By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
TOPEKA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men’s golf team opened the 2021-22 season with a 15th-place finish at the Washburn Invitational this week (Sept. 13-14) at Topeka Country Club.
The Tigers placed eighth out of the 10 MIAA schools at the first designated league event of the season. FHSU sat in 16th in the 19-team field after consecutive rounds of 319 on a blustery day one before improving by 20 shots and posting a team total of 299 in the third round on Tuesday. It was the best round by an FHSU squad at Topeka Country Club in nearly a decade (299 on 4/10/12).
A pair of freshmen led the Tigers in their first collegiate tournament, with Parker Krob and Jackson Rader tying for 58th with a three-round total of 19-over 232. Krob paced the team with consecutive rounds of 78 on day one before finishing the tournament with a 5-over 76 on Tuesday. He tallied five birdies in the event, including two on hole two and two on hole 15.
Rader opened his FHSU career with a round of 79 before wrapping up day one with an 82. He then turned around and fired an even-par 71 in the third round thanks to four birdies, including a chip-in birdie on his penultimate hole of the tournament. The Marysville, Kan. native led the team with seven birdies on the week.
Junior Bryce Cowan was one stroke back of his teammates, placing 67th with a total of 20-over 233. Playing in his hometown, Cowan opened the tournament with rounds of 79 and 80 on Monday before posting a 3-over 74 on Tuesday. He compiled five birdies in the event, including three in the final round.
Newcomer Maddux Mills also made his Tiger debut, placing 92nd with scores of 84, 80 and 78 to finish at 29-over 242. He picked up four birdies during the week, including a pair of fours on the par-five fifth hole on day one.
Dustin Nichols factored into the team scoring in both rounds on Monday, finishing at 32-over 245 to place 96th in the 118-man field with rounds of 83, 81 and 81. He birdied three holes in the event, including two in round one.
Defending national champion Arkansas Tech rallied on the final day to take the team title with a three-round total of 11-over 863. Washburn was the low MIAA squad, placing third at 22-over 874, while Ichabod Dawson Wills took the individual title at 2-under 211.
Next up for the Tigers is a trip north to play in the Hardrocker Invitational in Rapid City, S.D. September 20-21.
Full FHSU Results
15th – Fort Hays State – +85 – 319 – 319 – 299 — 937
T58 – Parker Krob – +19 – 78 – 78 – 76 — 232
T58 – Jackson Rader – +19 – 79 – 82 – 71 — 232
T67 – Bryce Cowan – +20 – 79 – 80 – 74 — 233
T92 – Maddux Mills – +29 – 84 – 80 – 78 — 242
T96 – Dustin Nichols – +32 – 83 – 81 – 81 — 245