THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY,APRIL2,2015
PAGE 7
THE DAILY DEBATE
Who has been the best golfer this season for the Jayhawks?
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BEN WELLE
The Kansas men's golf team is starting to build up a huge slate of victories after taking the crown in the Desert Shootout in Arizona over spring break.
One golfer who has really stood out this season and has had particular success on the fairways and on the greens is junior Ben Welle from Moorhead, Minn. Before he came to Kansas to play golf, he attended Scottsdale Community College in Arizona and played on their team.
There he learned to perfect his game by playing on some of the toughest courses that college golfers, even pros on the PGA Tour, have played on, so Ben already came in with the experience of playing tough golf.
This year, he exploded on the scene of excellence, sitting at the top of most matches. His best finish in the spring season was in the Desert Shootout where he finished with a three-round total score of 211 (72, 68, 71). He did one better in the fall at the Price's Give 'Em Five Invitational, where he had a season best score of 206 (67, 69, 70).
"Ben has been very steady all year," Bermel said. "Had some good finishes in the fall, and seems to be playing fairly well as of late. He has played in all the events this year, along with Chase Hanna."
Welle is second on the team with rounds even or under par with 13. He had nine under par rounds and four at even par. Welle has competed in every match this season. In the nine tournaments Welle has played in, he has been the top individual finisher on the team in three of them. Coach Jamie Bermel commented on Welle's play this season.
his game to continue to put him in every match,and that's what really makes Welle stand out.
You can't go wrong with this pick if Welle has his coach behind him. Bermel has enough confidence in
"THIS YEAR,HE EXPLODED ON THE SCENE OF EXCELLENCE SITTING AT THE TOP OF MOST MATCHES."
Welle holds the second spot on the team five rounds in the 60s, where if a golfer scores in the 60s when the round is over he usually finishes under par. Welle's top individual finish was tied for eighth, when the team won the tournament outright. Ben Welle has been the best golfer so far for the Jayhawks. As of late, he and Chase Hanna are the hottest golfers on the team, so there is no better choice than to go with him.
- Edited by Andrew Collins
BROCK DROGOSCH
Coach Jamie Bermel has begun his long trek with his team to make an NCAA Tournament, something that has been anything but a regular occurrence for the KU men's golf team.
To be an effective team, as Bermel preaches, you need five guys who are going to shoot low scores day in and day out. But you also need those top guys who are going to consistently deliver top performances.
Chase Hanna and Ben Welle are without a doubt the two most tested and talented golfers on the team, but two men do not make a competitive team. The best golfer on the KU men's golf team has been that because he's stepped up in a spot that needed filling, and one that has gelled the whole
team together, as evidenced by their win at the Desert Shootout, their first event win in two years.
Brock Drogosch, a redshirt freshman from Windermere, Fla., has already played in U.S. amateur tournaments and distinguished himself as an exceptional golfer and student in high school. In his first full year of college golf, he's been a perfect fit on Bermel's card. In 18 rounds, he averages 72.6, has shot three rounds in the 60s, and has had eight rounds under par. All of those marks are second to Hanna and Welle.
Drogosch finished tied for second in the Desert Shootout. He never shot above a 71, and just an overall 10 under par. That performance propelled the Jayhawks to their first tournament win since 2013, and Bermel was not shy with his praise of the young golfer.
Bermel has praised Drogosch's strength and conditioning,the smoothness of his swing and his development in just two years of collegiate golf. In fact,you'd be hard-pressed to ask Bermel a question about who is the most
important golfer on the team and not hear Drogosch's name.
"IN 18 ROUNDS, HE AVERAGES 72.6 HAS SHOT THREE ROUNDS IN THE GOS AND HAS HAD EIGHT ROUNDS UNDER PAR."
While Drogosch is not the most talented, experienced or recognizable, a golf team doesn't revolve around two people. In order to have a successful team, you need a full platoon of guys who are confident and shooting well. When Drogosch plays better, the whole队 plays better. Drogosch's two lowest rounds have come in two of Kansas' three best finishes.
He may not be the most talented or the most experienced,but he's certainly the most important.
Edited by Andrew Collins
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