Central Michigan University Athletics
Tuesday, October 14
10 a.m. (vs. Green Bay)
Central Michigan University
vs
Motor City Matchup
Jeffrey Andrus went 2-0 in the Motor City Matchup at Birmingham Country Club.
Chippewa Golfers Fall to Green Bay in 'Matchup' Finale
10/14/2025 6:25:00 PM | Men's Golf
Andrus, Zanatta, Dull win for second straight day at match play event at Birmingham Country Club
BIRMINGHAM, Mich. – Four wins and two matches that ended all square.
Close, but it wasn't enough as the Central Michigan men's and women's golf teams fell short on Tuesday in the 2nd Annual Motor City Matchup at Birmingham Country Club.
The Chippewas bowed to Green Bay, 7-5, in Tuesday's championship match at the storied club just north of Detroit. The unique match play event combined men's and women's teams – six players from each – in match play battles.
The Chippewas defeated Chicago State and Green Bay topped Detroit Mercy in Monday's Round 1 matches. Chicago State topped the Titans, 8-4, in Tuesday's third-place match.
"Today was a hard-fought battle and it came down to the end and a couple of matches went the other way," CMU women's coach Ryan Williams said. "If you saw what was going on out there, you saw kids fighting and competing and that's all we can ask of them. Really happy to see the effort from both our women's team and our men's team."
The Chippewa wins came from the No. 1 players in both lineups, Ella Zanatta (women) and Keith Hunter (men). Zanatta posted a 5 and 4 victory and Hunter won, 1 up.
CMU also got a 6 and 4 win from Jeffrey Andrus and a 1 up victory from Zoe Dull. The Chippewas' Rachel Niskanen and Alexis McMurray finished their respective matches all square to earn one-half point each.
The event began with a college-am tournament on Sunday and was played under summerlike conditions with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s.
"The last three days here have been awesome," Williams said. "To get to play this golf course is special, to get to compete on this course in some sensational weather makes it even better. There was some really good golf played out there this week. The opportunities to score were out there; you could hit good shots, and the greens were holding and the course was in great shape."
Zanatta, Andrus and Dull each won both of their respective matches in the event, while both Niskanen and McMurray each finished 1-0-1.
"Match play is always fun," Williams said. "It's a bit of a different test and you can learn some things about yourself out there as a competitor and we as coaches can learn a lot about our players as they compete in match play.
"It's really good to see kids scratch and claw for every hole and to fight back from deficits or just run away and win big. I think our team definitely took a lot away from this week and can use those lesson in future competitions."
The event was hosted by Birmingham Country Club members Rocky and Traci Ricelli, generous supporters of CMU golf.
"This event means a lot to Central Michigan University and both our men's golf program and our women's golf program," CMU men's coach Kevin Jennings said. "We are grateful for the Ricellis; they are very welcoming to us and they do so much to put on a tremendous event, and we are likewise grateful to the Birmingham Country Club management and staff who go the extra mile to graciously host us here. It is a first-class event, from top to bottom, and we can't thank both the Ricellis and Birmingham Country Club enough."
Said Williams: "They do so much to make this event really special. They think about all the little details that make it memorable for college players and that, coupled with the course and the facilities here, is why teams like to come to this event.
"They provide an incredible venue and then all the detail touches that they put into it make it extra special. The Ricellis are incredible supporters of our program, and we are beyond grateful to have them."
Close, but it wasn't enough as the Central Michigan men's and women's golf teams fell short on Tuesday in the 2nd Annual Motor City Matchup at Birmingham Country Club.
The Chippewas bowed to Green Bay, 7-5, in Tuesday's championship match at the storied club just north of Detroit. The unique match play event combined men's and women's teams – six players from each – in match play battles.
The Chippewas defeated Chicago State and Green Bay topped Detroit Mercy in Monday's Round 1 matches. Chicago State topped the Titans, 8-4, in Tuesday's third-place match.
"Today was a hard-fought battle and it came down to the end and a couple of matches went the other way," CMU women's coach Ryan Williams said. "If you saw what was going on out there, you saw kids fighting and competing and that's all we can ask of them. Really happy to see the effort from both our women's team and our men's team."
The Chippewa wins came from the No. 1 players in both lineups, Ella Zanatta (women) and Keith Hunter (men). Zanatta posted a 5 and 4 victory and Hunter won, 1 up.
CMU also got a 6 and 4 win from Jeffrey Andrus and a 1 up victory from Zoe Dull. The Chippewas' Rachel Niskanen and Alexis McMurray finished their respective matches all square to earn one-half point each.
The event began with a college-am tournament on Sunday and was played under summerlike conditions with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s.
"The last three days here have been awesome," Williams said. "To get to play this golf course is special, to get to compete on this course in some sensational weather makes it even better. There was some really good golf played out there this week. The opportunities to score were out there; you could hit good shots, and the greens were holding and the course was in great shape."
Zanatta, Andrus and Dull each won both of their respective matches in the event, while both Niskanen and McMurray each finished 1-0-1.
"Match play is always fun," Williams said. "It's a bit of a different test and you can learn some things about yourself out there as a competitor and we as coaches can learn a lot about our players as they compete in match play.
"It's really good to see kids scratch and claw for every hole and to fight back from deficits or just run away and win big. I think our team definitely took a lot away from this week and can use those lesson in future competitions."
The event was hosted by Birmingham Country Club members Rocky and Traci Ricelli, generous supporters of CMU golf.
"This event means a lot to Central Michigan University and both our men's golf program and our women's golf program," CMU men's coach Kevin Jennings said. "We are grateful for the Ricellis; they are very welcoming to us and they do so much to put on a tremendous event, and we are likewise grateful to the Birmingham Country Club management and staff who go the extra mile to graciously host us here. It is a first-class event, from top to bottom, and we can't thank both the Ricellis and Birmingham Country Club enough."
Said Williams: "They do so much to make this event really special. They think about all the little details that make it memorable for college players and that, coupled with the course and the facilities here, is why teams like to come to this event.
"They provide an incredible venue and then all the detail touches that they put into it make it extra special. The Ricellis are incredible supporters of our program, and we are beyond grateful to have them."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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