Michigan
Desert Mountain Intercollegiate
Five Starters Under Par Give U-M First-Day Lead in Desert
3/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
» Michigan holds a two-shot lead over Texas A&M following the first day of the Desert Mountain Intercollegiate.
» All five Michigan starters are under par after 36 holes of play.
» Chris O'Neill's six-under-par 66 in the opening round was the low round of the day.
Site: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Course: Outlaw Course at Desert Mountain Club (par 72, 7,107 yards)
Tournament: Desert Mountain Intercollegiate (Day 1 of 2)
U-M Team Standing: 1st Place of 12 Teams (278-284/562) after Day 1
Top U-M Individual: Chris O'Neill, 2nd (66-72/138, -6)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, March 6 -- Desert Mountain Intercollegiate (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 8:21 a.m. MST
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- With each member of its starting five shooting under par for 36 holes, the University of Michigan men's golf team holds first place after Saturday's (March 5) opening day of the Desert Mountain Intercollegiate. Michigan senior Chris O'Neill highlighted the day with a sparkling six-under-par 66 in the opening round on the Outlaw Course's par-72, 7,107-yard layout.
The Wolverines, the tournament hosts, are 14 under par overall after shooting 10-under 278 in the opening round and following with 284 in the second for a 562 total. Michigan is locked in a close battle with Texas A&M (277-287/564), which trails by two shots. Pepperdine is in third (286-283/569).
O'Neill sits in second place in the individual standings at 138 (66-72), two shots behind Texas A&M's Ben Crancer (69-67/136). O'Neill had the day's lowest round with his bogey-free 66 that included birdies on holes 6, 7, 9, 13, 14 and 16. He was three over midway through his second round but rallied with an eagle and three birdies to shoot 33 on the back for an even-par 72.
"I thought today was a very solid start for us," said head coach Chris Whitten. "I was especially happy to see all five starters under par for the two rounds and our individuals play good golf as well. We need to rely on our depth, and today we were able to do that. Chris set the pace for us in the first round, and that really got us started."
Juniors Reed Hrynewich and Tom Swanson both shot under par in each round Saturday, something accomplished by only three others in the 12-team, 69-player field. Hrynewich (70-71/141), in a five-way tie for third place, shot 32 on the back nine in his first round and birdied two of his last four holes to close the second round. Swanson (71-71/142) is tied for eighth after carding four birdies in each round.
Sophomore Kyle Mueller (71-72/143) and freshman Nick Carlson (73-70/143) are both one under par for 36 holes and tied for 13th. Carlson made six birdies in the second round and had it to five under before bogeying his last three holes.
"We gave shots away at the end of both rounds, and we will need to clean that up tomorrow," Whitten added. "The course is in perfect condition and was really fun to play today. The wind is supposed to blow tomorrow so we'll need to adjust, be creative at times, and play with grit."
Senior Brett McIntosh (72-73/145) leads a trio of Wolverines playing as individuals. He made four straight birdies on holes 12-15 to close his first round. Senior Andrew Yeager (69-78/147) added a three-under 69 in the first round on the strength of six birdies.
The 54-hole tournament will conclude Sunday (March 6) with the final-round tee times beginning at 8:21 a.m. MST. Michigan will be paired with Texas A&M and Pepperdine and go off the No. 1 tee starting at 9:15 a.m. MST.
Team Standings (After Day 1)
1. MICHIGAN 278-284 = 562 (-14) 2. Texas A&M 277-287 = 564 3. Pepperdine 286-283 = 569 4. Tennessee 282-292 = 574 5. Purdue 288-289 = 577 6. St. Mary's (Calif.) 285-303 = 588 7. Nebraska 290-300 = 590 8. Marquette 295-297 = 592 9. Pacific 294-299 = 593 10. Santa Clara 295-299 = 594 11. San Francisco 294-301 = 595 12. South Dakota State 294-314 = 608
Top Individuals
1. Ben Crancer, Texas A&M 69-67 = 136 (-8) 2. Chris O'Neill, U-M 66-72 = 138 3. Reed Hrynewich, U-M 70-71 = 141 Adria Arnaus, Texas A&M 69-72 = 141 Roy Cootes, Pepperdine 73-68 = 141 Lorenzo Magagnin, Pepperdine* 68-73 = 141 Nicklas Mattner, Tennessee 71-70 = 141 8. Tom Swanson, U-M 71-71 = 142 Henry Chung, San Francisco 68-74 = 142 Stuart Macdonald, Purdue 73-69 = 142 Cody McManus, Pepperdine 71-71 = 142 Lorenzo Scalise, Tennessee 67-75 = 142
Other Michigan Individuals
T13. Nick Carlson 73-70 = 143 T13. Kyle Mueller 71-72 = 143 T23. Brett McIntosh 72-73 = 145 T32. Andrew Yeager 69-78 = 147 T37. Bryce Evon 74-74 = 148
* Playing as an individual
Players Mentioned
