USC's Anthony Paolucci -- who opened with four-under 67s.
Thompson, competing as an individual, posted birdies on the second and sixth holes to make the turn at two under. After a strong tee shot on No. 2, he hit his second shot to 12 feet pin high and drained the uphill putt. With the pin on the upper tier of the No. 6, Thompson placed a tee shot down the right side of the fairway, hit a 54-degree wedge two feet behind the hole, and sank the downhill birdie putt.
Thompson parred 10 straight holes before closing with a pair of bogeys on Nos. 17 and 18 to draw him even for the day. Both of his drives on the closing two holes went left, causing Thompson to have to chip out of the rough to get back to the fairway.
In the team standings, TCU holds an eight-stroke lead at six-under 278, with Kent State second (286) and Kennesaw State and Virginia tied for third (287). From the Ann Arbor regional, five teams and the top individual not on a qualifying team will advance to the NCAA Finals in Los Angeles, Calif.
The NCAA Central Regional will continue with the second round on Friday (May 18) with tee times beginning at 8 a.m. Thompson is scheduled to tee off at 10:10 a.m. off the 10th tee, paired with Navy's Drew Selby and Akron's Charlie Bull.
Team Standings (After Day 1)
1. TCU 278
2. Kent State 286
3. Kennesaw State 287
Virginia 287
5. Oregon 288
6. Southern Cal 289
7. Oklahoma State 290
N.C. State 290
9. Purdue 291
Notre Dame 291
11. Baylor 296
12. Ohio State 305
13. Navy 322
Top Individuals
1. Julien Brun, TCU 67 (-4)
Joakim Mikkelsen, Baylor 67
Anthony Paolucci, USC 67
4. Sebastian MacLean, Xavier* 68
5. Albin Choi, N.C. State 69
Peder Hermansson, Kennesaw State 69
Bruce Woodall, Virginia 69
8. Tyler Duncan, Purdue 70
Mackenzie Hughes, Kent State 70
Daniel Jennevret, TCU 70
Thomas Mantovanini, TCU 70
Paul McNamara, Notre Dame 70
Max Scodro, Notre Dame 70
Patrick Winther, Oklahoma State 70
Michigan Individuals
T15. Matt Thompson* 71
* Playing as an individual
QUOTES
U-M Senior Matt Thompson
On the first day of the NCAA Central Regional ... "I hit a lot of greens, it was not very stressful, and I was hoping a few putts would drop eventually but nothing really did. I hit a lot of downhillers I had to be pretty careful with. I couldn't get real aggressive with anything. I was making my pars and a couple bogeys coming in, and I shot even. You can't win it on the first day, but I'm not out of it by any means. I think any time I've played a tournament here I've shot a 68 and then I didn't do so well after that, so now hopefully I'll start well and it will get better."
On the U-M Golf Course playing to his advantage in the second round ... "Yeah, hopefully it will. I don't think it played all that easily today. They used up a lot of the (tough) pins. I just hope I'll be able to make some more birdies and get more aggressive with some putts, and try to hit some irons closer."
Players Mentioned
