Gilbert in Top 20 After One Round at Golfweek Conference Challenge
Sept. 16, 2012
Round 1 Results 
BURLINGTON, Iowa – Chris Gilbert carded four birdies as part of a 2-over 74 to lead Kansas men’s golf to a team score of 306 (+18), which put the Jayhawks in a four-way tie for 10th place after the first round of the Golfweek Conference Challenge at Spirit Hollow Golf Course Sunday afternoon.
“We got a little sloppy out there and made double bogeys, but I’m not totally disappointed,” said Kansas head coach Jamie Bermel. “It’s a pretty difficult golf course. It’s long, there are a lot of trees and the rough is thick, so you have to be sharp or you can make some doubles.”
Gilbert’s round featured a team-high four birdies, including three on the front nine. Gilbert began his round on the 10th hole and dropped to 4-over par after seven holes, but a birdie on the par-5 No. 18 kickstarted his turnaround en route to shooting a 1-under 35 on the front nine. Gilbert ended the day tied for 19th place with his 74 in the opening round.
“He played pretty solid,” said Bermel. “He wasn’t great, but he’s certainly off to a better start than he had last week, so that’s encouraging.”
Dylan McClure finished close behind Gilbert with a 4-over 76 that tied him for 33rd place. Bryce Brown matched Gilbert’s four birdies for the day, but three double bogeys and a 40 on the back nine led to Brown finishing tied for 40th with a 77 (+5). Course management, especially on teh back nine, will be a key to the Jayhawks trying to separate themselves from the group at 18-over par, which includes Florida Gulf Coast, San Jose State and San Francisco.
“The back nine is much more difficult,” said Bermel. “We need to do a better job of getting the ball in the fairway on the back nine because the rough is so thick. If you get in the rough, you’d better hope for a good lie. Otherwise, it’s pretty easy to bogey. If we drive it better tomorrow, we’ll play a little better.”
Kansas tees off its second round of the three-day Golfweek Conference Challenge Monday at 9:50 a.m.
