Spartan Golf Falls in Tiebreaker to Nebraska in Big Ten Match Play Opener

Clouser, Mory and Moseley all pick up wins for MSU.

BRADENTON, Fla. – The Michigan State men’s golf team opened the spring campaign with a 3-3 tiebreaker loss to Nebraska in its first match of the 2012 Big Ten Match Play Championship at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla. Senior Chris Mory, junior Matthew Moseley and freshman McCormick Clouser all posted wins for the Spartans.

“We played well and I was encouraged by a lot of things I saw, but overall we were disappointed with the loss,” said Spartan head coach Casey Lubahn. “I think the format took us out of our standard way of playing, and we did not respond well. The course challenges the proper shot, and we didn’t play it as well as we liked. Tomorrow we will try and correct those mistakes, and keep the momentum from today’s solid play.”

The Spartans and Huskers split their six matches today, but Nebraska would advance in the championship bracket based on number of holes won. MSU did not start its consolation match, because of time constraints.

In the second spot, Mory defeated Manuel Lavin, 5&3. Mory was 1-down after the sixth hole, but won the next four holes to gain control. He had five birdies in his 15 holes.

Moseley picked up a 1-up win at No. 3 over Neil Dufford. He lost the first hole, but won the next three with pars. Dufford would eventually tie the match after the 11th hole, but Moseley responded again by winning the 12th and 13th holes, and closed out the match with a birdie-par finish.

In the final victory for MSU, Clouser knocked off Ross Dickson 2-up in the fourth spot. Dickson led for much of the front-nine, before Clouser won the 8th, 9th and 10th holes to swing the momentum into his favor. The match came back tied after the 13th, but Clouser won three of the last five holes for the win.

In the three losses, Dan Ellis fell 2&1 to Scott Willman in the No. 1 spot, Dave Ellis lost 1-up to Jordan Reinertson in the fifth spot, and Will Morris dropped his match 6&5 to Ryan Grassel at No. 6.

The Spartans will conclude action at the Big Ten Match Play Championship tomorrow against a yet unknown opponent