» After reducing to 36 holes, Michigan used a second round 276 (-12) to repeat as team champions with a 559 (-17) at the Virtues Intercollegiate at the Virtues Golf Club.
» In addition to repeating as team champions, Yuqi Liu captured the individual title for a second straight year after tallying a 36-hole total of 137 (-7, 69-68).
» Capturing the title, U-M had four Wolverines finish among the top 10 after Liu’s title, Hunter Thomson tied for fourth (139, -5), RJ Arone was sixth (141, -3) and Dean Muratore tied for seventh (142, -2).
» With a career-low 68 (-4) in the second round, Caden Pinckes jumped 47 spots to tie for 22nd (145, +1) while playing as an individual.
Site: Nashport, Ohio
Tournament: Virtues Intercollegiate (Day 1 of 2)
Course: Virtues Golf Club (par 72, 7,243 yards)
U-M Team Standing: 1st Place of 14 (283-276/559, -17)
Top U-M Individual: Yuqi Liu, tie-1st (69-68/137, -7)
Next U-M Event: Mon-Tue., Oct. 14-15 — at Qubein Cup (Greensboro, N.C.)
NASHPORT, Ohio — In a weather-shortened close to September, the University of Michigan men’s golf team used four Wolverines among the top 10, including repeat medalist senior Yuqi Liu (137, -7), to notch a 559 (-17) 36-hole team total and capture the Virtues Intercollegiate for a second straight year.
Heading to the Virtues Club, the Wolverines rebounded from an early slow start to the first round posting a 283 (-5) total and position itself fourth after 18 holes. With misting rainy conditions continuing on Saturday’s open day, the Wolverines used 68 (-4) from Liu and 69s (-3) from senior Hunter Thomson and freshman Dean Muratore to vault themselves into the lead.
With much of the field unable to finish the first day due to darkness, the final round was canceled due to a weather front coming on Sunday. The 14-team returned on Sunday morning to finish the second round, however, tournament play was stalled again with storms pulling everyone off the course. With a break in the weather, the field returned and was able to complete the round and secure U-M’s repeat title.
After tying for the individual title a year ago, Liu used tallies of 69 (-3) and 68 (-4) to share medalist honors for a second straight year, along with Robert Morris’ Chuck Tragesser (72-65) with a 137 (-7) total. With five straight sub-par tallies, Liu has gone minus-16 in his last two events at the Virtues Golf Club.
Paced by Liu’s title, four Wolverines closed among the top 10 after Thomson tied for fourth with a 139 (-5; 70-69), freshman RJ Arone was sixth at 141 (-3; 71-70), and Muratore tied for seventh at 142 (-2; 73-69). With a career-low 68 (-4) in the second round, redshirt freshman Caden Pinckes jumped 47 spots during the second 18 holes to tie for 22nd at 145 (+1; 77-68) playing as an individual.
With the September gauntlet completed, the Wolverines will spend a few weeks of prep for the fall season finale — the Qubein Cup, Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 14-15) in Greensboro, N.C. The two-day, 54-hole event will be held at the Sedgefield Country Club.
Final Team Standings
1. MICHIGAN 283-276 = 559 (-17) 2. James Madison 282-280 = 562 3. Eastern Michigan 284-291 = 575 4. Marshall 282-297 = 579 5. Wright State 297-283 = 580 6. Longwood 282-298 = 580 7. Butler 291-293 = 584 8. Ohio 288-297 = 585 9. Bowling Green 296-291 = 587 10. Dayton 296-293 = 589 11. Belmont 295-306 = 601 12. Robert Morris 301-301 = 602 13. Youngstown State 308-302 = 610 14. St. Bonaventure 306-DNF
Top Individuals
1. YUQI LIU, U-M 69-68 = 137 (-7)
Chuck Tragesser, Robert Morris 72-65 = 137
3. Václav Tichý, James Madison 71-67 = 138
4. HUNTER THOMSON, U-M 70-69 = 139
Garrett Kuhla, James Madison 64-75 = 139
6. RJ ARONE, U-M 71-70 = 141
7. DEAN MURATORE, U-M 73-69 = 142
Justin LaRue, Longwood 70-72 = 142
Ryan Bilby, Marshall 70-72 = 142
Daniel Robles Delval, EMU 71-71 = 142
Nate Vonderhaar, Miami (Ohio) 69-73 = 142*
Edvin Backstrom, Kent State 73-69 = 142*
Michigan Individuals
T1. Yuqi Liu 69-68 = 137 (-7) T4. Hunter Thomson 70-69 = 139 (-5) 6. RJ Arone 71-70 = 141 (-3) T7. Dean Muratore 73-69 = 142 (-2) T59. Jack O'Donnell 73-78 = 151 T22. Caden Pinckes 77-68 = 145* T37. Ben Hoagland 75-72 = 147* T63. Johnny Solis 76-76 = 152* * played as individual