The University of Wisconsin men's golf team continued its success this weekend, finishing fourth at the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City. While the team was unable to continue its winning ways after opening the season with dramatic wins at its first two invites, the Badgers made a formidable showing at the nine-team event.
It is clear that the early success of the Badgers has second-year head coach Mike Schuman excited.
\We've had some success early at Michigan, winning a tournament there, winning our own event last week, the Northern Collegiate and posting a 12-under-par day [276], which was a school record for us. And then going ahead and finishing fourth this week. So things are moving along and looking up for us,"" said Schuman.
Freshman Jeff Kaiser was a standout for the Badgers, finishing in last week's tournament tied for second. Kaiser, who shot two sub-par rounds, is now the team's leader with a 72.3 stroke average per 18 holes on the season. Not only does Kaiser now have the team's best average, but he also posted his best outing as a Badger shooting career marks in both 36 (143) and 54-holes (213).
Standout sophomore Garrett Jones, who led the Badgers in the first two invites this season, did not have as much success in Iowa, tying for 28th. After shooting a 214 two weeks ago at the Michigan Invitational and finishing fourth, Jones struggled with a three round total of 229.
Other scorers for the Badgers included seniors Brian Brodell, and Ryan Conn, as well as sophomore Adam DeLawyer. Brodell notched a career-best ninth-place finish, while Conn shot a final round 74 to finish tied for 32nd. DeLawyer ended up in 45th place with a three round total of 238.
Despite the struggles some members of the team faced, Schuman is quick to point out that his team is young and some decision-making processes are not quite there yet.
""... You always have to remember they're a young, young team, and sometimes I tend to forget that. And maybe coming from a little bit of a playing background it's, 'Boy, gosh, how could you make that decision.' They are young,"" said Schuman.
Schuman admits that although the team is young and has some growing up to do, he believes his team is solidifying.
""I think we've done so far a very good job in identifying what the roles were, the role of a Ryan Conn, for example, and what we expect out of a Brian Brodell, and what we look for a Garrett Jones to do, and what we expect a Jeff Kaiser to do. And they've accepted those roles, and so far are filling them very nicely.""
The men's golf team will look to return to their winning ways in two weeks as they travel to the Oasis Golf Club in Loveland, Ohio, to compete in the Xavier Invitational.
The Invitational in Loveland is the team's final event for the fall, as they will take a hiatus from the links until UW's Alumni Event in Naples, Florida, Feb. 20. Competition resumes March 4 in the Virgin Islands.
