Sept. 29, 2003
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Two solid rounds, bolstered by solid play up and down the Tiger lineup, has the Missouri men's golf team in the driver's seat after the first two rounds of the Jim Colbert Intercollegiate, which opened Monday at Colbert Hills Golf Course in Manhattan, Kan.
As a team, Mizzou is at even-par 576 with an eight-stroke lead over Drake and a 10-stroke advantage over the host Wildcats. The Tigers and Southwest Missouri State each fired composite rounds of two-over 290 to take the first-round lead at the lunchtime break, yet Mizzou came back in the afternoon with a two-under 286 to equal K-State with that round's best score.
Individually, paw prints are all over the leader board. Senior David Jenkins (Springfield, Mo. / Glendale HS / Southwest Missouri State) shared the morning lead with two other golfers after an opening-round 70 before making the afternoon loop in 1-under 71. He's at 3-under for the tournament and in second place, just one stroke behind Austin Hackett of SMS.
Sophomore Chris Mabry (Leawood, Kan. / Bishop Miege HS) is just two strokes behind at 1-under 143, and freshman Beau Crawford (La Plata, Mo. / Kirksville HS), competing as an individual in his collegiate debut, is at even par following rounds of 70 and 74. Freshman John Kelly (St. Louis, Mo. / Christian Brothers College HS) is also currently in the top 10, as his 73 and 72 have him tied for seventh at 1-over.
Senior Michael Radek (Chicago, Ill. / St. Ignatius HS) (77-72=149, 19th place) and sophomore Ben Scott (Lancashire, United Kingdom / St. Theodore's HS) (75-76=151, 22nd place) both made solid contributions on the day.
"Our team played outstanding today, consistently well," head coach Tim Robyn said. "There wasn't a lot of flash, but a lot of fundamental work. David gave just a solid, steady effort, which is customary for him, and the younger guys are showing things for us the second time around, too. Mentally, we were very good today - we didn't make mental mistakes, which is going to be key for us this year."
Both Mabry and Kelly finished well in the afternoon; Mabry birdied his last two holes, and Kelly chipped-in for birdie on his 16th hole before finishing par-par for his 72.
"We're just gonna go out there and play the golf we need to play and add them up at end," said Robyn, talking about the key to the Tigers' chances of winning their first team title since the 1999 Kansas Invitational. "Stay focused on the shot you're about to hit. If you can do that, you'll shoot a lot of low rounds."