Men's golf stays in 11th after two

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AUSTIN, Texas – After a day where it was difficult to get the ball rolling, junior Daniel Sutton leads Kansas men’s golf which is in 11^th place after the second day at the NCAA Regional hosted at The University of Texas Golf Club.

“(We) just couldn’t get anything going today and we played average,” head coach Jamie Bermel said. “When our No. 1 man is not playing well, we need someone to pick him up and that didn’t happen.”

Getting off to a quick start, Sutton played his first five holes a 2-under par, but bogeys on his sixth and eighth holes resulted in an even-par-front nine. Playing with his usual consistency, Sutton cruised through his back-nine, recording all pars before a bogey on his 17^th, resulting in a 1-over-par 72 for the day. Sutton is in a tie for 26^th place, leading the Jayhawks going into the final day.

Improving from his first-day performance, sophomore Charlie Hillier finished posted a second-round 76, and is now tied for 60^th place. Besides Sutton, Hillier was the only Jayhawk not to post a double bogey or worse on the day. With two bogeys in the first eight holes, Hillier birdied the 18^th hole before making the turn. Three additional bogeys on the back resulted in a 4-over par day for the New Zealand native.

Junior Daniel Hudson began his day on a roll, playing his first eight holes at even par with one birdie to match his one bogey. A triple bogey on his ninth hole proved to be the biggest blemish on his card, recording two more bogeys on his back nine to finish the second round with 5-over-par, 76. After a 6-over-par first round, Hudson is in a tie for 56^th at 11-over par.

On a slow day, senior Chase Hanna entered the clubhouse with a 78, after finishing the first day at 1-over par. Despite two birdies, eight rounds over par proved to be too much for Hanna’s round, who is in a tie for 39^th at 8-over par.

In his first ever post-season experience, freshman Andy Spencer recorded an 81, with an 8-over-par back nine.

Kansas finished the day in a tie for 11^th place at 29-over par. The Jayhawks are 14 strokes back from Arizona State who currently sits in the last qualifying spot in fifth place. No. 16 Texas is leading as the only team under par for the tournament, followed closely by No. 3 Oklahoma State.

“Obviously, a tall order on Wednesday to qualify,” Bermel said. “We need to play extremely well from top to bottom.”

The Jayhawks’ final round will begin at 8:25 am CT.

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