The University of Idaho men’s golf took on the Duck Invitational at the Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Oregon, and the Redhawk Invitational Tournament hosted by Seattle University in University Place, Washington.
The Vandals finished 14th at the Duck Invitational on March 23. The Vandals wrapped up this tournament with a team score of 931 at the end of three rounds.
The Vandal’s went head-to-head with 15 schools at the Duck Invitational. University of Oregon, Oregon State University and Boise State University were among some of the Vandals’ biggest competitors at the Duck Invitational. The Vandals lineup for the Duck Invitational included junior Travis Hansen, graduate student Sean Mullan, freshman Matt McGann, freshman Joe Gustavel and freshman Jose Suryadinata. Mullan’s third round for the Vandals carded a 4-over, 75. He finished the tournament in a tie for 32nd with a total score of 11-over, 213. Behind Mullan came Suryadinata with a tie for 53rd and a final score of 16-over, 229.
Suryadinata is one of the few freshmen who has had the opportunity to play in every tournament this season. He was awarded UI men’s Golfer of the Week in February. In his first collegiate tournament, Suryadinata placed third in the Nick Watney Invitational.
“The Duck Invitational was not my best performance, but it was a great learning experience, and I was able to improve from this,” Suryadinata said. “I realized I need to stay more focused and determined for (the Redhawk) Tournament.”
At the Redhawk Invitational, the Vandals went up against Boise State University, Gonzaga University and Oregon State University. Overall, Idaho completed the Redhawk Tournament in eighth place with a 29-over, 885 after the final hole on Tuesday.
Nuhn said the team had been looking forward to the challenges the Redhawk Invitational posed because “now these guys can see what it takes on a course like this against nationally ranked teams.”
Suryadinata said even though he is facing nationally ranked teams at the Redhawk Invitational, he never worries about who he is playing with, but more so worries about his own game.
“Almost every player can hit and has the technical skills, but it is most important to have a positive mindset heading into the game,” Suryadinata said.
Mullan led the Vandals individually during the Redhawk Invitational, tying for 25th place with a 4-over, 75. Junior Colt Sherrell recorded the best round on Tuesday with an even, 71 in his final round and tied for 28th after recording four birdies.
“I think today we had a better idea of what we needed to do,” Nuhn said in a press release. “The course played much differently today with some changes to tees and good pin placements. Execution and limiting our mistakes to only costing us one shot will be a good focus for the next event. Overall, I am very pleased with our progress through these early season events.”
The next time the Vandals hit the green will be at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic in Chandler, Arizona beginning Monday.
Morgan McDonough can be reached at [email protected]