Altered schedule; heat plays against Jayhawks

STILLWATER, Okla. – Saturday at Karsten Creek Golf Club for the 2018 NCAA Championships proved to be a long day for the Kansas men’s golf team – literally and figuratively. After suspended play Friday, sophomore Andy Spencer logged 27 holes of action, the most on a squad where each member had additional golf to be played. As the temperatures rose to mid-90s on the course, so did the numbers on the Jayhawks’ scorecards and as a result KU dropped 10 spots from where it ended Friday.
 
Kansas will enter the third round in 29^th place after scoring a 295 over the first round and a 302 in the second.  The Jayhawks ended the first round with three double bogeys over the final two holes. It looked like KU was going to turn the tide, as the team sank six birdies against three bogeys on the first four holes of the second round.  However, over the final 14 holes, the Jayhawks combined to score 17 bogeys, two double bogeys and four triple bogeys, while only able to counter with five birdies and an eagle.
 
“There are a lot of hard holes out there,” head coach Jamie Bermel said. “The long ones are hard. The short ones are hard. The par-3s are hard. We just have to get better. (Hole) 17 hurt us a little bit and 10 has been a nemesis all week, we still haven’t played that one very well. It’s about patience and if you get it out of position, you have to get it back into position and try to get a bogey.”
 
Senior Daniel Hudson ended the first round at 4-over, which was impressive considering he opened play with a triple bogey. Hudson was the top Jayhawk over the second round shooting even par. He scattered four birdies to wipe out his four bogeys and sits in a tie for 68th.
 
“I think I scored it pretty well, especially with how many holes we had to play (Saturday),” Hudson said. “Getting off the course at 8:30 p.m. last night and having to get up at 4:30 a.m. this morning, it is just a quick turnaround especially in this heat.”
 
Leading the way for KU over two rounds is senior Daniel Sutton, who is tied for 28^th at even par. Sutton finished round one at 1-under and then fired a 1-over in his second round. His straight drives came in handy on the back nine of round two, as he carded nine-straight pars.  
 
Spencer, the team season scoring leader, appeared to be heading to an under par score in the first round, but a double bogey on No. 9, his 18^th, brought his scorecard to even. Unfortunately, that theme carried over to round two as Spencer posted his highest-scoring round of the season with a 78. He is tied for 89^th.
 
The Hillier brothers have had the toughest time at Karsten Creek. Accounting for five triple bogeys between the two of them, Charlie Hillier, the older brother, carded an 82 in the first round, while Harry Hillier finished with an 81 in round two thanks to an eagle on No. 18.  Charlie and Harry stand in 154^th and in a tie for 145^th, respectively.
 
The Jayhawks will be back in action Sunday for the third round and need to climb into the top-15 to continue their championship run. KU will tee off at 1:50 p.m., from hole No. 1.
 
“We just have to settle in and get off to a good start, we have better players than they are playing right now,” Bermel said. “On this stage, especially the second round, we didn’t perform like we had hoped. There is a lot to play. I just want them to play their best tomorrow and see what happens.”
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