Michigan
Island Resort Intercollegiate
Thomson, Hoagland Lead Michigan to Season-Opening Win at Island Resort Intercollegiate
9/4/2023 5:33:00 PM | Men's Golf
» With a closing 277 (-11), Michigan put together a season-opening 834 (-30) 54-hole total to win the Island Resort Intercollegiate at the Sage Run Golf Club. The team victory marked the 48th all-time and third under head coach Zach Barlow.
» U-M's 834 (-30; 284-273-277) was the second-lowest 54-hole team tournament total in program history.
» Hunter Thomson's 202 (-14) runner-up total tied U-M's second lowest all-time 54-hole total, while equaling Bill Rankin's 202 (-8) at the 2008 Maxwell. Ben Hoagland's third-place total of 206 (-10) was his new career-low by four strokes.
» Jason Gordon made his collegiate debut as an individual, tying for 65th (74-73-79/226).
Site: Bark River, Mich.
Tournament: Island Resort Intercollegiate
Course: Sage Run Golf Club (par 72, 7,375 yards)
U-M Team Standing: 1st Place of 11 (284-273-277/834, -30)
Top U-M Individual: Hunter Thomson, 2nd (71-65-66/202, -14)
Next U-M Event: Mon-Tue., Sept. 18-19 -- at Chicago Highlands Collegiate (Westchester, Ill.)
BARK RIVER, Mich. -- With a 2-3 finish by junior Hunter Thomson (202, -14) and redshirt-junior Ben Hoagland (206, -10) and four career-best 54-hole Wolverine tallies, the University of Michigan men's golf team posted an 834 (-30) team total today (Monday, Sept. 4) to capture a season-opening team title at the Island Resort Intercollegiate at the Sage Run Golf Club in northern Michigan.
Heading to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the Wolverines opened their third straight season at South Dakota State's Island Resort Intercollegiate at the Sage Run Golf Club. In Sunday's (Sept. 3) opening 36-hole day, senior Will Anderson's 70 (-2) combined with 71s from Thomson and redshirt-junior Jack O'Donnell to give the Maize and Blue a 284 (-4) first-round total to position the Wolverines tied for fifth.
In continuous play on the first day, U-M headed back out for its second 18 Sunday afternoon and rallied to close the day with a one shot lead. With eight birdies and 10 pars, Hoagland set a career-low with his 64 (-8) while Thomson followed with his career-low 65 (-7; eight birdies, nine pars, bogey). The duo guided the Wolverines to the fourth-lowest team tally all-time at 273 (-15) to vault the Maize and Blue into the lead after 36 holes (557, -19).
Returning for the final round of the tournament on Labor Day morning, Thomson and Hoagland remained red hot. Thomson posted a clean sheet 66 (-6) with six birdies and 12 pars to earn a runner-up finish with a career-low 202 (-14; 71-65-66), which tied U-M's second lowest all-time 54-hole total as it equaled Bill Rankin's 202 (-8) at the 2008 Maxwell. He lowered his prior best by five shots (207, -3 at the 2021 Macdonald Cup) and the runner-up finish was the third of his career.
Hoagland followed his 64 with a closing 70 (-2) to finish third with a career-low 206 (-10) tally. He topped his prior best 54-hole total by four shots which was tallied a year ago at the 2022 Island Resort Intercollegiate (210, -6). In six rounds at Sage Run, Hoagland has yet to post a round above par and has twice fired his career-best single round total.
Behind the Wolverines' top five duo, O'Donnell had a career event and posted a career-low 215 (-1; 71-72-72) to tie for 27th, while junior Yuqi Liu followed with his career-best 216 (E, 75-72-69), tying him for 29th. Anderson rounded out the starters as the tied for 50th (221) and freshman Jason Gordon made his collegiate debut tying for 65th at 226.
The Wolverines will look to carry their momentum into the next event in as they head to to Westchester, Ill., Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 18-19) for the Chicago Highlands Collegiate. The 54-hole (36-18) event will be played at the prestigious Chicago Highlands Club.
Final Team Standings
1. MICHIGAN 284-273-277 = 834 (-30) 2. Illinois State 278-280-281 = 839 3. North Texas 287-276-285 = 848 4. Miami (Ohio) 285-276-288 = 849 5. St. Mary's 284-282-285 = 851 6. Boise State 276-287-290 = 853 7. South Dakota State 282-280-296 = 858 8. Coastal Carolina 285-288-287 = 860 9. Central Florida 287-289-284 = 860 10. Bowling Green 282-294-295 = 871 11. Ohio 296-291-298 = 885
Top Individuals
1. Alex McCulla, Illinois State 64-65-70 = 199 (-17)
2. HUNTER THOMSON, U-M 71-65-66 = 202
3. BEN HOAGLAND, U-M 72-64-70 = 206
4. Will O'Conner, Boise State 67-69-71 = 207
Danny Fisher, Miami (Ohio) 67-67-73 = 207
Kristain Bressum, St. Mary's 67-67-73 = 207
7. Tucker Allen, North Texas 70-66-73 = 209
Seth Taylor, Coastal Carolina 70-69-70 = 209
Aiden Lee, St. Mary's 66-70-73 = 209
10. Cole Rueck, BGSU 68-71-71 = 210
Other Michigan Individuals
T27. Jack O'Donnell 71-72-72 = 215 (-1) T29. Yuqi Liu 75-72-69 = 216 (E) T50. Will Anderson 70-74-77 = 221 T65. Jason Gordon 74-73-79 = 226* * playing as individual
Players Mentioned
