Fifth-place finish for men's golf at Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate
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PALM DESERT, Calif. – Freshman Harry Hillier stole the show for the Kansas men’s golf team on the final round the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate, as his first-career round in the 60’s was the best on the team. The freshman’s contribution helped the team to a fifth-place finish, its fourth top-5 result in six events on the season.
“I thought each day we really got better,” said head coach Jamie Bermel.
Hillier’s 3-under 69 was the lowest round of his event, and made him one of two Jayhawks to shoot in the 60’s on the tournament. His season-best round saw him jump 15 spots up the individual leaderboard to a share of 25th place. The freshman played like a veteran in his final round, not tallying anything worse than a par after hole No. 6, while tacking on three birdies in his final six holes.
“Harry played solid all three rounds,” Bermel added. “Nearly every hole today, (associate head coach Chris) Wilson was with him, and I think that really helped.”
Behind Hillier was sophomore Andy Spencer, whose 1-under 71 on the day dropped his event-total to 1-over, tied for 37th place. Spencer, like Hillier, didn’t shoot over par on any hole after No. 6. After sinking three birdies over a four-hole stretch from holes 7-11, Spencer parred six-consecutive holes before birdieing No. 17 and 18.
Senior Daniel Sutton ended the tournament at 5-over, tied for 45th place. After firing the best round of the tournament for the Jayhawks during Saturday’s second round, a handful of bogeys bumped the senior out of a spot in the top-20.
Both junior Charlie Hillier and senior Daniel Hudson ended with a 4-over, tying them for 50th place. Charlie Hillier finished the day at a 1-over 73, thanks in part to his three birdies on the day, which tied his most in a round on the event. Hudson ended his tournament with a 2-over 74 on the day. Despite a pair of back-to-back bogeys hole holes 4 and 5, Hudson had only one hole over-par in his remaining 13 holes.
For junior Jake Scarrow, who was making an individual appearance, his scorecard was plagued by back-to-back double bogeys on holes 11 and 12. Although the junior found himself in a hole, he bounced back with four pars and a birdie over his final five holes.
With another top-5 finish in the books, the Jayhawks will now have two weeks to prepare for the Desert Mountain Intercollegiate in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“We need to keep getting better each week,” said Bermel. “Hopefully by the time we head down to Scottsdale in March, we’ll be ready to play.”
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