Sisters Abbie, left, and Maggie Pietila pose for the camera during an off-time for the Northern Michigan University women’s golf team. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University men’s and women’s golf teams will try to get in their second meet of the spring when they travel to Wheaton, Illinois, for the Flyer Spring Invitational hosted by Lewis University and held at the Cantigny Golf Club on Monday and Tuesday.

Both Wildcat teams competed at the Saddlebrook Spring Kickoff in Wesley Chapel, Florida, from March 4-6, but were stopped by weather in the middle of the first round of the two-day Saginaw Valley State University Spring Invitational being held in Georgetown, Kentucky, on March 15-16.

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Saddlebrook Spring Kickoff

In Florida, the NMU men finished third in a six-team field, while the Northern women were sixth among seven teams.

The Wildcat men finished at 101 over par for three days, 65 shots behind winner and national No. 18 Missouri S&T. McKendree was second at plus-71, while after NMU was Walsh at plus-109 and Roosevelt at plus-110. St. Xavier brought up the rear at plus-185.

Walter Ylitalo finished 10th individually and tops for NMU at plus-18, which included an 8-over 79 on the final day. He had nine birdies overall, which was second in the field.

His brother and teammate Arthur Ylitalo finished with a 3-over 74 for a 12th-place total of plus-20, making seven birdies throughout.

The Wildcats’ Tyler Annala, a Westwood High School graduate, and Russel Sprecher tied for 21st with plus-33, Annala shooting 86 the final day and Sprecher 87.

And Levi Pennala was 30th, while Brady Badker was 37th. NMU golfers competing as individuals were Kyle Maki coming in 31st and Marquette Senior High School product Joe Luke 32nd.

The NMU women in Florida finished at plus-207 for three days with a final round of plus-72. National No. 5 Marian won with plus-92, while No. 32 Bethel was runner-up at plus-134 and McKendree third with plus-154.

Maggie Pietila paced the Wildcats with a 13th-place finish of plus-38 and 16-over 88 on the final day. She had NMU’s only birdie on the final day and had four in all.

Teammate Maddy Martens was 20th at plus-50 after a final day of 23 over, while Abbie Pietila was 26th with plus-59 after an NMU-best 15-over 87 on the final day.

NMU’s Hailey Bolander was 27th with plus-60 after a final round 18-over 90.

Also for Northern, Gabriella Moreau was 34th at plus-95 and Payton Dube 36th with plus-106. Playing unattached, NMU’s Olivia Brill was 33rd with plus-83 and MSHS graduate Abby Luke 34th with plus-95.

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SVSU Spring Invite

The NMU women were tied for sixth out of 13 teams at plus-34 when the tourney was called off on its first day and not resumed the next day.

National No. 35 Tiffin was leading at plus-13, with Davenport and Purdue Northwest next in line.

The entire Northern women’s squad had finished 13 holes when play was called with both Abbie Pietila and Maggie Pietila leading the team at plus-7, while Bolander and Martens were at plus-10.

Moreau was at plus-13 and Brill and Abby Luke each at plus-17.

The Wildcat men were in ninth place among 17 teams at plus-14 when play was called. McKendree was leading at plus-5, followed by Kentucky State and Davenport.

Arthur Ylitalo had a great day going, making the turn at 1-under-par with a birdie and eight pars and adding a bogey to be at even par when play was halted.

Annala was at plus-3, Maki at plus-4, Walter Ylitalo plus-5, Pennala plus-6 and Sprecher plus-8.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the meet. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.