University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Big Ten Match Play
Players Mentioned
Gophers Open B1G Match Play with Quarterfinals Loss to Maryland
2/7/2020 8:13:00 PM | Men's Golf
MINNEAPOLIS – The third-seeded Minnesota men's golf team opened its spring season Friday afternoon with a 3-2-1 loss to No. 11 Maryland in the quarterfinals of the 12th annual Big Ten Match Play Championship.
Held at the Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Fla., the Golden Gophers earned a first-round bye before facing the Terrapins, who defeated No. 6 Rutgers Friday morning. However, the afternoon rounds were limited to just 14 holes due to lack of daylight.
Juniors Angus Flanagan and Evan Long posted victories for Minnesota.
Flanagan defeated Peter Knade, 3&1. Flanagan won the opening hole, No. 10, but gave it back on the next hole. Knade took the lead on the 14th hole, but Flanagan won the next two to grab a lead he would not relinquish. Flanagan then captured the first and second holes to hold a three-hold advantage that he would carry to the end.
Long posted a 4&3 win over Dhaivat Pandya. Long began on Hole 12 and got off to a strong start as he won the first two holes and four of the first five. Pandya cut the lead back to three, but two holes later Long got the lead back to four by winning No. 4.
Senior Thomas Longbella tied his match with Chris Lane. Starting on No. 11, Longbella led by as many as two through nine holes, but Lane fought back by winning the second and third holes to even the match. From there, the duo tied on each of the final six holes.
Meanwhile, sophomore Lincoln Johnson and freshmen Harrison Arnold and Connor Glynn all dropped their matches. Glynn and Johnson each lost, 1 up, while Arnold was dealt a 3&1 setback.
Minnesota is back in action Saturday morning at 6:40 a.m. CT against No. 2 Purdue in the consolation bracket.
B1G Match Play Results
Angus Flanagan d. Peter Knade, 3&1
Austin Barbin d. Connor Glynn, 1 Up
Christian Park d. Lincoln Johnson, 1 Up
Thomas Longbella t. Chris Lane
Will Celiberti d. Harrison Arnold, 3&1
Evan Long d. Dhaivat Pandya, 4&3