Northern Michigan University’s Walter Ylitalo hits a shot at a Wildcats’ meet during the 2023-24 season. (Photo courtesy NMU)

SAGINAW — The Northern Michigan University men’s golf team had a bit of a struggle on day 2 to finish in ninth place among 14 teams at the Al Watrous Invitational hosted by Saginaw Valley State and played over the weekend at the Sawmill Golf Club in Saginaw.

Seven schools, mostly from the GLIAC, were represented with several of them sending two teams and Davenport even sending four.

The Wildcats opened play Saturday in fourth place after shooting a team combined score of 8-over-par 296, trailing leader Findlay A by just eight strokes.

Northern sophomore Arthur Ylitalo led the way with a 1-over 73, while seniors Eric Yun and Russel Sprecher each had 2-over 74s and senior Walter Ylitalo added a 3-over 75. Junior teammate Tyler Annala, a Westwood High School graduate, contributed a 6-over 78.

Arthur Ylitalo was 10th after that round, with Yun and Sprecher tied for 13th.

But the course apparently jumped up and bit the NMU golfers on Sunday’s second day as they combined to shoot 15 strokes worse than Saturday, a 23-over 311.

Walter Ylitalo shot a solid 2-over 74 on day 2 for a team-best combined total of 5-over 149.

Arthur Ylitalo had a 5-over 77 for 150, Yun a 6-over 78 for 152, Annala 10-over 82 for 160 and Sprecher 12-over 84 for 158.

Walter Ylitalo finished in a tie for 21st, with his brother Arthur Ylitalo tied for 26th, Yun tied for 34th, Sprecher tied for 52nd and Annala tied for 60th.

NMU finished at 31-over 607, 34 strokes behind winner Wayne State B’s 3-under 573. The Warriors’ two teams both shot under par on the final day — the only team rounds under par over the entire event — to finish 1-2 as the WSU A squad was second with 293.

SVSU was third, Findlay’s squads were fourth and fifth, Davenport A was sixth, Purdue Northwest seventh and Northwood A eighth. Finishing behind the Wildcats were SVSU B, Northwood B and Davenport B, C and D.

Individually, Colin Schadek of Findlay A won with a 3-under 141. He also led after the first day by posting a 4-under 68, then added a 1-over 73 to win by a single stroke.

Max Leppelmeier of WSU A was runner-up with 75-67–142, his second round the lowest of the tournament, while a quintet of golfers were another stroke back tied for third — Jiseung Choi of SVSU A, Luc Warnock of WSU B, Josh DiCarlo of WSU A, Cayden Kwan of Davenport A and Mat Hawryluk of WSU B.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.