EAST LANSING— Michigan State men’s golf continues its spring campaign this weekend.  

The Spartans travel to Chapel Hill and compete at the UNC Finley Golf Course during the Tar Heel Intercollegiate, held April 12-13. Hosted by the University of North Carolina, this two-day event will showcase a talented field over 54 holes.  

Course Preview: UNC Finley Golf Course  

The UNC Finley, designed by the legendary Tom Fazio, is a par-72, 7,242-yard course with tricky sloped greens and tight fairways lined with trees. Unlike the shorter Silverado South Course, which the Spartans last played, this course layout will favor distance control and smart decision-making by players.  

The best part of playing golf in the southeastern United States is that players can expect Bermudagrass fairways and bent grass greens, which are the typical choice of elite courses in this region of America. However, players must pay attention to Mother Nature as unpredictable spring weather can quickly change how the course is played.   

Hole Watch: No. 9   

One of the most iconic holes on this course is hole No. 9, a 565-yard par 5 that leaves the players with a choice. A good tee shot will allow any golfer to go for the green in two but the deep greenside bunkers that guard the dance floor often leads to players laying up and trying to go up and down for birdie.  

Those bold enough to go for the green on their second shot can be seen at the top of the standings with success, but a mishit could send them quickly to the bottom.   

Hole Watch: No. 17  

Another iconic hole at UNC Finey is No. 17, a 225-yard par 3. This long par 3 presents players with a very narrow green surrounded by a few bunkers and rows of tall pine trees. Being so late in the round, this hole could make or break a team’s tournament. Club choice and precision will be key to low scores on No. 17.  

MSU Lineup  

Head Coach Casey Lubahn will stick with a familiar lineup this week:  

• Caleb Bond (Jr.)  

• Lucas Acevedo (So.)  

• Lorenzo Pinili (So.)  

• Drew Miller (So.)  

• Julian Menser (Fr.)  

The Spartans have shown some consistent depth throughout their lineup this season; however, they’ll need a strong performance from a few members this week to make the podium.   

Field Preview:  

This year’s Tar Heel Intercollegiate includes a strong field led by the hosts, No. 16 North Carolina. Other notable competitors include:  

• No. 54 UNC Greensboro  

• No. 71 East Tennessee State  

• No. 79 College of Charleston  

The Spartans are looking for a statement finish in a challenging field in preparation for the NCAA Regionals.  

A top five finish would look great on the Spartan’s resume heading into the final weeks of the 2024-25 season. Michigan State’s performance in this tournament will give a good idea of what fans can expect from the Spartans this postseason.   

Follow Along:  

Fans looking for player scoring, standings, and pairings can find results on Golfstat.com, which will be updated live throughout the weekend.  

For more coverage, follow Michigan State Golf’s X (Twitter) account @MSUMensGolf for photos, interviews, and more behind-the-scenes content this weekend from Chapel Hill.