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Tyler Annala (+6) leads NMU after day one, sits four shots back of the leader

Men's Golf 3/4/2025 2:28:00 PM

Men's Golf in 4th after Round One of Saddlebrook

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fl. - The NMU men's golf team officially opened its 2025 spring season in Florida, completing the first round of three from the Saddlebrook Resort.

The Wildcats sit in fourth place after 18 holes, posting a team score of +28. The field all trail No. 18 Missouri S&T (+18), followed by Roosevelt (+22) and McKendree (+25). The 'Cats hold a lead over Walsh (+34) and Saint Xavier (+64).

The 6,610 yard par-71 course played an average score of 81.49, with every hole averaging an above-par score except for the par-five 14th, averaging slightly under par (496 yards, 4.98 score average).

As a team, the Wildcats were fifth (+13) on the par threes, third on the par fours (+44), and fifth on the par fives (+4). NMU recorded the second-most birdies (11), trailing only Roosevelt with 13. The 'Cats also carded 48 pars, only five back of McKendree for first.

The 'Cats were led by Tyler Annala after 18-holes, finishing his round at +6 (77) and ninth overall as an individual, only four shots back of the lead. Annala started on hole three, and was +6 his first seven holes before making the turn. Annala would then shoot even to finish the round, including -1 on the back nine, after carding two birdies and seven pars in his final 11 holes to stay at +6. Annala played the par fours at +5, tied for seventh best among the field.

Next were brothers Arthur Ylitalo and Walter Ylitalo, both shooting matching rounds of +7 (78), one stroke back of Annala and tied for 14th on the field. Walter matched Annala on the par fours, shooting +5 and averaging 4.45 strokes, while Arthur played the par fives the third-best among the field at two-under, and recorded the second-most birdies with three.

Matching Arthur with three birdies of his own and rounding out the team scoring was Russel Sprecher, who turned in a card of +8 (79) to sit fourth on the 'Cats and 19th overall. Sprecher fired three birdies in his first five holes of the tournament, including one of only two birdies on the par-four fifth and one of only four birdies on the par-three third.

Levi Pennala (+11, 82) finished fifth on the team and 25th overall, Brady Badker (+22, 93) in sixth and 38th overall, and both Joe Luke (+11, 82) and Kyle Maki (+15, 86) competed as individuals, sitting 25th and 32nd, respectively.

A full list of results from today as well as live scoring for tomorrow can be found here.

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Players Mentioned

Tyler Annala: 6' 0"; Junior

Brady Badker: 5' 10"; Junior

Joe Luke: 5' 6"; Junior

Kyle Maki: 5' 11"; Senior

Russel Sprecher: 6' 0"; Senior

Arthur Ylitalo: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Walter Ylitalo: 5' 11"; Senior

Levi Pennala: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Tyler Annala
: 6' 0"; Junior

Brady Badker
: 5' 10"; Junior

Joe Luke
: 5' 6"; Junior

Kyle Maki
: 5' 11"; Senior

Russel Sprecher
: 6' 0"; Senior

Arthur Ylitalo
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Walter Ylitalo
: 5' 11"; Senior

Levi Pennala
: Freshman