Michigan
NCAA Championships
Delays, Darkness Hamper Mueller's Opening Round at NCAA Championships
5/25/2018 11:00:00 PM | Men's Golf
» After two lightning delays and a three-hour wait, Michigan's Kyle Mueller was able to compete just nine holes of his opening round at the NCAA Championships.
» With a double bogey, birdie and bogey Mueller is currently two-over par, tying him for 80th.
» Mueller is one of six individuals to advance to the NCAA Finals.
» Mueller is making is fourth straight NCAA postseason appearance and second as an individual at the NCAA Championships.
Site: Stillwater, Okla.
Tournament: NCAA Championships (Day 1 of 4)
Course: Karsten Creek Golf Course (par 72, 7,460 yards)
U-M Team Standing: No team score
Top U-M Individual: Kyle Mueller, incomplete
U-M Next Round: Saturday, May 26 -- at NCAA Championships (Stillwater, Okla.), 9:12 a.m. CDT
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STILLWATER, Okla. -- Two lightning delays causing more than a three-hour wait allowed University of Michigan senior men's golfer Kyle Mueller to complete only nine of his opening-round 18 holes today (Friday, May 25) at the NCAA Championships being held at the Karsten Creek Golf Course.
With play called due to darkness, the affected golfers are expected to return to Karsten at 7 a.m. to finish their respective first rounds in a shotgun format. With second-round tee times slightly pushed back, the 156-player field will attempt to get back on track mid-morning.
"Yeah it's frustrating to wait," said Mueller. "However, that is the way this postseason has just gone. I played solid and did not even hit that bad of shots. I'm just hitting it a little farther than I'm used to. If I can get my distances down I'll be in good shape. It will be nice to refocus and get back at it early tomorrow."
Following a par on his opening hole of the front nine, Mueller's approach on No. 2 slightly missed and put him just in the rough with a seemingly tough lie. Picking the ball clean from his spot, he unexpectedly flew the second green and had to battle back for a double bogey. He immediately got a stroke back draining a 30-foot putt on the par 3, third hole.
After another par, he again misjudged the distance on his approach on No. 5 as he turned in a bogey and gained that stroke back. Rattling off four pars after, he stayed two-over heading into the turn.
"It was a long day for sure with the delay, but I think Kyle was ready to go when we started," said U-M head coach Chris Whitten. "In nine holes we really just got one bad lie, and hit one iron shot a lot further than we thought it would go. As long putts were perfect speed and he had a lot of good shots as well. We just have to stay very patient on this golf course. We will chip away at the round tomorrow get back into position."
Mueller will complete his first round and after a 30 minute break likely will head right into the second round in the Saturday (May 26) morning wave. He will be paired with Braden Thornberry (Ole Miss) and George Cunningham (Arizona) for the second straight day.
Players Mentioned
