In an event that featured half of the Big Ten Conference, the Wisconsin men’s golf team put together its best 54-hole score of the season to finish ninth at the Hawkeye Great-River Invitational this weekend.
The Badgers’ 24-over par (302-288-298—888) was highlighted by a second-round, even-par 288 in which two Badgers shot an even-par 72, and junior Chris Meyer fired a four-under 68. The junior was the lone Badger to post a round in red numbers.
The host-team won the event for the second consecutive tournament in which Wisconsin played. Missouri won the COG Mizzou Intercollegiate last week, while Iowa shot a 24-under (282-274-284—840) to nab the title this weekend.
Meyer did not play in the COG Mizzou Intercollegiate. Whether it was the extra rest, an urge to get back on the course or some combination of the two, the junior had it going on this weekend. His two-over (75-68-75—218) led the Badgers and was good enough to tie for 18th individually. Meyer’s four-under 68 put him in a tie for 11th after the second round. His 11 birdies in the tournament was tops for Wisconsin.
Junior Anthony Aicher was, once again, one of Wisconsin’s better performers, putting together consistent rounds of two-over 74, even-par 72 and two-over 74. Aicher’s 54-hole score of 220 was just two more than Meyer’s team-leading total. The junior finished tied for 26th individually.
Freshman Thomas O’Bryan posted the best 54-hole score of his young college career with an eight-over (78-72-74—224). The Aurora, Ill., native improved his 18-hole average to 76.2 on the season.
Junior Brady Keegan played in his first tournament since the Big Ten Match Play event in mid-February. The junior posted the second-best score for Wisconsin in the first round with a three-over 75, but couldn’t improve upon that number during either of the final two rounds. Keegan shot a four-over 76 in the second round and closed the tournament with a six-over 78.
Sophomore Zach Balit shot consecutive rounds of seven-over 79 in the first two rounds before firing a three-over par 75 in the final round. Balit recorded more pars (35) than any other Badger in the tournament.
In addition to Wisconsin and Iowa, fellow Big Ten teams Penn State, Minnesota, Michigan State and Nebraska participated in the event.
The Badgers will play in the Boilermaker Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind., next weekend. It will be the team’s final tune-up before the Big Ten Championships at the end of the month.
UWBadgers.com contributed to this report.
