One-hundred nine days. More than 15 weeks. That's how long it's been since the Michigan men’s golf team closed out the fall season with a third-place finish at the Bridgestone Invitational.

Finally, the Wolverines got out of the frigid Ann Arbor weather to compete outdoors once again.

Michigan traveled to Coral Springs, Fl. this past weekend to open the spring season at the Big Ten Match Play Championship.

But the Wolverines, ranked third in the Big Ten, came slowly out of the gate.

Following a first-round bye, Michigan faced No. 6 Northwestern in the second round on Friday.

But receiving a bye turned out to hinder, rather than help, the Wolverines.

“We were obviously rusty coming out in the first day," Michigan coach Andrew Sapp said. "Northwestern had played in the morning and won its first match, and they took that momentum and really got up on us early.”

Gusty winds and occasional rain showers didn't help the Wolverines’ cause either.

“(The weather) was pretty bad,” Sapp said. “I’ve never been this cold in the state of Florida before. The wind played a major factor in the golf. But obviously when you’re playing match play, you’re playing under the same conditions. So whoever can adjust to the wind better is going to have the advantage.”

Unfortunately for Michigan, Northwestern had that advantage and took the second round match 4-2 to send the Wolverines into the consolation round.

Facing No. 7 Ohio State in the consolation semifinal, Michigan was in desperate need of a win.

After freshman Rahul Bakshi and sophomore Alex Frankel both lost their third-round matches, the Wolverines quickly found themselves in a 2-0 hole.

But Michigan didn't give up.

Following wins from junior Lion Kim and freshman Jack Schultz, the score was knotted at two. From there all the Wolverines needed was a little last-second heroics.

Junior Alexander Sitompul drained a nearly impossible 50-foot putt on the 18th hole to halve his match and keep Michigan’s hopes of a victory alive.

Needing a win in the last match, sophomore Matt Thompson nailed a 20-footer on the 18th hole to win his match and secure a 3.5-2.5 victory for the Wolverines.

But Michigan could not carry that momentum into the consolation final against top-ranked Illinois. The Wolverines stuck with the Illini for the first half of the match, but could not keep up with them in the end.

“We played poorly mainly on the back nine against Illinois,” Sapp said. “They really pulled away from us on the back nine.”

Illinois took the match 4.5-1.5, and Michigan finished the weekend with a disappointing sixth-place finish.

Schultz won his third and final match and was the only Wolverine to finish the weekend undefeated.

“I just wanted to play well,” Schultz said. “The last match I hung in there. I got down three after five and I hung in there, so I’m happy with that.”

Sapp could not have been more pleased with the freshman’s performance.

“You never know how freshmen will play," Sapp said, "especially when they’re playing in their first spring golf of their career. He did a nice job.”

Although Schultz and the Wolverines didn't get the outcome that they had hoped for, playing match play to start the spring season will prove to benefit Michigan in the long run.

The NCAA Championships are played in match play format and getting this early-season experience will come in handy come June.

“I think playing match play is good for our team,” Sapp said. “Last year, this tournament really helped us learn how to play match play. When we made it to the NCAA Championships, it helped us win our first match because we were comfortable with the format.”