This weekend the Michigan men's golf team will try to rebound from its rough start when it plays in the 16-team Northern Intercollegiate in Bloomington.

Michigan coach Andrew Sapp has emphasized bulking up the Wolverines' schedule, and his golfers will face stiff competition this weekend. The teams in this year's field include defending NCAA champion Minnesota and Illinois, which finished No. 18 last year.

Last week the Wolverines finished last in the Ridges Intercollegiate in Johnson City, Tenn. But Sapp says the team came away optimistic.

"Everyone there was ranked ahead of us and seven teams were ranked in the top 20," Sapp said. "We did finish last, but the players realized that they are very close to those other teams, and that has made them want to practice and improve."

Redshirt freshman Mark McIntosh agreed with his coach.

"Last year the team played in a lot of regional tournaments, but this year we get to see some of the top teams in the country. It is good because we are a young team, so seeing how the best prepare and play will help us become better golfers."

Joining junior Dave Nichols, sophomore Rob Tighe and McIntosh this weekend will be junior Scott Carlton and freshman Christian Vozza.

"This week in qualifying, Christian shot one under par," Sapp said. "This weekend will be his first tournament for us, and I am excited to see what he can show."

The Northern Intercollegiate will also serve as a fall preview for the Big Ten Championship; Indiana will host the Big Ten Championships this spring and nine of the 11 Big Ten teams will be in Bloomington this weekend.

"This weekend will be an early barometer of where we fit in when the season really gets going in the spring," Sapp said.