IU men’s golf finished tied for seventh out of the 17 competing teams at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate on Sunday at the Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio. The tournament consisted of two rounds on Saturday and a single round on Sunday.
The course, a familiar one for the Hoosiers, was more relaxed in its setup, head coach Mike Mayer said after the competition Sunday.
“It’s still a great golf course and a difficult, challenging golf course, but compared to years past probably set up a little easier,” Mayer said.
The Hoosiers finished the first round with a score of 287. Senior Ethan Shepherd led the team with four birdies while shooting a 2-under-par 69.
Junior Mitch Davis eagled hole No. 6 in the second round on the team’s way to a score of 290. The second round was suspended due to darkness, though all five members of IU’s lineup had concluded play before the suspension.
IU’s performance Saturday earned the team second place when the second round was suspended.
The team finished the third round with a score of 295 to close out the tournament tied for seventh with Northwestern. The two teams finished two strokes shy of the three teams that tied for fourth.
Davis was the top individual finisher for the Hoosiers, ending the tournament at 2-over-par and tying for ninth place. Shepherd and freshman Clay Merchent both shot 3-over-par to tie for 13th.
The team stumbled a bit in the third round, particularly on holes 10-11, Mayer said, but team members still feel good about where they stand heading into the Big Ten Championship.
“We’re ready to go in there and compete for a title,” Mayer said.
IU will return to play at the Big Ten Championship from April 30-May 2 at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana.
“If we can get that performance up and down the line like we have, if we can get a player or two to really step up, I think we’ll have as good a chance as anybody,” Mayer said.
