KU’s Men’s Golf Concludes the 2014-15 Season

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas men’s golf team concluded the season with seven top-five finishes, a victory at the Desert Shootout in Tucscon, Arizona, March 19-21, and runner-up at the Ram Masters Invitational, in Fort Collins, Colorado, Sept. 15-16.

The Jayhawks shot the KU lowest three-round team performance at the Price’s Give ‘Em Five Invitational (822), topping the old record of 833 at the Taylor Made/Big Island Invitational set in 2005.

KU was led by sophomore Chase Hanna with a season average 72.30 strokes per round, topping his average of last season at 73.24. Hanna now is the No. 8 on Kansas’ all-time lowest season scoring average behind Gary Woodland at 72.26. Hanna finished the season with two top-five finishes and six top-20 placings, including eight rounds in the 60’s. He also led the team in scoring in five of its 12 events. An Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection, Hanna’s best outing of 2014-15 was runner-up at the Ram Masters Invitational, Sept. 15-16.

Junior Ben Welle ended the season with a 72.6 strokes per round average, second lowest on the team and 11^th on the Kansas all-time season averages. Welle earned the Big 12 Golfer of the Month in November as he finished 16th at the Ka’anapali Collegiate Classic. He led KU in scoring twice in the fall and once in the spring. Welle recorded nine rounds under par and seven rounds even par in his 35 rounds of the season.

Junior Connor Peck competed in 12 events, two as an individual. He averaged 73.9 strokes per round and had two top-10 finishes and three rounds in the 60’s. Peck’s best finish was at the Wolverine Intercollegiate, Sept. 6-7, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he finished tied for seventh. Peck led the team in scoring in two its 12 events and like Hanna, was named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

Redshirt freshman Brock Drogosch competed in eight events averaging 73.4 strokes per round. Drogosch finished runner-up at the Desert Shootout in Tuscon, Arizona, March 19-21 as he led the team to a victory over the 15-team field. An Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree, Drogosch shot three rounds in the 60’s.

Freshman Daniel Hudson participated in eight events, two in the fall and six in the spring and shot a 73.5 average with one top-10 and two other top-20 placings. Hudson competed in every spring event with the second best spring average of 73.1 behind Hanna. Hudson led Kansas in scoring at the Louisiana Classics Invitational, in Lafayette, Louisina, March 2-3, and 24 of his 25 rounds counted toward the team score in 2014-15.

Senior Logan Philley participated in five events, shooting 73.3 strokes per round average. A 2015 Academic All-Big 12 Second Team selection, Philley shot three rounds in 60’s with his best finish being tied for 14^th at the Price’s Give ‘Em Five Invitational in El Paso, Texas.

Freshman Spencer Painton competed in four events, three as an individual. His best finish was as an individual at the Louisiana Classics Invitational where he placed tied for 25^th. Freshman Gary Daoust participated in four events having his best performance as an individual finishing seventh at the Price’s Give ‘Em Five Invitational, where he shot his Kansas career low 65.  Daoust’s 65 is the second lowest round score on the team in the 2014-15 season.

Freshman Jacques Wilson participated in two tournaments. He tied for 13^th at the Desert Shootout and also finished tied for 36^th at the Big 12 Championship. Redshirt junior David Auer competed in the Badger Invitational in Madison, Wisconsin, where he finished tied for 60^th.  Senior Bryce Brown competed in two tournaments, once as individual. Brown’s best tournament was playing as an individual where he tied for ninth place at the Wolverine Intercollegiate.

The Jayhawks ended the season ranked 66^th according to Golfstat.com and did not get selected for an NCAA Regional when the field was announced May 4.

“Obviously, I am extremely disappointed not being selected for an at-large berth for the NCAA Tournament,” Kansas head coach Jamie Bermel said. “We knew we were 66^th in the rankings and that was the last spot available. When the selection committee took the 67^th ranked team and skipped over us, my heart just dropped to the floor. The team deserved a berth, but it just didn’t happen. I am certain this decision will be a huge motivation for next year’s squad.”

Kansas will have five new faces and nine returning players next fall as the Jayhawks look to build off of this season and continue to work hard.

“I am extremely excited about the future of KU men’s golf,” Bermel said. “I know the nine guys that are coming back are getting better and we are adding additional quality recruits to the team in the fall. I am hoping for a lot more progress this fall.”

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