Northern Michigan University's men golfer Levi Pennala points to his Wildcats shirt for a university photo. (Photo courtesy NMU)

BIG RAPIDS — The Northern Michigan University men’s golf team opens its season today at the Bulldog Classic, hosted by fellow conference member Ferris State at the Katke Golf Course in downstate Big Rapids.

The two-day tournament includes 16 schools, 14 coming from the Midwest region of NCAA Division II and seven from NMU and Ferris’ own Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Last time the Wildcats competed here, in 2023, they finished tied for 11th out of 16 teams. Just two current Northern players were on that team, Arthur Ylitalo and Westwood High School graduate Tyler Annala. Annala, a sophomore then, shot 21-over-par to finish tied for 59th, while Ylitalo, at the time a freshman, was 28-over to tie for 74th.

NMU is currently ranked 153rd nationally and 27th in the Midwest region. Host Ferris has the top ranking of Midwest teams in the field, 47th nationally and sixth in the region. Other GLIAC teams at the Bulldog Classic with their national and regional rankings are Saginaw Valley State, 65th and eighth; Wisconsin-Parkside, 105th, 18th; Davenport, 109th, 19th; Purdue Northwest, 144th, 25th; and Roosevelt, 152nd, 26th.

Another competitor from the Atlantic region is former GLIAC member Gannon, which not only is ranked No. 1 in that region but has the highest overall national ranking in the field of 29th.

Big Rapids is expecting a lot of warmth for the event, 84 degrees today and 86 on Tuesday, with little wind forecast.

Fans can check out live scoring for the Bulldog Classic online at https://scoreboard.clippd.com/tournaments/238703/scoring/participants.

The Northern women don’t start their fall schedule until Monday and Tuesday of next week at the Warrior Invitational hosted by Wayne State in the Detroit suburb of Washington.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release previewing the meet. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.