Michigan team, golfer have leads at Maxwell

Hail! to the victors valiant.

Hail! to the conqu’ring heroes.

Hail! Hail! to Michigan the leaders and best.........so far, through 36 holes of the 17th Annual Perry Maxwell Intercollegiate. The Wolverines made dozens of birdies to carding rounds of 270 and 267 amidst gusty winds Saturday at Dornick Hills Country Club to stand at 23-under-537.

Oklahoma State, winner of the last six Maxwells and nine of the last 12, is just three shots behind in second place with 266-274—540 (20-under) in the 10-team field.

Michigan, playing in its first Maxwell, also has the individual lead with Bill Rankin standing at 7-under-133 (67-66). Rankin, a junior from Traverse City, Mich., owns a three-shot advantage against OSU’s Kevin Tway, of Edmond, who shot 4-under-136 (67-69).

“I feel good about the way we played, especially Bill,” Michigan coach Andrew Sapp said. “When you’ve got someone who is in the lead individually, you hope the team will be close to the lead, at least.

“The team played very well in the morning. We were able to make a lot of birdies and had an eagle. We kind of ham-and-egged it real well. We had a couple of (double bogeys) out there that we were able to throw out. We had a couple of holes where we shot under par.”

Rankin got Michigan going with birdies on five holes in a row in the first round. “Then everybody thought, ‘Why shouldn’t I be making some birdies too.’ So, everybody was able to contribute that way,” Sapp said.

Rankin had high remarks for the Dornick Hills course, as well as the format, where all five golfers play together. With his performance of 12 birdies on the day, it came as no surprise that he was on top.

“When I was out there, I knew I was winging it really well in the afternoon,” Rankin said. “I just got a few putts to fall in. I birdied four of my last six holes. It wasn’t really surprising to be in this position because we came here to win, and I definitely want to win individually because that is the best way to help the team. It is where I would like to be.”

The Cowboys had a four-shot lead over the Wolverines and third-place Oklahoma City University (270-273—543, 17-under) after the first round.

“We didn’t do a good job of managing whatever adversity came our way,” OSU coach Mike McGraw said. “Whether it was wind, missing bad putts, just the things that happen in golf. We didn’t do a very good job of handling it, and it cost us.”

Tulsa (274-276—550, 10-under) is in sixth place and Oklahoma (282-278—560, even) is tied for eighth.

For Tway, the Dornick Hills course was that of familiar surroundings.

“I played in the (Independent Insurance Agent Junior Classic in 2004), and I played some high school golf here, too,” Tway said. “I’ve played a lot here, and it’s nice to come back.”

“He’s been playing a lot better,” McGraw said of Tway, “And it’s good to see because he has been playing extremely well all year long, but not getting anything out of it. So, it’s nice to see a kid who has been playing well start getting some results. He’s getting a little bit of confidence as we head toward the end of season. He hit the ball well.”

Anthony Michael of OCU is in third at 3-under-137 (65-72).

The Cowboys hope to get some low numbers today to make up for the 3-shot deficit, and get their seventh straight Maxwell title, but Michigan is aiming to keep the momentum going with hopes of singing “Hail to the Victors” when its all over.

“I think if we can get off to a good start, and do the same things we did and avoid making silly mistakes and keep making birdies like we have been, we should shoot some good scores again, (today), hopefully,” Sapp said.

“If we keep getting better each round, we’ll be all right,” Rankin said.

Maxwell Quick Hits

n University of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford was in attendance, supporting players of OU.

n Former OSU standout and longtime PGA Tour professional Bob Tway was in attendance to support his son Kevin and the Cowboys.

“He played the (PGA) tour for a long time, so he has helped us a lot,” Kevin Tway said of his father. “It’s nice when he can come out if he is not playing. It helps us a lot.”
Mike Moguin, 221-6522
mike.moguin@ardmoreite.com