Michigan Drops Opening Matches at Big Ten Match Play Championships

Friday, February 9

Palm Coast, Fla.

8:00 AM

Michigan

Ohio State

Brent Ito

Photo by: UM Photography,D.Marshke

Michigan Drops Opening Matches at Big Ten Match Play Championships

2/9/2018 6:52:00 PM | Men's Golf

By: Tom Wywrot

» Michigan opened its spring season and Big Ten Match Play with a 5-1 morning loss to Ohio State.
» U-M fell in its afternoon match against Purdue.
» Brent Ito notched a pair of wins for U-M, defeating OSU's Will Voetsch, 4-and-2, and Purdue's Cole Bradley, 1-up.
» Michigan will face Maryland on Saturday morning (Feb. 10) at 8 a.m. and will play its consolation match at 1:30 p.m.

Site: Palm Coast, Fla.
Course: Hammock Beach Resort -- Conservatory Course (par 72, 7,183 yards)
Tournament: Big Ten Match Play (Day 1 of 2)
U-M Team Standing: U-M (0-2, after Day 1)
Match 1: Ohio State 5, Michigan 1
Match 2: Purdue 4, Michigan 2
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 10 -- vs. Maryland -- Big Ten Match Play Championships (Palm Coast, Fla.), 8 a.m.

PALM COAST, Fla. -- The University of Michigan men's golf team opened its spring season, falling to Ohio State (L, 5-1) and Purdue (L, 4-2) in its opening matches at the Big Ten Match Play Championships held on the Conservatory and Ocean Courses at the Hammock Beach Resort.

"Overall, the guys' games were in pretty good shape for our first day, but we ran into some sharp competition," said U-M head coach Chris Whitten. "Most of our guys were under par on the course for their matches, but we need to find more birdies and convert a few more momentum-swinging shots. I'm looking forward to a really strong bounce-back tomorrow."

With all 14 conference schools playing in the 2018 event, the schools were divided into two divisions -- the East and the West. Each school will play three matches before the final matches will be determined by overall division record.

Sophomore Brent Ito highlighted the day for the Maize and Blue winning both of his matches. In the morning, he defeated Ohio State's Will Voetsch, 4-and-2, before holding off a late run by Purdue's Cole Bradley to take a 1-up victory in the afternoon.

After a hard fought 1-up loss to Ohio State's Will Grimmer in his morning match, junior Nick Carlson struck back in the afternoon with a 2-up victory over Purdue's Timmy Hildebrand.

With its first two matches out of the way, the Wolverines will face Maryland on Saturday morning (Feb. 10) at 8 a.m. to determine their final standing for the consolation matches in the afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

Big Ten Match Play Results
West Division
1. Purdue, 2-0
2. Minnesota, 2-0
3. Wisconsin, 2-0
4. Northwestern, 1-1
5. Illinois, 1-1
6. Nebraska, 0-2
7. Iowa, 0-2

East Division
1. Michigan State, 2-0
2. Ohio State, 2-0
3. Penn State, 1-1
4. Indiana, 1-1
5. Maryland, 0-2
6. Michigan, 0-2
7. Rutgers, 0-2

Ohio State defeats U-M, 5-1
Daniel Wetterich (OSU) defeats Kyle Mueller (U-M), 3-and-2
Will Grimmer (OSU) defeats Nick Carlson (U-M), 1-up
Caden Oreweler (OSU) defeats Ian Kim (U-M), 2-and-1
Brent Ito (U-M) defeats Will Voetsch (OSU), 4-and-2
Jef Coughlin III (OSU) defeats Henry Spring (U-M), 4-and-3
Josh Wick (OSU) defeats Charlie Pilon (U-M), 4-and-2

Purdue defeats U-M, 4-2
Brian Carlson (PU) defeats Kyle Mueller (U-M), 1-up
Nick Carlson (U-M) defeats Timmy Hildebrand (PU), 2-up
Jason Hong (PU) defeats Ian Kim (U-M), 4-and-3
Brent Ito (U-M) defeats Cole Bradley (PU), 1-up
Joe Weiler (PU) defeats Connor Prassas (U-M), 5-and-3
Jarle Volden (PU) defeats Charlie Pilon (U-M), 3-and-2