Jayhawks Finish Tied for 14th at the Hawaii-Hilo Invitational

Feb. 8, 2008

LAWRENCE, KAN. –

Click Here for the Final Results

Brad Hopfinger recorded his fourth top-30 finish of his freshman year as the Kansas men’s golf team finished tied for 14^th at the Hawaii-Hilo Invitational at the Waikoloa Village Golf Course in Kona, Hawaii. Hopfinger shot a final-round score of 70 and finished tied for 26^th place.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

The Jayhawks duplicated their 14^th place finish from a year ago after shooting a final-round score of 291. Stanford was able to hold onto their second-round lead and claimed the team title with a final-round score of 275.

Sophomore Bobby Knowles improved upon his score from the round before for the second straight day, carding a final-round total of 71 and finished tied for 57^th place. The Omaha, Neb. native, finished tied for 84^th at the event last year.

Freshman Nate Barbee shot a 74 in round three and finished tied for 68^th place. Junior Walt Koelbel fired a final-round 76 and finished tied for 83^rd place. Junior Zach Pederson carded a 77 and finished in 91^st place.

Hopfinger (210), Knowles (216), and Barbee (217) all recorded their top 54-hole scores of their careers at the Hawaii-Hilo Invitational. The team score of 858 also marked the Jayhawks top team total for a tournament this year.

Jesper Kennegard of Arizona State was able to take home the individual title with a three-round total of 197. Kennegard edged Rob Grube and Sihwan Kim of Stanford by two strokes for the title.

The Jayhawks will return to action on Feb. 25-26 when they travel to Houston, Texas to defend their team title at the All-American Golf Classic.

Team Leaderboard

1. Stanford (275-263-275–813)

T2. Arizona State (271-272-273–816)

T2. Southern California (274-270-272–816)

4. Georgia Tech (275-272-277–824)

5. Texas Tech (271-275-283–829)

T14. Kansas (285-282-291–858)

Player Leaderboard

1. Jesper Kennegard, Arizona St. (68-63-66–197)

T2. Rob Grube, Stanford (65-67-67–199)

T2. Sihwan Kim, Stanford (69-63-67–199)

4. Cameron Tringale, Georgia Tech (65-67-68–200)

T26. Brad Hopfinger, Kansas (66-74-70–210)

T57. Bobby Knowles, Kansas (73-72-71–216)

T68. Nate Barbee, Kansas (76-67-74–217)

T83. Walt Koelbel, Kansas (70-75-76–221)

91. Zach Pederson, Kansas (81-69-77–227)