There were a number of positives West Virginia’s golf team took away from its performance in this week’s Mountaineer Invitational at Pete Dye Golf Club.
Among them were the efforts of Jack Michael, who continued the ascension throughout his freshman season by finishing in a four-way tie for eighth place among the 104-player field.
Michael carded rounds over 74, 67 and 71 to finish at 4-under on the par-72 course in Bridgeport.
He was one shot back of WVU’s top finisher — sophomore Nick Turowski — and played a pivotal role in the Mountaineers finishing in a two-way tie for second place with Texas Tech in a 19-team field that Clemson came out on top in.
“Being our home course, the preparation we put in, we expected a lot out of ourselves for sure,” Michael said Wednesday as a guest on Statewide Sportsline. “Coaches expected a lot. We did everything possible to get ready. We expected to go out and perform and we met those expectations.”
That West Virginia’s lone in-state event of the season was held at its home course certainly proved beneficial to Michael and his teammates.
“That course is tricky,” Michael said. “The green complexes are very complicated, and for us to be able to go out there and play every day and play the tournament setups in the weeks prior to the tournament, it’s a huge advantage knowing everything out there.”
For Michael, it was further proof of what he’s capable of at this level and another boost of confidence leading into the Big 12 Championship.
In his first collegiate season, the former Cabell Midland High School standout has been a mainstay in the Mountaineer lineup.
That began with a strong showing in team qualifying, which led to Michael playing in the team’s first match — the Island Resort Collegiate in Bark River, Mich.
Michael finished tied for 18th at 7-under par in his debut, while the Mountaineers won their opening event as a team.
“Ever since then, I’ve been on a roll,” Michael said. “Coach knows he can rely on me. It’s been great to have that backing me up and going through this season.”
Michael has endured ups and downs since.
Over the two months that followed his college debut, Michael finished 56th at the Gopher Invitational at 11-over par, 18th in the Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational at 2-under par and 64th at the Steelwoood Collegiate Invitational at 8-over par.
Since, he’s come in 14th at the Pearl at Kalauao Invitational at 1-under par and taken 15th at the Schenkel Invitational at 4-under par in an event Michael shot a second round 64 in.
Last month, Michael finished 11th at 5-under par at The Hootie at Bulls Bay.
“I’d have to say I’m a much better golfer now than when I started,” Michael said. “Primarily, getting to play Pete Dye Golf Club virtually every day. We have a great hitting facility out there, three hitting bays, all the technology you could need, a great wedge range to really dial in our numbers.
“But it also comes down to getting to compete with my teammates virtually every week trying to qualify for spots. It makes me better at tournament golf, better in pressure situations and I’ve learned a lot more about my game and learned from my teammates.”
Michael was plenty accomplished before arriving in Morgantown, which helped lead to the opportunity with the Mountaineers.
He garnered low medalist honors in Class AAA at the 2024 state match, which came one year after Michael won the West Virginia Junior Amateur Championship.
“It was an interesting situation being from Huntington,” Michael said. “I’ve always grown up a Marshall fan, but the moment I got the opportunity to play golf at WVU, represent my state and our state’s flagship university, I knew it was for me. Ever since I had the opportunity, I’ve wanted to represent West Virginia.”
Michael now prepares for what lies ahead April 27-27 in Hutchinson, Kan., when WVU participates in its conference event at Prairie Dunes Golf Club.
“It’s one of the best venues in the United States,” Michael said. “It’s out in the plains, so very windy, long and firm. A very difficult golf course. In terms of competition, the Big 12 is the best, if not tied with the SEC for the best conference in all of college golf. Very stiff competition. A lot on the line and we’re looking forward to it.”