KU Men's and Women's Golf Teams Kick Off Season in Social Competition

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas men’s and women’s golf teams united at Eage Bend Golf Course Friday afternoon for a friendly pre-season competition.

The competition included nine holes played using the Ryder Cup style. A member from the men’s golf team paired with a member of the women’s golf team to play the first three holes using the best ball format, the next three holes playing alternate shot and the last three holes in a scramble.

Although the two squads both practice at Alvamar Golf Club, they don’t have much time for interaction.

“(Coach) Erin (O’Neil) and I were talking at the end of last spring, trying to get the two squads together,” men’s coach Kit Grove said. “We were going back and forth on ideas and she thought we should have a competition where we match up one of the guys with the gals. We spend so much time together in the same place and we figured this would be a good opportunity to have them come out and have a little more social interaction between them.”

“We just thought it would be a fun way for the two teams to spend some time together, be relaxed and have some fun,” women’s coach Erin O’Neil said. “We’re going to go grab some dinner afterwards. There are not a lot of schools that have a men’s and women’s team so we thought we’d take advantage of that.”

The men’s team will participate in the Fairway Club Invitational Sept. 14 and 15 in Nebraska City, Neb., to begin its fall season.

“I think we’ll have more firepower up top and a little more depth this year,” Grove said. “I’m excited for this year and I think our team chemistry is working well.”

The women’s team will open its season in Lincoln, Neb., at the Chip-N Club Invitational Sept. 14 and 15.