Men’s Golf Heads to Palm Desert for Wyoming’s Desert Intercollegiate
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Coming off a month and a half break of lifting and indoor hitting, Kansas men’s golf is looking for a hot start to the spring portion at Wyoming’s Desert Intercollegiate this weekend.
“We have been kind of handcuffed ever since we got back to school because of the weather,” junior Andy Spencer said. “We have been hitting inside and lifting mostly. Both coach Bermel and coach Wilson have done a great job of getting us ready. You have to drive really well on this course in order to be successful. If we can do that then we should have plenty of birdie opportunities. Taking from last year, we need to get off to a good start and take advantage of the birdie holes.”
The 2019 Desert Intercollegiate marks the seventh-consecutive year that KU has opened its spring season in Palm Desert. Sophomore Harry Hillier had the most success at last year’s Desert Intercollegiate as he finished tied for 25th. This fall, Harry led the team with one first place overall finish and five total rounds in the 60s.
Head Coach Jamie Bermel makes his sixth trip to the Desert Intercollegiate as his team looks for another top-10 finish. In Bermel’s previous three tournaments, KU finished 1st out of 20, 5th out of 23, and 4th out of 22. Coach Bermel’s squad started the 2018-19 season on the right foot, finishing as a team in 2nd, T5th, 1st and 2nd. The team currently holds a 72.21 player average and a 284.9 team average.
There will be 21 teams and 120 players at the tournament in Palm Desert.
The Jayhawk brought six golfers to California with them: senior Charlie Hillier, sophomore Ben Sigel, redshirt sophomore Drew Shepherd, junior Andy Spencer, Harry Hillier and newcomer, redshirt freshman Jeff Doty. The Desert Intercollegiate will commence at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 22 and will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 24. Follow live scorecard updates here.
QUOTES
Head Coach Jamie Bermel
Q: Thoughts on the first tournament of the spring
A: “The goal this week is to be patient and control the things we can control. I know the guys are tired of practicing and are looking forward to competing.”
A: “I think the guys are ready to go. It’s always tough playing the first event in the spring coming off a long layover, but that’s college golf. Good players can figure it out and it’s my hope the guys will come out ready to play. I want to see progress every day.”
Q: What have they been doing to prepare for this tournament
A: “Over the past month we have been working on fundamentals and also getting in some competition during the drills.”
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