SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With all five individuals finishing in the top 30, the University of Michigan men’s golf team finished tied for second with a nine-over 873 total at this weekend’s Desert Mountain Intercollegiate, paced by a runner-up finish from junior Chris O’Neill as play wrapped up Saturday (March 7). The two-day, 54-hole event was hosted by U-M at the Desert Mountain Outlaw Course and featured 12 teams.
In the first-ever playing of the tournament, U-M entered today’s final round tied for third place. Four of Michigan’s five athletes improved or maintained their positioning in the field from Friday to Saturday, including a six-man jump from sophomore Bryce Evon. After playing the weekend’s first 36 holes even, O’Neill played his final round to the tune of a six-under 66, matching his career-low single-round score.
O’Neill was exceptional on the tournament’s final day, with no bogeys and a three-under stretch across the final six holes to launch himself into the runner-up spot. He entered the day at even par, doing all his scoring during today’s final 18.
During Friday’s (March 6) first round, Michigan’s low round of the day came from freshman Kyle Mueller, who carded a two-under 70, including a four-under back nine. The Athens, Georgia, native kept pace with a one-under 71 today to place himself in a tie for seventh, earning the second top-10 finish of his career.
Among a field of 69 athletes, the Maize and Blue boasted top-30 finishes from all five starters, while sophomore Brett McIntosh also recorded a top-30 finish while competing as an individual.
U-M finished top five in the field in pars (second; 156), par-4 scoring (third; 4.15 average) and par-5 scoring (fifth; 4.97) in addition to leading the field in par-3 scoring with a 3.07 stroke average, led by sophomore Andrew Yeager‘s average of 2.83.
After an extended reprieve, the Maize and Blue will travel to Bryan, Texas, for the Aggie Invitational April 4-5. It will be the second time in as many years that U-M has competed in the event, hosted by Texas A&M.
Team Standings
1. Oregon 297-286-278 = 861 (-10)
T2. MICHIGAN 297-291-285 = 873
Purdue 300-290-283 = 873
4. Florida 302-285-287 = 874
5. St. Mary's (CA) 293-298-294 = 885
6. Ohio State 296-306-295 = 897
7. Marquette 302-312-292 = 906
8. San Francisco 303-299-305 = 907
9. Nebraska 307-309-297 = 913
10. St. John's 312-307-314 = 933
11. Toledo 323-313-303 = 939
12. Georgetown DNF-DNF-DNF = DNF
Top Individuals
1. Aaron Wise, Oregon 69-69-69 = 207 (-9)
2. CHRIS O'NEILL, U-M 72-72-66 = 210
T3. Seb Crookall-Nixon, San Francisco 69-71-71 = 211
Thomas Lim, Oregon 74-66-71 = 211
5. Obe Ayton, St. John's 73-71-70 = 214
6. JD Tomlinson, Florida 72-71-72 = 215
T7. Austin Eoff, Purdue 73-70-73 = 216
KYLE MUELLER, U-M 75-70-71 = 216
9. Brian Carlson, Purdue 78-73-66 = 217
T10. Alejandro Tosti, Florida 77-72-69 = 218
AJ Crouch, Florida 76-69-73 = 218
Other Michigan Individuals
T27. Reed Hrynewich 73-75-78 = 226 T27. Andrew Yeager 77-74-75 = 226 T27. Bryce Evon 78-75-73 = 226 T25. Brett McIntosh * 80-75-70 = 225 50. Tom Swanson * 74-80-80 = 234 58. Noori Hyun * 77-88-75 = 240 * = Played as Individual
