Michigan
Virtues Intercollegiate
Naik's Title Guides Wolverines to Three-Peat at Virtues Intercollegiate
8/30/2026 4:44:00 PM | Men's Golf
» Michigan won its third straight Virtues Intercollegiate title, posting an 831 (-33) total to finish 11 shots ahead of host Miami (Ohio).
» Nilay Naik captured medalist honors with a career-low 201 (-15) after opening with back-to-back career-low 66s (-6) and closing with a 69 (-3).
» Michigan took a seven-shot lead into Sunday, lost it briefly on the back nine, then reclaimed the lead over the final five holes and pulled away from Miami.
» Three Wolverines finished among the top three -- Naik won, while RJ Arone and Dean Muratore tied for third at 207 (-9).
Site: Nashport, Ohio
Tournament: Virtues Intercollegiate
Course: Virtues Golf Club (par 72, 7,243 yards)
U-M Team Standing: 1st Place of 12 (274-276-281/831, -33)
Top U-M Individual: Nilay Naik, 1st of 87 (66-66-69/201, -15)
Next U-M Event: Sun.-Mon., Sept. 6-7 -- at the Island Resort Intercollegiate (Harris, Mich.)
NASHPORT, Ohio -- Behind a career weekend from junior Nilay Naik and three Wolverines at the top of the individual leaderboard, the University of Michigan men's golf team opened its season by capturing a third straight Virtues Intercollegiate title Sunday (Aug. 30).
After carrying a seven-shot lead into the final round, the Wolverines saw host Miami (Ohio) battle back and briefly take the lead early on the back nine. Michigan refocused over the final five holes, reclaimed the lead and pulled away for an 11-shot victory at Virtues Golf Club.
U-M posted a final-round 281 (-7) and finished with an 831 (-33) total, ahead of Miami at 842 (-22). The Wolverines extended their streak of sub-par team rounds at the RedHawks' home event to eight straight. The victory is Michigan's 52nd team title in program history and the sixth under head coach Zach Barlow.
The Wolverines opened the tournament with rounds of 274 (-14) and 276 (-12) and entered Sunday at 550 (-26). Michigan's 831 total was one shot off its 2023 championship score, when U-M recorded an 830 (-34) total and won by 23 strokes.
Michigan has now won all three editions of the Virtues Intercollegiate in which it has competed, adding Sunday's victory to titles in 2023 and 2024. The Wolverines won by 23 shots in 2023, then repeated in the rain-shortened 2024 event with a 559 (-17) 36-hole total.
Naik capped his career-best weekend by earning his third career individual title with a career-low 201 (-15) total, seven shots better than his previous 54-hole best. After opening with consecutive career-low 66s (-6), Naik closed with a 69 (-3) and finished ahead of Miami's Bric Baird (205, -11).
He totaled 23 birdies and 24 pars over 54 holes. Naik's victory was the program's 66th individual title and the 12th under Barlow. Naik's 201 tally ties the third lowest 54-hole total in program history, along with Hunter Thomson's 201 (2024 Palmas del Mar Collegiate).
Juniors RJ Arone (70-69-68) and Dean Muratore (67-69-71) joined Naik near the top of the leaderboard, tying for third at 207 (-9). Arone's final-round 68 (-4) was the low score for the Wolverines on Sunday. Making his collegiate debut, freshman Mackey Beckett tied for 36th at 221 (+5; 71-72-78), while sophomore Jordan Hwang rounded out the starting five, tying for 45th at 225 (+9).
In addition to the starting five, U-M brought six individuals to Nashport, led by freshman Spencer Shropshire, who tied for 19th at even-par 216. After opening with a 75, Shrophire fired a second-round 68 (-4) to move into contention before closing with a 73 (+1). His 68 was the low round among Michigan's individual entries and helped him secure a top-20 finish.
Junior Johnny Solis followed in a tie for 23rd at 218 (+2; 72-73-73). Junior Nicolas Simon and sophomore Jack Harrington tied for 27th at 219 (+3). Simon opened with a 69 (-3), while Harrington started his tournament with an even-par 72.
Michigan heads north for the Island Resort Intercollegiate over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 6-7, at Sage Run Golf Club. It marks the Wolverines' sixth straight appearance in South Dakota State's event. U-M has posted five consecutive top-five finishes there, including four top-three efforts and the 2023 team title.
Final Team Standings
1. MICHIGAN 274-276-281 = 831 (-33)
2. Miami (Ohio) 273-282-287 = 842
3. Richmond 281-286-279 = 846
4. Northern Illinois 281-292-279 = 852
5. Bowling Green 282-290-292 = 864
Marshall 294-295-275 = 864
7. Wright State 292-284-289 = 865
8. Robert Morris 297-292-298 = 887
9. Loyola-Chicago 299-296-301 = 896
10. Cleveland State 310-298-300 = 908
11. Detroit Mercy 305-301-303 = 909
12. Evansville 302-298-313 = 913
Top Individuals
1. NILAY NAIK, U-M 66-66-69 = 201 (-15)
2. Bric Baird, Miami (Ohio) 65-68-72 = 205
3. DEAN MURATORE, U-M 67-69-71 = 207
RJ ARONE, U-M 70-69-68 = 207
Jack LaPiana, Richmond 66-72-69 = 207
Conner McCall, Northern Illinois 69-70-68 = 207
7. Mason Deal, Richmond 70-68-70 = 208
8. Joseph Canitano, Miami (Ohio) 68-70-71 = 209
Jackson Woodburn, Marshall 72-73-64 = 209
10. Devin Swoyer, Northern Illinois 70-73-69 = 212
Michigan Individuals
1. Nilay Naik 66-66-69 = 201 (-15) T3. Dean Muratore 67-69-71 = 207 (-9) T3. RJ Arone 70-69-68 = 207 (-9) T36. Mackey Beckett 71-72-78 = 221 T45. Jordan Hwang 73-79-73 = 225 T19. Spencer Shropshire 75-68-73 = 216* (E) T25. Johnny Solis 72-73-73 = 218* T27. Nicolas Simon 69-77-73 = 219* T27. Jack Harrington 72-74-73 = 219* T45. Caden Pinckes 73-81-71 = 225* T51. Jason Gordon 75-77-74 = 226* * playing as individual
