Northwestern University Athletics
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Big Ten Championship
Northwestern Surges in Final Day of Big Tens; Wu Wins Bolstad Award
4/30/2017 5:30:00 PM | Men's Golf
LUTHERVILLE, Md. — An eventful and fraught day at the Baltimore Country Club culminated in a second place finish for the Wildcats, a second place tie for sophomore Ryan Lumsden, and an award-winner in junior Dylan Wu.
Northwestern went 3-under as a team in round three and finished 10 strokes above the next-closest team, Ohio State. The Wildcats tallied a 5-over 845 strokes (286-282-277) over the three-day competition. NU's second-place finish was their best since coming in second in 2011.
The Wildcats went 1-under in the final two rounds, the best performance in the field.
"We started slow. To come back the last two days and have the low score shows the character of this team," said head coach David Inglis. "I think that stands us in good stead as we approach the NCAA Tournament."
Illinois won their third-straight Big Ten Championship.
Lumsden was the only player to shoot under par in every round of the Championships, capping off his strong performance with a 2-under 68 on Sunday. His 4-under accumulation came one stroke shy of the individual winner, Illinois' Dylan Meyer.
The London, England, native came close to an individual title. After the leader Meyer bogeyed the 17th hole and notched a double-bogey on 18, Lumsden was within striking distance of the Fighting Illini frontrunner.
After a strong approach on the par 4 18th hole, he was left with a 12-foot putt that was just off-line.
His second-place finish is Northwestern's best since Sam Chien (also second) in 2012. He was announced as a member of the All-Championships Team for his top-five finish.
The sophomore had a strong front nine, including a fifth hole performance that saw him driving to within 50 feet and converting for birdie.
A few holes later, he rolled in a 21-foot putt for birdie to move him to 1-under after the seventh hole. He reprised his performance with another birdie on the eighth hole.
His final birdie of the day, on the 17th hole, put him in the close position for the title on the 18th hole.
It was his strongest performance in his two years at Big Tens.
"It's a good feeling," Lumsden said. "My game feels like it's in a good place and I'm excited to see how the team gets on at Regionals."
Wu also dazzled in the final day of competition. After shooting 73-71 in the first two rounds, he carded a team-low 67.
Four birdies on the front nine and back-to-back-to-back birdies on 12, 13, and 14 helped lead the way.
A spectacular tee shot on the par-three second hole started his day off on the right note. Landing within a couple feet of the hole, he converted for an easy birdie.
Wu tied for the tournament lead in par three scoring and had the second-most birdies.
He got better: on the third hole, he holed out from the bunker to move to 2-under in the early goings.
He finished in sole possession of ninth place. It was the first time a pair of 'Cats notched top-10 finishes at Big Tens since Chien and Eric Chun did so in 2012.
His performance in Big Tens moved his scoring average to 70.27 — the lowest in the conference. He was given the Les Bolstad Award for the feat.
Wu edged out the individual winner Meyer for the Bolstad award by six-tenths of a point. He is the first such winner for the Wildcats since Jack Perry won it in 2013.
"It feels really good because it shows how much I have improved since last season," Wu said. "In comparing freshman year and sophomore years, I've shaved almost two strokes per round. Credit to the coaches to help me in understanding my golf identity and learning how to play well."
With the Les Bolstad Award win, the Wildcats men's and women's golf programs claimed the low scoring average award after their respective tournaments.
Redshirt senior Andrew Whalen also had a strong finish in the final round. After a front nine which included an eagle and two birdies, he wrapped up his final Big Ten Championships round in his collegiate career with an even 70.
The Ephrata, Washington, native led the field in par five scoring.
In his first Big Tens, Everton Hawkins registered a 2-over 72. He went 3-over combined in his last two rounds and finished in a 23rd-place tie.
Graduate student Conor Richardson also tied for 23rd place at Big Tens. He fired off a 76 in day three.
This tournament marked the first time that four 'Cats finished in the top 25 since David Lipsky, Chun, Nick Losole, and Perry did so in 2011.
Coverage of the Big Ten Men's Golf Championships will be aired on tape-delay on the Big Ten Network on Sunday, May 7 at 10 a.m. CT.
The NCAA Men's Golf Championship selection show will air on the Golf Channel on Thursday, May 4 at 11 a.m. CT. The Wildcats will learn the location of their NCAA Regionals site at that time.
Northwestern went 3-under as a team in round three and finished 10 strokes above the next-closest team, Ohio State. The Wildcats tallied a 5-over 845 strokes (286-282-277) over the three-day competition. NU's second-place finish was their best since coming in second in 2011.
A strong performance at Big Tens, but we're hungry for more. Next stop: Regionals. #B1GCats https://t.co/dTy94Evuc3
— #B1GCats Golf (@NUGolf_Live) May 1, 2017
The Wildcats went 1-under in the final two rounds, the best performance in the field.
"We started slow. To come back the last two days and have the low score shows the character of this team," said head coach David Inglis. "I think that stands us in good stead as we approach the NCAA Tournament."
Illinois won their third-straight Big Ten Championship.
Lumsden was the only player to shoot under par in every round of the Championships, capping off his strong performance with a 2-under 68 on Sunday. His 4-under accumulation came one stroke shy of the individual winner, Illinois' Dylan Meyer.
The London, England, native came close to an individual title. After the leader Meyer bogeyed the 17th hole and notched a double-bogey on 18, Lumsden was within striking distance of the Fighting Illini frontrunner.
After a strong approach on the par 4 18th hole, he was left with a 12-foot putt that was just off-line.
His second-place finish is Northwestern's best since Sam Chien (also second) in 2012. He was announced as a member of the All-Championships Team for his top-five finish.
The sophomore had a strong front nine, including a fifth hole performance that saw him driving to within 50 feet and converting for birdie.
A few holes later, he rolled in a 21-foot putt for birdie to move him to 1-under after the seventh hole. He reprised his performance with another birdie on the eighth hole.
His final birdie of the day, on the 17th hole, put him in the close position for the title on the 18th hole.
It was his strongest performance in his two years at Big Tens.
"It's a good feeling," Lumsden said. "My game feels like it's in a good place and I'm excited to see how the team gets on at Regionals."
Wu also dazzled in the final day of competition. After shooting 73-71 in the first two rounds, he carded a team-low 67.
Four birdies on the front nine and back-to-back-to-back birdies on 12, 13, and 14 helped lead the way.
A spectacular tee shot on the par-three second hole started his day off on the right note. Landing within a couple feet of the hole, he converted for an easy birdie.
Wu tied for the tournament lead in par three scoring and had the second-most birdies.
He got better: on the third hole, he holed out from the bunker to move to 2-under in the early goings.
He finished in sole possession of ninth place. It was the first time a pair of 'Cats notched top-10 finishes at Big Tens since Chien and Eric Chun did so in 2012.
His performance in Big Tens moved his scoring average to 70.27 — the lowest in the conference. He was given the Les Bolstad Award for the feat.
Wu edged out the individual winner Meyer for the Bolstad award by six-tenths of a point. He is the first such winner for the Wildcats since Jack Perry won it in 2013.
"It feels really good because it shows how much I have improved since last season," Wu said. "In comparing freshman year and sophomore years, I've shaved almost two strokes per round. Credit to the coaches to help me in understanding my golf identity and learning how to play well."
With the Les Bolstad Award win, the Wildcats men's and women's golf programs claimed the low scoring average award after their respective tournaments.
Redshirt senior Andrew Whalen also had a strong finish in the final round. After a front nine which included an eagle and two birdies, he wrapped up his final Big Ten Championships round in his collegiate career with an even 70.
The Ephrata, Washington, native led the field in par five scoring.
In his first Big Tens, Everton Hawkins registered a 2-over 72. He went 3-over combined in his last two rounds and finished in a 23rd-place tie.
Graduate student Conor Richardson also tied for 23rd place at Big Tens. He fired off a 76 in day three.
This tournament marked the first time that four 'Cats finished in the top 25 since David Lipsky, Chun, Nick Losole, and Perry did so in 2011.
Coverage of the Big Ten Men's Golf Championships will be aired on tape-delay on the Big Ten Network on Sunday, May 7 at 10 a.m. CT.
The NCAA Men's Golf Championship selection show will air on the Golf Channel on Thursday, May 4 at 11 a.m. CT. The Wildcats will learn the location of their NCAA Regionals site at that time.
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