WVU Golf closed the Island Resort Collegiate with a strong final round and a runner-up finish, but Michigan simply could not be caught at Sage Run Golf Club. Read more: Mountaineers settle for second at Island Resort Collegiate.
The Mountaineers posted 286-280-282 for an 848 total, 16 under par, in the 12-team field in Bark River, Michigan. That was good enough to beat everyone except the Wolverines, who ran away at 41 under. North Texas finished third at 13 under, followed by Saint Mary’s and UCF at 12 under.
Turowski sets the pace early
Nick Turowski set the tone from the start. The junior opened with 70-67 and sat fifth after Sunday, four shots off the individual lead. He closed with a 72 for a 209 total and a share of seventh at -7. That opening 67 was the spark WVU needed. The team sat 10 under after 36 holes, one stroke ahead of North Texas and Marquette, before adding another -6 Monday.
Related: Five takeaways from WVU’s Week 1 win over Coastal Carolina.
Depth keeps West Virginia in the hunt
Ryan Leach and Jack Michael gave the lineup real depth. Leach, also a junior, followed 68-73 with a 69 and finished one shot behind Turowski at -6 (210), tying for ninth. Michael, a sophomore, bounced back from an opening 74 with 68-70 and tied for 13th at four under (212). Three Mountaineers in the top 13 is how the old gold and blue stayed in the hunt when another team is lighting up the course.
Related: No. 7 WVU Women’s Soccer shuts out Marshall in Mountain State Derby.
Aidan Dortch added a 71 on the last day and tied for 32nd at +1 (217). Gabe Schmitz shot even-par 72 in the finale and finished +8 (224). Freshman Michael Silvers competed as an individual, carded 71-74-71, and tied for 27th at even par.
Sunday surge, Monday chase
Sunday belonged to Turowski and the mid-round surge. WVU was only under two after the first 18, then eight under in the second round to climb into second.
Michigan’s 29-under start after two rounds made the final day a chase rather than a duel, but the Mountaineers still posted the kind of consistent scoring that wins most midweek events.
Next up for the Mountaineers
The next stop is September 20-21 at the Gopher Invitational in Independence, Minnesota. A runner-up against a field that included North Texas, UCF, Marquette, and a record-setting Michigan team is a solid way to bounce back after a tough first showing. Turowski, Leach, and Michael all showed they can post numbers in the 60s when the putts drop. If that group stays in this range, WVU will be dangerous every time it tees up the rest of the season.
