No gold for Gary

By Jason Elmquist     Sep 21, 2005

Nick Krug
Kansas University golfer Gary Woodland walks away in frustration after missing a short putt during the Kansas Invitational. Woodland, the second-round leader, fell to third place Tuesday at Alvamar Golf Course.

No Kansas University men’s golfer won the individual title at the Kansas Invitational, but the Jayhawks still felt good after they placed first in the 16-team field.

KU junior Gary Woodland had a two-stroke lead heading into Tuesday’s final round at Alvamar Golf Course, but after a final-round 74 he trailed Western Kentucky’s Robby Shaw by three strokes. Woodland finished at 7-under-par 209, good for third place.

“I got off to a bad start and didn’t hit it well the first couple of holes,” Woodland said. “And then I didn’t make any putts, either. When you don’t make any putts, it’s tough to score.”

Thanks to red-shirt freshman Zach Pederson shooting a final-round 70, the Jayhawks held off Tulsa for the team title.

“He’s making a few freshman mistakes. He wasn’t even going to turn his scorecard in until I reminded him that I needed it,” KU coach Ross Randall said of Pederson. “But he’s coming along, and he’s going to kick up the competition for everybody.”

Nick Krug
Kansas University golfer Zach Pederson tees off during the third round of the Kansas Invitational. Pederson tied for fourth place individually, and the Jayhawks won the team title at the tournament Tuesday at Alvamar Golf Course.

He may make freshman mistakes, but in the final round Pederson showed poise. After a bogey on his first hole he righted the ship and finished 2-under on the front nine.

“I had eight birdie putts on my last ten holes,” Pederson said. “Never did make one but (I) hit fairways, hit greens and never really gave myself the option to make a bogey.”

Pederson shot a 210 total and finished tied for fourth, his best finish this year.

“Zach’s awesome. He’s obviously a freshman, (but) he came out and didn’t play like it,” Woodland said. “He’s playing like an upperclassman, and today he carried us. That was huge for us. Without him, we don’t win.”

Woodland was coming off his first career victory last week at the Cleveland State Invitational. He couldn’t finish off the field this week, but Woodland said he still was happy about the progress he had made since last year.

“Obviously, I want to be in contention going into the last round of every tournament, and I was today,” Woodland said. “I’ve done that in both tournaments so far. Today, I didn’t come out on top but I’m making a step in the right way.”

The team victory is the third straight for KU at its own tournament. The Jayhawks next will compete Sept. 30- Oct. 2 at the Mason Rudolph Intercollegiate in Nashville, Tenn.

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