Jayhawks Travel to Arizona to Compete in the Desert Shootout

Desert Shootout
March. 19-21 * Palm Valley Golf Club * Goodyear, Arizona * Par 72 * 7,015 -yards
Sophomore Chase Hanna
Desert Shootout
Team Score
Boise State
BYU
Colorado State
Denver
Idaho
Iowa State
Kansas
Long Beach
Nebraska
Northen Colorado
Seattle
Southern Utah
Tulsa
Wichita State
UMKC
Individual Leaderboard
Place Name Team Score
Kansas Leaderboard
Place Name Score
Daniel Hudson
Chase Hanna
Jacques Wilson (Ind.)
Ben Welle
Connor Peck
Brock Drogosch

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas Men’s Golf team travel to Goodyear, Arizona, to compete in the Desert Shootout at Palm Valley Golf Club, March 19-21.

For the Desert Shootout, the Jayhawks will consist of juniors Connor Peck and Ben Welle, sophomore Chase Hanna, redshirt freshman Brock Drogosch and freshman Daniel Hudson.  Redshirt freshman Jacques Wilson will be playing as an individual.

Kansas is coming off of a fifth-place finish at the Louisiana Classics Invitational, where Hudson finished tied for eighth and sophomore Hanna finished 11th.

“In the beginning of the year when we first started, I though Daniel (Hudson) could be a nice player,” Kansas head coach Jamie Bermel said. “Obviously he didn’t play well in the fall, but has become more experienced and comfortable to the point where he feels he can play division one golf and compete at a high level. Chase (Hanna) is a competitor and works hard at his game. I believe he will continue to improve.”

Welle, Peck, and Drogosch finished tied for 41st at the Louisiana Classics Invitational. Welle and Peck have had a slow start in the spring season, but have been working hard and hope to turn things around at the Desert Shootout, Bermel said.

“Ben (Welle) is not getting much out of his rounds, because he is struggling with putting,” Bermel said. “Connor (Peck) had a great week in qualifying and it was impressive.  Hopefully he will carry that game into the tournament.”

The Desert Shootout will mark the first division one collegiate golf tournament of Wilson’s Kansas career. Wilson redshirted the 2013-14 season and hurt his back this past fall.

“I think this is a huge opportunity for Jacques,” Bermel said. “He is coming along and getting better each week. Jacques has a chance to shoot low with how far he hits the ball.  My expectation is he will play well and is in the individual spot with nothing to lose.”

The Desert Shootout will be played on a 7,015-yard, par-72 course at the Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Arizona, with an 18 hole each day format March 19-21.  Kansas will be one of 15 teams competing including: Boise State, BYU, Colorado State, host Denver, Idaho, Iowa State, Long Beach, Nebraska, Northern Colorado, Seattle, Southern Utah, Tulsa, Wichita State and UMKC.

“The timing of this tournament is better for us, because the guys are not having to worry about missing class or getting assignments in,” Bermel said. “We have had a great week and a half of weather, so the team has been able to get in a lot of work.  We will get to the tournament a few days early so we can get used to desert golf.” 

Live scoring for the Desert Shootout can be found at https://www.birdiefire.com/tournament/6962/

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