Michigan Splits Pair on Opening Day of Big Ten Match Play Championship

Friday, February 8

Palm Coast, Fla.

8:00 AM

Michigan

Purdue

Charlie Pilon

Michigan Splits Pair on Opening Day of Big Ten Match Play Championship

2/8/2019 9:20:00 PM | Men's Golf

By: Tom Wywrot

» Michigan opened its spring season losing in a match play tiebreak to Purdue at the Big Ten Match Play Championship.
» U-M halved three matches and went on to defeat Iowa (3.5-2.5) in the second match of the day.
» Former U-M club team member Ian Martin led a trio of Wolverines posting a win and halving a match.
» Overall four Wolverines posted a match win on the first day of play.
» Michigan will face Minnesota on Saturday morning (Feb. 9) at 8 a.m. and will finish with Penn State at 1:30 p.m.

Site: Palm Coast, Fla. (Hammock Beach Resort)
Tournament: Big Ten Match Play Championship (Day 1 of 2)
Course: Conservatory (par 72, 7,183 yards)
Scores: Purdue 3, Michigan 3 (Boilermakers win via tiebreaker); Michigan 3.5, Iowa 2.5
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 9 -- vs. Minnesota at Big Ten Match Play Championship (Palm Coast, Fla.), 8 a.m.

PALM COAST, Fla. -- The University of Michigan men's golf team opened its spring season by splitting its first two matches of the Big Ten Match Play Championship being held on the Conservatory and Ocean Courses at Hammock Beach Resort.

The No. 11-seeded Wolverines lost to sixth seed Purdue via a tiebreaker procedure after tying the match, 3-3. By virtue of the number of holes won, the Maize and Blue lost by a single hole and dropped to the consolation bracket.

Facing No. 3 seed Iowa in the second match of the day, the Wolverines used wins by senior Nick Carlson and fifth-year senior Ian Martin as well as three halved matches to claim a 3.5-2.5 win and snap a five-match drought at the Big Ten Match Play.

"I know the guys were pretty gutted to lose on the tiebreak this morning," said U-M head coach Chris Whitten. "We were in control until the last couple of holes in some of the matches, and it just did not go our way. It would've been really easy for the guys to lose focus or get down on themselves for the afternoon match, but I was very happy with how quickly they got themselves back up. Iowa is a very good team, and the boys played solid golf from top to bottom."

Individually, Martin, freshman Ben Dunne and sophomore Charlie Pilon each finished the day with a win and halved match, while sophomore Henry Spring halved both of his matches on the day.

The Wolverines will face Minnesota at 8 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 9), followed by an afternoon match with Penn State at 1:30 p.m. to close out the event.

#6 seed Purdue def. #11 seed Michigan, 3-3 (PU wins tiebreaker)
Ian Martin (U-M) vs. Andrew Lewis (PUR), halved
Ben Dunne (U-M) def. Jason Hong (PUR), 2-up
Henry Spring (U-M) vs. Joe Weiler (PUR), halved
Charlie Pilon (U-M) def. Jarle Volden (PUR), 3-and-2
Cole Bradley (PUR) def. Brent Ito (U-M), 4-and-2
Timmy Hildebrand (PUR) def. Nick Carlson (U-M), 2-and-1

#11 seed Michigan def. #3 seed Iowa, 3.5-2.5
Ian Martin (U-M) def. Jake Rowe (Iowa), 8-and-6
Ben Dunne (U-M) vs. Aaron DeNucci (Iowa), halved
Henry Spring (U-M) vs. Matthew Walker (Iowa), halved
Charlie Pilon (U-M) vs. Gonzalo Leal (Iowa), halved
Benton Weinberg (Iowa) def. Brent Ito (U-M), 3-and-2
Nick Carlson (U-M) def. Alex Schaake (Iowa), 4-and-2