Barbee Earns First-Career Win at Kansas Invitational Leading Kansas to Second Place Finish
Sept. 29, 2009
| Video: Coach Grove
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LAWRENCE, Kan. – After knocking on the door all season, Nate Barbee registered his first career win with a final-round 68 at the Kansas Invitational and in the process helped the Kansas men’s golf team to a second place finish at Alvamar Golf Club.
Barbee, who opened the season finishing fifth and tying for third, entered the round trailing leader Jace Long of Missouri by one stroke. Barbee responded with his sixth round of par or better in eight tries this season and won the event by three strokes over Long.
The team nearly came from seven strokes down to win the event, but fell two strokes shy of Oklahoma with a final round 292.
“Obviously we would have liked to win, but I like how we came out and played today on a course that is sneaky tough,” said head coach Kit Grove. “I am very happy for Nate (Barbee) to get his first win. He is the hardest worker that we have and he has definitely earned this victory.”
Barbee was joined in the top-20 by freshman Chris Gilbert. Gilbert fired a final-round 73 to tie for 14th. The finish marks Gilbert’s second top-20 finish in the first three tournaments of his inaugural season.
Senior Bryan Hackenberg shot his second-consecutive 76 and tied for 25th. Freshman Jeff Bell rebounded from a second round 81 with a final round 77 and tied for 42nd. Freshman Alex Gutesha shot a 75 and finished in 72nd.
Sophomore Ian Anson and senior Patrick Roth both turned in solid performances while competing in the event as individuals. Anson shot a two-under par 70 to finish tied for 10th. Roth carded a 71 to tie for 14th. Both finishes mark the top finishes of each player’s career.
Sophomore Blake Giroux carded an 80 to tie for 54th place. Freshman Dan Waite finished tied for 73rd in his collegiate debut after carding a third-round 83. Senior Bobby Knowles shot his third-consecutive 83 to finish in 79th.
Oklahoma won the event after holding off Kansas, Missouri and Louisiana-Lafayette by two strokes. The Sooners were led by three top-20 individual finishes.
The Jayhawks will return to action Oct. 19-20 when they travel to Kansas City, Mo. to compete in the Bill Ross Intercollegiate hosted by UMKC. Check back to kuathletics.com for complete coverage of the 2009-10 season.
Team Leaderboard
1. Oklahoma 291-300-295–886
T2. Kansas 295-301-292–888
T2. Louisiana-Lafayette 301-290-297–888
T2. Missouri 293-296-299–888
5. Illinois State 300-299-291–890
Player Leaderboard
1. Nate Barbee, Kansas 74-69-68–211
2. Jace Long, Missouri 71-71-72–214
T3. Philipp Fendt, Louisiana-Lafayette 75-69-72–216
T3. Eric Meier, Illinois State 71-73-72–216
5. Tommy Bliefnick, Illinois State 71-72-74–217
T10. Ian Anson, Kansas-I 78-73-70–221
T14. Chris Gilbert, Kansas 74-75-73–222
T14. Patrick Roth, Kansas-I 78-73-71–222
T25. Bryan Hackenberg, Kansas 74-76-76–226
T42. Jeff Bell, Kansas 73-81-77–231
T54. Blake Giroux, Kansas-I 77-78-80–235
72. Alex Gutesha, Kansas 80-86-75–241
T73. Dan Waite, Kansas-I 81-78-83–242
79. Bobby Knowles, Kansas-I 83-83-83–249
