Welle's Career Day Helps Jayhawks Claim Second Title of the Season

Final Results

EL PASO, Texas – Behind the veteran leadership of senior Ben Welle, the Kansas men’s golf team will return to Lawrence with its bags weighing a little bit more, as the team was crowned champions of the Prices’ Give ‘Em Five Invitational Sunday afternoon.  This marks KU’s second victory of the 2015-16 season, making this weekend’s win the fourth under fourth-year head coach Jamie Bermel.

By carding the lowest score of the tournament and shooting the best round of the event (-17), the Jayhawks finished 11 strokes ahead of runner-up St. Mary’s (CA), shooting scores of 279-276-271–826 (-38) in the Prices’ Give ‘Em Five Invitational held at Butterfield Golf Club in El Paso. Kansas’ 217 Sunday was just four strokes shy of tying the lowest team score in school history. 
 
Led by Welle, who managed to fire off 18 of his own, the Jayhawks recorded the most team birdies out of the 15-teams who participated in the three day event.  KU also finished amongst the tournament leaders, carding a total of four eagles.
 
“It was great win today,” Bermel said.  “I’m really proud of all of them but especially the seniors in particular.”
 
With his third top-five placing of the season, Welle finished the weekend in second placed.  He played a bogey-free round of golf on Sunday, shooting an 8-under 64, marking a new career-low. 
 
His third round score also helped Welle shoot a total 202 (-14), which also sets a new career-low in a three-round performance.  Both his individual round and total score are now tied for second on Kansas’ all-time list in their respective categories. 
 
Joining Welle on the individual leaderboard, were teammates Chase Hanna and Charlie Hillier, who each finished in the top 10.  With scores of 71-66-70, totaling 207 (-9), Hanna completed the event in sixth place, making this his second top-10 placing of his junior campaign.  His eagle on the par-four 15^th hole, marked his second eagle of the tournament, which led the field of 84 players.
 
In Sunday’s third round, Hillier recorded a 70 (-2), helping him tie for eighth; his second top-10 placing of the season as well.  His final round also marked the freshman’s sixth time this year his has recorded a round under par.  This weekend was the first time he has carded three consecutive rounds under par. 
 
As Welle’s senior counterpart, Connor Peck’s scores of 75-70-67–212 (-4) allowed him to walk off the course on Sunday with his fourth top-20 placing of the season.  His second and third rounds he shot under par also marks the sixth time this year he has recorded rounds under par, which ties Welle for the team lead. 
 
Appearing in his first event of the season, redshirt sophomore Jacques Wilson played solid all weekend.  He shot an even-par 144, in his first two rounds and finished the event with a total of 218 (+2) strokes. 
 
Despite playing through an injury, sophomore Daniel Hudson was able to card an even-par, 72 on Sunday.  His three-day total of 222 (+6) allowed him to finish tied for 60^th in the event. 
 
“Daniel hung in there today,” Bermel said. “He is still not healthy but gutted it out for the team win.”
 
The Jayhawks will next travel to Lahina, Maui, Hawaii and compete in the Ka’anapali Collegiate Classic on November 6-8.  This event marks the sixth and final event of the fall season.  
 
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.