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Brady Badker

Men's Golf 9/16/2025 4:13:00 PM

Men's Golf Concludes Bulldog Fall Classic

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The NMU men's golf team has completed its first tournament of the season, finishing 17th of 19 teams at the Bulldog Fall Classic.

Taking place at the Katke Golf Course, the Wildcats played just about two full rounds of golf in what turned out to be just about a 12-hour day yesterday, before finishing a handful of remaining holes this morning before playing the final round.

NMU shot a combined team total of +92, showing improvement each round, after shooting team scores of +35, +29, and +28. Ahead of the 'Cats were Lewis (+84), Purdue Northwest (+80), and Northwood 'B' (+79). Rockhurst cruised to a team win, posting rounds of -6, +11, and +7 to a three-round total of +12, beating second place Gannon and the rest of the field by at least 15 strokes.

As a team, the 'Cats average 3.40 on the par threes, 4.54 on the par fours, and 5.42 on the par fives. The team carded eight birdies and 153 pars.

The full results from the tournament can be found here.

Leading the way for the Wildcats was Arthur Ylitalo, who finished his three-day total with a score of +14 to finish T41 of the 106 golfers. Arthur started his third round off hot, shooting -1 in his opening seven holes before a spell of +6 in his final 11 holes to finish round three at +5. Arthur finished with 34 pars on the tournament, three shy of the leader with 37. Art also led the Wildcats in total birdies with four, par five scoring, totaling -1 on the week, and recorded the fewest bogeys and double-bogeys on the team.

In second place on the team as an individual for the tournament and posting the thrid-best Wildcat round of the day was Jacob Daavettila, who finished his tournament with a score of +24 to finish T79. Daavettila had a birdie on the par four 10th hole today, one of his two for the tournament, and led the 'Cats in par three scoring on the week, averaging 3.27 per hole.

Shortly behind Daavettila was Tyler Annala, who played consistent golf this week, shooting rounds of +8, +8, and +10 for a three-round total of +26. Annala finished second on the team in par four scoring, par five scoring, and total pars.

Competing as an individual was Harvey Ylitalo, who finished in sole possession of 93rd with his three-round total of +30. Harvey posted a pair of birdies on the week, second on the team to only his brother, Arthur.

Having himself a great day and rounding out team scoring was Brady Badker, who, like the team, improved every round, going from +14, to +12, to a final round +6 for a score of +32. Badker had a hot start to the third round, shooting -1 on hoels 13 through 18 before rounding to the front nine. A 42 on the front was followed by a trio of pars on his final three holes, giving him a -1 35 on the back.

Levi Pennala matched Badker's three day total, finishing tied as an individual with his +32. Pennala played consistently, firing rounds of +12, +10, and +10.

The men's golf team is back in action two weeks from now, when the team returns to the lower peninsula of Michigan to compete in the Motor City Shakedown at TPC Michigan, hosted by Wayne State.

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Players Mentioned

Tyler Annala: 6' 0"; Senior

Brady Badker: 5' 10"; Senior

Levi Pennala: Sophomore

Arthur Ylitalo: 5' 11"; Junior

Harvey Ylitalo: Freshman

Jacob Daavettila: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Tyler Annala
: 6' 0"; Senior

Brady Badker
: 5' 10"; Senior

Levi Pennala
: Sophomore

Arthur Ylitalo
: 5' 11"; Junior

Harvey Ylitalo
: Freshman

Jacob Daavettila
: Freshman