April 26, 2013
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Site: French Lick, Ind.
Course: French Lick Resort, Pete Dye Course (par 72, 7,152 yards)
Tournament: Big Ten Championships (Day 1 of 3)
U-M Team Standing: 9th Place of 12 Teams (301-306/607) after Day 1
Top U-M Individual: Chris O'Neill, 5th (72-73/145)
Next U-M Event: Sat-Sun., April 27-28 -- at Big Ten Championships (French Lick, Ind.)
FRENCH LICK, Ind. -- Freshman Chris O'Neill (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run HS) stands in fifth place individually as the University of Michigan golf team closed with a 607 total today (Friday, April 26) and is ninth after 36 holes of the Big Ten Championships being played the Pete Dye Course at the French Lick Resort.
O'Neill tallied a one-over 145 a first day total after rounds of even par 72 and one-over 73. Using birdies on Nos 1 and 18, he erased bogeys on Nos 9 and 13 to close the first conference tournament 18 holes even par. Recording four birdies during his opening nine holes of the second round, O'Neill made the turn on his second round at one under. Bogeys on Nos 2 and 9 pushed him to one over where he stayed for the for the round closing with a 73. He is five shots back of first day leaders Brant Peaper of Indiana (72-68) and Thomas Pieters of Illinois (70-70), who both closed the day four-under (140).
Fellow freshman Brett McIntosh (London, Ontario, Canada/Saunders Secondary School) is four shots back of O'Neill as he is tied for 15th at 149. Capitalizing on playing the four par 5s at two-under, he tallied four birdies during his first 12 holes and was one-under with six holes left. However, three bogeys in his closing segment pushed him to a two-over 74 total. After opening the second round with a birdie, he made the turn even after a bogey on No. 12. Three bogeys on the front side gave him a three-over 75 and a 149 first day total.
Seniors Matt Alessi (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Birmingham Brother Rice) and Miguel Echavarria (Medellin, Colombia/The Columbus School) are both tied for 51st at 157, as Alessi posted round tallies of 78 and 79 and Echavarria had totals of 77 and 80. Sophomore Noori Hyun (Seoul, Korea/Centreville HS [Va.]) closed out Michigan's scoring on the first day as he is 57th at 159 (80-79).
Just five shots separate the top Big Ten's top four as Illinois took the first day lead with a 585 (291-294), while Minnesota is just two shots back at 587 (285-302), Iowa is four back at 589 (289-300) and Indiana is five back at 590 (299-291).
The Wolverines will continue the conference tournament Saturday (April 27), with the second round starting at 9:40 a.m. off the 10th tee. U-M will be paired with Nebraska.
Team Standings (After Day 1 of 3)
1. Illinois 291-294 = 585 (+9)
2. Minnesota 285-302 = 587
3. Iowa 289-300 = 589
4. Indiana 299-291 = 590
5. Purdue 304-294 = 598
Ohio State 306-292 = 598
7. Northwestern 296-305 = 601
Michigan State 297-304 = 601
9. MICHIGAN 301-306 = 607
10. Nebraska 311-297 = 608
11. Wisconsin 304-308 = 612
12. Penn State 317-297 = 614
Top Individuals
1. Brant Peaper, Indiana 72-68 = 140 (-4)
Thomas Pieters, Illinois 70-70 = 140
3. Erik Van Rooyen, Minnesota 70-73 = 143
4. Boo Timko, Ohio State 74-70 = 144
5. CHRIS O'NEILL, U-M 72-73 = 145
6. Steven Ihm, Iowa 71-75 = 146
Jack Perry, Northwestern 73-73 = 146
Joseph Winslow, Iowa 72-74 = 146
9. Brian Campbell, Illinois 77-70 = 147
Matthew Moseley, Michigan State 74-73 = 147
Adam Schenk, Purdue 74-73 = 147
Michigan Individuals
T15. Brett McIntosh 74-75 = 149
T51. Matt Alessi 78-79 = 157
T51. Miguel Echavarria 77-80 = 157
57. Noori Hyun 80-79 = 159
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
