For the first time in over 40 years, the Michigan men’s golf team came into the season’s first tournament with high expectations.

After an NCAA Final Four berth last season and the team's first top-15 finish since 1968, No. 21 Michigan looked poised for another breakout year. And for the first time in program history, was ranked in the preseason top 25.

But the focus after yesterday's final round shifted from last season's run to sophomore Matt Thompson's show-stealing performance this weekend.

At the two-day, 54-hole Wolf Run Intercollegiate at Wolf Run Country Club in Zionsville, Ind., Thompson shot three-straight sub-70 rounds (69-69-67) en route to a third-place finish. His eight-under 205 is tied for the second-lowest 54-hole score in Michigan history.

“Matt played fabulously,” Michigan coach Andrew Sapp said. “He’s coming off of a tremendous summer when he played so well, and he’s built some momentum for the beginning of this fall.”

After posting back-to-back 69s, Thompson shot a career-best, four-under 67 in the third round. He called it the best golf he ever remembers playing.

Just as Thompson saved his best for last, so did Michigan, who jumped five spots in the final round to seal fourth place. The Wolverines shot a 293 in the first round and a 294 in the second round, but finished strong with a 287 yesterday. Big Ten rival and No. 12 Illinois won the tournament by 13 strokes.

“Going into the last round, we knew that we had to make a move,” Thompson said. “I knew we could play better (in the first two rounds) than we did on Saturday and we were able to do that.”

Given that the Wolverines came into the event as the defending champions, Sapp was disappointed with the fourth-place finish. But he was pleased with how the team responded in the final round, especially with a new lineup.

Senior David Weisfeld, who finished tied for 66th, and freshmen Jack Schultz and Rahul Bakshi, who finished 42nd and 47th, respectively, all made their first career collegiate starts. Junior Alexander Sitompul, a mainstay in Michigan’s Final Four run last spring, missed the tournament due to a left foot injury.

“Starting three people who hadn’t started before, including two freshmen, you never know what’s going to happen,” Sapp said. “The new faces definitely contributed and hopefully gained a lot of good experience.”

Michigan knows it’s a long road until the postseason in May, and a repeat of last year’s run is no easy task. But Sapp and his team know they have the ability to be one of the last teams standing, and the benefit of an experienced group is a luxury the squad didn't have last year.

“We’re just more motivated to play even better and get back there,” Thompson said. “Because now we know we can do it.”