Saturday, February 5
Palm Coast, Fla. (Hammock Beach Resort)
Michigan State University
vs
Big Ten Match Play Championship
Photo by: Gary Lloyd McCullough
Michigan State Edged Out by Indiana in Big Ten Match Play Championship
2/5/2022 8:35:00 PM | Men's Golf
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State's men's golf team posted a win in the morning round over Iowa and lost a narrow 3-2 match to Indiana in the championship of the Big Ten Match Play Championship on the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Fla.
The Spartans, the No. 3 seed in the field, received a first-round bye and beat No. 6 seed Wisconsin, 4-1, in Friday's second round.
MSU came out on Saturday morning and beat No. 7 seed Iowa, 4-1. The Spartans lost to No. 4 seed Indiana – who beat top-seeded Purdue in the morning round – in the championship match, 3-2.
Semifinal Results
Championship Results
"It's always tough to lose in a championship match because you always want to win, but hats off to Indiana on the win after a tough, tough match this afternoon," Head Coach Casey Lubahn said. "I don't think we have anything to hang our hats about as it literally went down to the final hole. We had a long day of golf and I thought our guys played well, not only today and but all weekend. This was a good weekend of play for us to kick off what we are expecting will be a very good spring season."
In the championship match, MSU had victories from senior James Piot (6&5) and sophomore August Meekhof (4&2). The final three matches were all decided in the waning holes, with junior Brad Smithson falling 3&2 and senior Troy Taylor 2&1.
Tied at two wins apiece after four matches, freshman Ashton McCulloch was locked in a duel with Indiana senior Mitch Davis. McCulloch was 2UP through the front nine before Davis tied it on the 11th hole. The pairing remained tied for five of the next six holes before Davis won it on the 18th hole, giving Indiana the team title.
In the morning round, the Spartans beat Iowa, 4-1, in the semifinals. Piot won 2&1, McCulloch posted a 5&4 win, Smithson captured his match 2&1 and Meekhof closed out the win 3&2.
For the weekend, Piot and Meekhof posted 3-0 records during three matches. Smithson went 2-1, while McCulloch and Taylor each went 1-2.
The Spartans, the No. 3 seed in the field, received a first-round bye and beat No. 6 seed Wisconsin, 4-1, in Friday's second round.
MSU came out on Saturday morning and beat No. 7 seed Iowa, 4-1. The Spartans lost to No. 4 seed Indiana – who beat top-seeded Purdue in the morning round – in the championship match, 3-2.
Semifinal Results
Championship Results
"It's always tough to lose in a championship match because you always want to win, but hats off to Indiana on the win after a tough, tough match this afternoon," Head Coach Casey Lubahn said. "I don't think we have anything to hang our hats about as it literally went down to the final hole. We had a long day of golf and I thought our guys played well, not only today and but all weekend. This was a good weekend of play for us to kick off what we are expecting will be a very good spring season."
In the championship match, MSU had victories from senior James Piot (6&5) and sophomore August Meekhof (4&2). The final three matches were all decided in the waning holes, with junior Brad Smithson falling 3&2 and senior Troy Taylor 2&1.
Tied at two wins apiece after four matches, freshman Ashton McCulloch was locked in a duel with Indiana senior Mitch Davis. McCulloch was 2UP through the front nine before Davis tied it on the 11th hole. The pairing remained tied for five of the next six holes before Davis won it on the 18th hole, giving Indiana the team title.
In the morning round, the Spartans beat Iowa, 4-1, in the semifinals. Piot won 2&1, McCulloch posted a 5&4 win, Smithson captured his match 2&1 and Meekhof closed out the win 3&2.
For the weekend, Piot and Meekhof posted 3-0 records during three matches. Smithson went 2-1, while McCulloch and Taylor each went 1-2.
Players Mentioned
Ireland's Best | Spartans All-Access
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Supporting Heroes: Folds of Honor | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, September 19
Spartans All-Access: Folds of Honor Collegiate
Monday, September 11
Coach Lubhan | Weekly Press Conference | Aug. 28 2023
Monday, August 28