Northern Michigan University

The Official Website of the Northern Michigan Wildcats Northern Michigan Wildcats

Arthur Ylitalo

Men's Golf 4/18/2025 4:00:00 PM

Men's Golf in Ninth after Round One of GLIAC Championships

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - The NMU men's golf team has completed round one of the GLIAC Conference Championships, sitting ninth after round one.

The Wildcats shot +15 as a team from the Bedford GC, four strokes back of Lake Superior State in eighth (+11) and four strokes ahead of Purdue Northwest in tenth (+19).

The 'Cats have some ground to cover tomorrow if they want to finish inside the top four teams and advance to the medal match play. The field is led by No. 9 Grand Valley (-5), trailed by No. 22 Wayne State (-4), Roosevelt (-1), and Saginaw Valley (E). Davenport, No. 48 Ferris State, and Parkside all sit at +1, knocking on the door.

As a team, the 'Cats played the par three's at +14 (10th), the par four's at +14 (8th), and the par five's at -1 (T9). NMU recorded eight birdies (10th), 51 pars (6th), 28 bogeys (2nd), and three doubles+ (2nd).

Arthur Ylitalo led the 'Cats by one stroke, finishing first on the team and 25th overall with a score of +2, 74. Arthur recorded a bogey on the par three 12th and turned around with a birdie on the par five 13th before firing five straight pars, shooting an even 36 on his first nine. A double-bogey on the first was followed by bogeys on three and five and birdies on four and six with four more pars, shooting a 38 on the front to finish at +2. Arthur led the team with three birdies and was paired with Brody Pass of PNW, who shot +3 today.

A pair of 'Cats were just one stroke back of Arthur, those being Russel Sprecher and Tyler Annala with matching scores of +3, 75.

Sprecher, tied for second on the team and T30 overall, recorded seven pars for a +1 38 on the back nine before bogeys on the second and third holes. Sprecher would go one-under in his final six holes, with back-to-back birdies on the par-four sixth and par-five seventh. Sprecher's playing partner, Dylan Adair of PNW, shot a +12

Annala, tied for second on the team and T30 overall with Sprecher, carded a four on the par-three 12th, his only blemish on his starting nine, as he recorded seven pars and ended with a birdie on the par-four 18th to shoot an even 36 to start his round. Annala shot six pars and three bogeys on the front nine to score a +3 39 to end. Annala's playing partner, Brady Serafin of PNW, shot a +6.

Finishing team scoring was Walter Ylitalo, fourth on the team and 46th overall with his score of +7, 79. Walter shot five pars on the back and four pars with a birdie on the front nine, including a circle on the par-five seventh. Walters playing partner, Finn Kiger of PNW, shot a +4.

Levi Pennala competed as an individual, finishing 50th on the field at +12. Pennala birdied the seventh and recorded seven pars, but a triple-bogey, double-bogey, and eight other squares on the card caused hurt. His playing partner, Jack Glaspy of PNW shot a +6. Pennala will be swapped out with Kyle Maki for tomorrow morning's round.

The field was led by the No. 24 ranked golfer Manuel Cue of GVSU, who shot a -4 68, including an impressive 30 on the front nine with six birdies and three pars. There are seven athletes tied at -2, including Pierre Heylen from Roosevelt, who is shooting six strokes better than his average, has yet to record a tournament in red numbers, and only has one top-10 finish this season.

A full list of results, as well as live scoring for tomorrow's round, can be found here.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Tyler Annala: 6' 0"; 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

Kyle Maki
: 5' 11"; Senior

Russel Sprecher
: 6' 0"; Senior

Arthur Ylitalo
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Walter Ylitalo
: 5' 11"; Senior

Levi Pennala
: Freshman