Second round of The Jackrabbit puts Kansas in top-three position
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VALENTINE, Neb. – Following Monday’s second-round action at The Jackrabbit, three members of the Kansas men’s golf team sit in the top-15, leading the squad to a third-place position ahead of Tuesday’s final round. If the Jayhawks hold, this will be the team’s second top-three finish on the season, in just three events.
“The course was there for scoring today,” said Jayhawk head coach, Jamie Bermel. “There was very little wind and the pins were fairly accessible.”
The Jayhawks took advantage of these conditions, as the team was able to record a 12-under on the day, which was tied for the fourth-best team score in the 13-team field. With 24 birdies between the six Jayhawk golfers, the team now sits four strokes behind Tennessee for second place.
Leading the charge was senior Daniel Hudson, who, for the second consecutive day, recorded a team-best 5-under 67. His 12 pars, six birdies and one bogey saw him move up two spots on the individual leaderboard, where he now sits in a tie for third-place, just three strokes back from the leader. Hudson has finished in the top-five on four occasions in his career, but has yet to win a tournament.
“Dan was very good again (Monday),” said Bermel. “He seems to really be in control of his game.”
Following Hudson’s dominating performance was junior Jake Scarrow, whose 4-under 68 resulted in a 12-spot jump in the leaderboard to a share of 14th-place. Scarrow relinquished just one hole over-par on the day and will be looking for his first finish in the top-20 on the year.
Joining Scarrow at a tie for 14th-place on the leaderboard is sophomore Andy Spencer. His round got off to a hot start, as he birdied three of his first four holes on the day. Spencer finished the day with a 3-under 69, lowering his tournament total to 6-under.
Behind Spencer was junior Charlie Hillier, whose even-par 72 was highlighted by a four-hole stretch starting on the ninth hole. The Te Puke, New Zealand native birdied the last hole before the turn, and followed the success with two birdies in his first three holes on the back nine. Entering the final day, Hillier remains 3-under, which is tied for 31st-place.
The Jayhawks were closed out by senior Daniel Sutton. The senior’s round got off to a strong start, as he was 1-under on the day through his first 12 holes, but subsequently tallied two bogeys and a double bogey on his next three holes. This was only the third round of the season that Sutton managed to score over-par.
Freshman Ben Sigel, who played as an individual, ended the day at even-par. Four birdies contributed to the even-par finish, and Sigel will head into Tuesday at 1-under on the tournament.
With the Jayhawks looking for their second top-three finish on the season, Bermel knows his team will have to make the most of Tuesday’s final round.
“I think the conditions will be pretty similar (Tuesday),” said Bermel. “We’re going to need to get after it and come ready to play.”
Tuesday’s action of The Jackrabbit begins at 9 a.m., while Sutton will be the first Jayhawk golfer off the tee at 10:40 a.m. Live scoring will be available at Golfstat.com.
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