Golf To Conclude Fall Season at Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate
Oct. 20, 2012
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Following a two-week break from competition, Kansas men’s golf will conclude its fall schedule when it participates in the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate Monday and Tuesday at the New Mexico State University Golf Course in Las Cruces, N.M.
“We had a light weekend last weekend and got rested up,” said Kansas head coach Jamie Bermel. “A couple guys were nursing basic injuries – elbow, back, and stuff like that. We practiced pretty hard Wednesday and Thursday, so I think they’re rested. They’re ready to go and looking forward to getting back down there.”
The Jayhawks will send the same five-man lineup that traveled to the Brickyard Collegiate. Seniors Chris Gilbert and Alex Gutesha, sophomores Stan Gautier and Dylan McClure and freshman Jackson Foth will compete for the team score. Joining them for the fall finale will be senior Paul Harris, who will compete as an individual.
“Paul’s been very consistent,” said Bermel. “He just couldn’t quite get into the starting five. He’s a senior, so I thought I would take him down there. He played pretty well in qualifying, so we’ll give him a shot and see what he can do as an individual.”
Gutesha has finished in the top 10 of the event each of the last two years, including a third-place showing in 2010 after shooting a 3-under 210. That same year, Gilbert fired a 65 (-6) in the final round to tie for seventh place and help lead a Jayhawk comeback from fifth place to win the team title.
“I think the guys who have been there before really enjoy the course,” said Bermel. “It fits their eye. I think they’re going down with a good feeling. They’ve played well in the past. Hopefully that rubs off on the other guys who haven’t played it. They can get a good feel for the course in the practice round. I’m counting on us to have a good tournament down there.”
Wrapping up the initial half of his first year leading the Jayhawks, Bermel is looking for the team to build on some of the encouraging signs he has seen throughout the fall.
“I think what I’ve seen over the course of our four tournaments is our consistency,” said Bermel. “It seems like we’re not letting bad holes affect the entire round. We’re not making bad swings on a consistent basis. Our consistency is much better. Our maturity on the golf course is a little better. The mental toughness is better. We’ve shown signs of really good play for one round out of three or two rounds out of three. Now we need to put something together for three rounds.”
