Sept. 19, 2003
TOLEDO, Ohio - Missouri senior men's golfer David Jenkins (Springfield, Mo. / Glendale HS / Southwest Missouri State) is in a 19th-place tie after the first two rounds of the Inverness Intercollegiate, the opening tournament of Mizzou's 2003-04 season.
Jenkins led the field following an opening-round even-par 71 before finishing with an 80. His two-round total of 151 is seven strokes behind Ben Fox of Michigan State, who stands at two-over 144. The team is currently tied for 13th with Toledo at 623, 29 strokes behind UCLA.
The tournament is being played at the Inverness Club, site of four U.S. Opens (1979, 1957, 1931, 1920). Head Coach Tim Robyn noted that although the club isn't hosting the national championship this weekend, the course is still in Open-caliber shape. "It's very challenging. It was very windy in the afternoon, with lots of high scores. It's a very good course," he said.
Senior Michael Radek (Chicago, Ill. / St. Ignatius HS) carded rounds of 75 and 78 and is in 29th place; sophomore Ben Scott (Lancashire, United Kingdom / St. Theodore's HS) is in 43rd place after shooting 81 and 76; freshman John Kelly (St. Louis, Mo. / Christian Brothers College HS) made his Mizzou debut with rounds of 77 and 85; and sophomore Chris Mabry (Leawood, Kan. / Bishop Miege HS) is in 73rd place following his rounds of 83 and 89.
"We played really well in the morning, and we struggled this afternoon," said Robyn. "Our experienced guys played like veterans, and our new guys played like they hadn't had much college experience."
"David and Mike really carried us the first 18. These young guys need to go forward, learn their lessons, and go from there."
The tournament concludes with 18 holes beginning with a 1 p.m. CST shotgun start.