North Michigan News

The Northern Michigan University men's golf team is preparing to participate in the Flyer Spring Invite taking place in Wheaton, Illinois. This event, organized by Lewis University, is scheduled to occur over two days at the Cantigny Golf Club from March 31 to April 1.

Cantigny Golf Club, known for its 27-hole public course, stretches across nearly 300 acres of terrain. The club has been a prominent site for golf events since opening in 1989 and was once named "Best New Public Course in America" by Golf Digest. It has also been a venue for prestigious competitions like the Illinois State Amateur Championship and the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. The course consists of three nine-hole sections: Lakeside, Woodside, and Hillside. Each section presents its own set of challenges, from water hazards in Lakeside to the elevation changes and strategic obstacles in Hillside.

The weather forecast for the tournament indicates cool and breezy conditions, which may add difficulty for the participating teams. On March 31, temperatures are expected to range from 31°F to 48°F, with similar cool conditions on April 1, ranging from 41°F to 47°F. Wind gusts might influence play, especially on open sections of the course.

In their most recent outing, the SVSU Men's Spring Invitational, the Wildcats faced tournament cancellations due to adverse weather. The first round was cut short, and the tournament never resumed. At that point, the Wildcats held the ninth position among 17 teams.

Individually, Arthur Ylitalo showed promise during the interrupted SVSU event, achieving one birdie and maintaining an even score before the cancellation. Team performances in past events at Cantigny have shown mixed results, with notable individual finishes. Most recently, the Wildcats placed sixth out of eight teams at the Lewis Spring Flyer Invite. Eric Yun led his team with a 13th-place finish, followed by Walter Ylitalo and Russel Sprecher.

With preparations underway for the Flyer Spring Invite, the Wildcats aim to improve upon their past performances and confront the challenges posed by both the course and expected weather conditions.