Jayhawks finish top three for fifth straight tournament

IOWA CITY, Iowa – After finishing one stroke back of third place on Saturday, Kansas men’s golf used a 5-under (279) round on Sunday to move up the leaderboard and finish in sole possession of third with a three-round 13-under (839) at the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City, Iowa.

The third-place finish gives the No. 31 Jayhawks their fifth-straight top-three finish and momentum heading into the 2019 postseason.

For the third straight tournament, KU senior Charlie Hillier was the Jayhawks’ top finisher of the invitational after concluding the weekend 12-under (201). Charlie Hillier entered Sunday atop the player leaderboard, and despite carding his third consecutive round under par with a 2-under 69, he finished two strokes behind the top spot and finished third in the 74-golfer field. Iowa’s Alex Schaake and Matthew Walker tied for top honors with a three-round 199 (-14).

Kansas junior Andy Spencer was the other Jayhawk to card a score under 70 on Sunday, tying Charlie Hillier’s 69 (-2). Spencer recorded a team-high six birdies in the third round, including four on the front nine. He finished the tournament 3-under (210) which tied for 16th place. That ties his second-best finish of the 2018-19 year and is his highest of the spring season.

Much like Spencer, KU sophomore Harry Hillier finished with his best round of the Hawkeye Invitational on Sunday, carding a 70 (-1). Harry Hillier birdied three of the final eight holes to finish the back nine 2-under. His three-round 214 (+1) placed him in a tie for 29th for the tournament.

NOTEABLES

• Senior Charlie Hillier recorded his third consecutive round under 70 on Sunday after finishing 2-under (69).
• Charlie Hillier finished with three birdies in round three.
• Junior Andy Spencer knocked in a team high six birdies on Sunday.
• Sophomore Harry Hillier collected four birdies on the day.
• Sophomore Ben Sigel was second on the team with five birdies in his 18 holes.
• Redshirt freshman Jeff Doty recorded the team’s lone third round eagle on hole 2.
• Doty finished with three birdies on the day.
• Freshman Shaun Campbell knocked in two birdies in his final round.

QUOTES
Head Coach Jamie Bermel
Q: What did you think of the overall team performance today?
A: “We played fairly solid today, but obviously not as well as Iowa and Illinois. There was more wind today and the course played more difficult.”

Q: How do you feel entering postseason play?
A: “We need to tighten up a few things before we head to Big 12’s.”

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