Great Lakes Wire

The Northern Michigan University (NMU) men's golf team is set to commence its 2025 spring season in Florida at the Saddlebrook Spring Kickoff. The event will take place on March 5th and 6th at the Saddlebrook Golf Resort, located in Wesley Chapel, just north of Tampa.

Saddlebrook Resort, known for its award-winning facilities, offers a unique setting as a car-free Walking Village. It features two golf courses among other amenities. The resort's course includes 27 holes that can be configured into an 18-hole round, providing flexibility and challenges for golfers of all skill levels.

Weather forecasts predict cloudy skies with afternoon thunderstorms and gusty winds on March 5th. Conditions are expected to improve on March 6th with sunny weather and moderate winds.

In their previous appearance at the Saddlebrook Spring Kickoff during the 2021-22 season, NMU finished fifth at Stonehedge North in Tampa. This year, live scoring will be available through Scoreboard by Clipped.

The team traveling to Florida includes senior players Walter Ylitalo, Russel Sprecher, and Kyle Maki; juniors Joe Luke, Brady Badker, and Tyler Annala; sophomore Arthur Ylitalo; and freshman Levi Pennala.

During their last outing at the DU Panther Invitational in fall 2024, NMU placed seventh out of twelve teams. The Wildcats improved their performance by reducing six strokes from their day one score. Notably, Walter Ylitalo finished with a two-day total of +6, while teammates Brady Badker and Arthur Ylitalo ended with totals of +7 and +8 respectively.