Michigan
NCAA Columbus Regional
Weather Shuts Down NCAA Regional Second Round with Mueller Among Top 10
5/15/2018 7:30:00 PM | Men's Golf
» Play was suspended at the NCAA Columbus Regional following a four-hour delay due to lightning and inclement weather. The round will resume Wednesday at 7 a.m.
» After posting three birdies, Michigan's Kyle Mueller was one-under through 14 holes of the second round before play was suspended. Combining his current status and yesterday's 73 (+2), he is tied for 10th among the 75-player field.
» From each regional, the top-five teams and top individual not on a qualifying team, which Mueller currently holds, will advance to the NCAA Finals at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
» Mueller is making is fourth straight NCAA postseason appearance and first as an individual.
Site: Columbus, Ohio
Tournament: NCAA Columbus Regional (Day 2 of 3)
Course: OSU Golf Club's Scarlet Course (par 71, 7,364 yards)
U-M Team Standing: No team score
Top U-M Individual: Kyle Mueller, T-10th (73-inc)
Final Round: Wednesday, May 16 -- at NCAA Columbus Regional (Columbus, Ohio), 7 a.m.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Following a four-hour lightning delay, the NCAA Columbus Regional's second round was suspended Tuesday (May 15), leaving University of Michigan senior men's golfer Kyle Mueller with four holes remaining at the OSU Golf Club's Scarlet Course.
Mueller, who is participating in the NCAA event as an invited individual, had posted three birdies and was one-under par in his round before play was called. With that status and his opening 73 (+2) yesterday, he is tied for 10th in the 75-player field -- staying in position to advance to the NCAA Finals.
"I did not hit the ball as well as I did yesterday, but scrambled nicely," said Mueller. "I am starting to get a feel for the greens and had a couple of nice putts to drop. Obviously, it's disappointing we did not get to finish, but looking forward to playing tomorrow."
Teeing off in the second round's final group, Mueller's wedge approach on the first green would fly directly over the pin and roll off the green. Missing the up-and-down opportunity, he quickly found himself one-over par. After a pair of pars, he erased that opening bogey with his first regional birdie on the par-5, 575-yard fourth hole.
After a stellar drive, he reached the green in two. With a 12-foot eagle putt stopping just inches away as he tapped in for the birdie to draw even. But the par-3 fifth hole got him for a second straight day as he bogeyed after just missing the green off the tee and two putting. Settling into a groove, he recorded four more pars to make the turn at one-over, remaining among the top 20.
After a strong drive on the 10th hole, Mueller's approach landed 12 feet away. Draining the putt, he drew even for the second time in the round. With the momentum, he parred his next three holes before opening the par-4, 470-yard 14th hole with a blistering 335-yard drive. Sticking his approach to four feet, his third birdie of the round helped him reach red numbers (-1) for the first time in the regional.
As he headed to the 15th tee, the Scarlet Course warning horns went off as lightning was in the area. After a four-hour delay, the rounds was officially suspended.
"Kyle's second round actually started out a little bit rougher than yesterday, but he quickly cleaned things up and made some birdies before the rain delay," said U-M head coach Chris Whitten. "It wasn't much fun sitting around watching the radar all afternoon, but that happens in golf. We will be ready early tomorrow."
From each regional, the top-five teams and top individual not on a qualifying team -- which Mueller holds -- will advance to the NCAA Finals, to be held Friday through Wednesday, May 25-30, at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Previous Results: Day 1
Players Mentioned
