Roy J. Akers – www.skyviewsports.net
Rochester, Mich. — Blustery conditions at a tough golf course and with 36 holes to boot, separated the tough golfers and teams playing the Katke-Cousins golf course at Oakland University. Katke-Cousins is a tough course on a non windy day and Oakland University Coach and Director of Golf Nick Pumford explains it this way. “Its a battle of attrition out there. With 36 holes, you have to be in great shape, mentally and physically. We set up the golf course tough but fair. We hosted the Michigan Open early in June so we had an idea of what the course could play like and we softened it up a little around the edges. You have to golf your ball.” Oakland University Men’s Schedule <<
Golfing Your Ball- Team Leaders- Butler
Taking a cue from Pumford, its all about golfing your ball. Butler University got the message loud and clear and has the two round lead after 36 holes of the Golden Grizzlies Collegiate. With five golfers in the top 12 in the tournament, Dr. Colby Huffman’s team shot five under par in the morning session and one over in the afternoon. Leo Zurovac is the lone Butler player under par at -2. Four other players are between even par and two over.
Second Place- Wright State
Wright State is in second place after shooting a team score of -5 in the morning and +5 in the afternoon. The winds got the best of most players on the course and Wright State bent, but did not break. Connor Lash’s team is only three strokes behind the leaders and nine ahead of both OU’s A and B teams. Shane Ochs (Jr.) (see below) sits as the tournament leader at -3 and Timmy Hollenbeck (Soph.).
Oakland University has two teams tied at +9 for third.
Yes, you heard that right. The Golden Grizzlies have a great problem to have. Depth. For awhile on Saturday, the B team outpaced the A team until attrition and wind brought most of the field together going into day three. Robert Burns paces the A team and Brennan Sullivan paces the B. A total of eight Grizzly players between both teams are in the top 22. For Coach Pumford, going ten deep is a luxury. “We have depth this year which is nice. In years past, that four, five, six spot, usually you would know who those guys are. This year, we have ten guys that can all compete. At one point (Day One) our B team was seven under par. One of our individuals shot three under today and we have freshman too. Anytime you can have young depth, that is really good.”
36 Hole Standings (Complete standings- Click Here)
Individual Leaders
Shane Oaks from Wright State is the leader after the opening 36 holes are in the books. He had a four birdies and a bogey in the opening 18 and then had an even par 72 in round two. Oaks was inconsistent on the par fives. He had two birdies and two bogeys. Oaks will look to eliminate the two crooked numbers on Sunday.
Oakland U’s ‘B’ team player is a star
Brennan Sullivan has put together rounds of 69-73. Pumford has ten quality players on his roster and he put together two teams for the tournament. Sullivan played on the ‘B’ team on Saturday and tuned up the course to six birdies and an other. The other was a 7 on the 449 par 4 13th hole. Sullivan’s Round one scorecard is vv.
Darin Hudak from Bowling Green is looking Good
Hudak, like Sullivan, was on the birdie train in round one Six tweeters and two bogeys gave him a four under 68, but he went two over in the afternoon session.
Its about no crooked numbers
John Powers, head coach at Bowling Green is a bottom line numbers guy. “So far, we are off to a decent start. We had to take a couple of big numbers and counted them in our first round score, which hurts a bit. This golf course (Katke-Cousins) is a great test. We cannot afford to get sideways on some of these holes. We have to get a tee ball on the fairway. The greens are very firm and challenging as well. The work is never done. If we can get away from making the big numbers, not making sixes or high numbers, we will find ourselves in a really good spot.”
Freshman Rock
Pete Swanson- Assistant Coach Butler University on the first day of the Golden Grizzlies Tourny
“We are doing ok so far. We are playing three freshman so its new for us and new for them We are doing alright.” Here is the roster. <<
Eagle on 18
The 18th at Katke plays 619 yards as an uphill tournament par five and OU’s Ben Willis had an eagle. Missing to the left on the second shot anywhere short is a very uphill play. Willis never had to worry about that. I would love to know if he got on in two or made an eagle from off the green.
Tee times start at 8am in the final round on both the 1st and tenth holes. Admission is free. Thrills are priceless.
Roy J. Akers is a multi-media reporter and covers several sports for www.skyviewsports.net