Indiana men’s golf finished in 15th place at the Ka’anapali Classic Collegiate on Oct. 27-29 at Ka’anapali Royal Golf Course in Maui, Hawaii, in its final event of the fall season.
The Hoosiers’ lineup consisted of their usual players this season for the event: redshirt senior Clay Merchent, juniors Alec Cesare, Nick Piesen and Cole Starnes and sophomore Bradley Chill Jr. Freshman Caleb Schnarr competed individually.
The field of 19 teams was headlined by The University of Oklahoma, which was 11th in the most recent GCAA coaches poll, and 20th in Clippd’s recent NCAA Division 1 rankings. Oklahoma was also the event’s reigning champion.
After the first round Monday, the Hoosiers found themselves in 13th place, with a score of 4-under-par. Merchent was Indiana’s top finisher for the round, shooting 3-under-par that included four birdies and one bogey. This round of 68 put him tied for 24th place after the first round. Oklahoma jumped out to a hot start shooting 21 under par in the first round. All five Sooners finished their first round at even par or lower. Senior Jase Summy led the way for Oklahoma, with a 9-under-par score, the best score of the day.
Indiana’s second round score of 10 under par marked the Hoosiers’ best round of the event, but was tied for the ninth best score of the day. The Hoosiers rose into 11th place after the second day with a combined score of 14 under par. Merchent continued his hot streak, leading the Hoosiers in round two with eight birdies and four bogeys, making for a 4-under-par score.
Oklahoma’s dominance continued on Tuesday. Its second-round score of 26 under par separated the Sooners from the rest of the pack, with a total score of 47 under par after two days. Once again, all five of Oklahoma’s scoring representatives finished at even par or lower in the second round, led by junior Ryder Cowan’s score of 9 under par.
Wednesday proved to be the Hoosiers’ most formidable test, as their 5-over-par third round score solidified their 15th-place finish, with a final score of 9 under par. Indiana had zero sub-par scores in the third round.
Merchent finished the third round at even par, accumulating his final score at 7 under par which put him in 29th place individually.
Oklahoma’s third round score of 16 under par allowed the Sooners to cruise to another first-place finish in Maui. Their 63-under-par total score was 12 strokes better than second-place Texas Christian University.
Cowan finished as the top individual performer in Maui, shooting 20 under par over three rounds of competition.
Indiana begins its spring season at the Gators Invitational on Feb. 14-15 in Gainesville, Florida.
