Michigan State Falls in Big Ten Match Play Semifinals

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State men’s golf team lost to Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten Match Play Championship at Ocean Creek Golf Course in Palm Coast, Fla. on Friday afternoon.

The Spartans, seeded No. 2 in the nine-team field, lost 3-1-1, with the deciding two matches in contention until the last three holes on the course.

Seminfal Results

MSU received a bye into the semifinals, while eighth-seeded Michigan beat No. 7 seed Penn State, 2-1-2, in the morning quarterfinal round.



“It’s disappointing to lose, but I’m proud of the way our guys battled,” Head Coach Casey Lubahn said. “Match play is always a fun and challenging way to play, but our guys love this experience. Credit to Michigan as they played very well today, but we’ll get the chance to battle back tomorrow.”

Playing in the No. 1 spot, senior Drew Hackett lost to Michigan’s Hunter Thomson, 6&4. Hackett had the early lead over the first four holes, but Thomson took the lead after the 7th and won four-straight holes to pull away for the win.

Sophomore Ashton McCulloch lost to Will Anderson in the second spot, 4&3. The pairing was all square through five holes before Anderson won four of six holes and finished the match with three holes to play.

Troy Taylor II was in a closely-contested match with Jude Kim in the third spot, losing 3&1. Taylor fell behind after two holes, but tied the match after five.  Kim would jump ahead by winning three-straight holes before Taylor fought back for a tie after 14 holes.  He could not capture the next three and Kim claimed the victory.

Junior August Meekhof, playing in the fourth spot, went back and forth with Michigan’s Ben Hoagland. Neither player led by more than one hole and the pair was tied 11 times before finished all squared.

In the fifth spot, Senior Bradley Smithson claimed a 4&2 win over Yuqui Liu. After losing the first two holes, Smithson battled back to square the match, which remained tied through 12 holes.  Smithson proceeded to win the next four holes to take the win.

The Spartans will not play in the morning consolation round on Saturday, but will play the winner of a match between Penn State and Maryland in the afternoon.