[Men's Golf] ANDREAS AHO FINISHES FOURTH AND RYAN HILL SIXTH AS TABOR GOLF HOSTS AT HESSTON ...

HESSTON, Kan.  The Bluejay men's golf team played host to six teams on Monday at Hesston Golf Course.  The weather was overcast and rainy on Monday, and Tuesday's rounds were canceled due to the weather.  The winner of the event was Southwestern College (312), with Tabor College just eight strokes back (320).  The Tabor College golf teams decided to take a moment of silence at the beginning of the competition in remembrance of the University of the Southwest golf team who tragically lost their coach and six members of their team just a week ago.  The Tabor event would have been their next tournament, so the Bluejays decided to donate all proceeds to them to help in the healing process.  

The Bluejays finished in fourth place as they continue to make up ground on conference teams.  Andreas Aho (FR/Menahga, Minn.) (76), who finished the tournament in fourth place, was Tabor's number one player.  Ryan Hill (FR/Mohave Valley, Ariz.) (77) finished in the top 10 as well, only one stroke behind his teammate, Aho. 

Andreas Aho started his round one under par with a birdie on the par four second hole.  Aho suffered a a bogey on the third, and an unfortunate double bogey on the fifth hole set him back a few strokes.  Aho finished his round with another birdie, sprinkled in with a few bogeys.  "It felt good to go top five" replied Aho.  "There is still plenty of room for improvement, but it is a great confidence boost heading into a tough Prairie Dunes course in a couple weeks."

"Andreas has a great short game even though he has been struggling with his putter a little bit" added Head Coach Mike Jamieson.  "Once we can get Andreas more birdie opportunities, you will see him bring his score down even more and contend for a conference championship."    

Ryan Hill (77) finished the tournament with a top ten finish.  "Ryan has a consistent tempo swing and really stepped up for us today" said Jamieson.  Ryan was the only Bluejay to finish the round with no double bogeys or worse, sprinkling in two birdies along with a few bogeys for his best tournament round, which also happened to be on his birthday.  Because of a lingering injury to Logan Mathews (JR/Ada, Okla.), who was supposed to play as the team's number two player, coach Jamieson decided to move Hill into the second spot so that Logan could withdraw if he needed to during the tournament.  

"Getting moved from an individual to playing as the number two bag was very stressful, knowing I had big shoes to fill" replied Hill.  "At the end of the round I exceeded my expectations and the team's expectations of me."  Coach Jamieson, who has been working with Ryan on the mental part of golf, was pleased with the progress Hill is showing in this area.  "The mental game of golf is probably the hardest thing for a player to improve in the game of golf, but also one of the most important.  Ryan is improving a lot and this round really showed me that he is playing the game one shot at a time."      

David Darrah (FR/Wichita, Kan.) (83) finished his second tournament in his first season for the Bluejays.  "I have been really impressed with David", said Jamieson.  "He is a good athlete, a competitor and has improved substantially since his senior season in high school."  Darrah finished the tournament third on the team for the Bluejays. 

Oscar Saldivar (JR/Pharr, Texas) (84), the lone senior in the top five for the Bluejays, finished fourth on the team.  Saldivar only had one double or worse to finish his round.  "If we can get Oscar to hit more greens in regulation (GIR), then he will be consistently shoot in the 70's" said Jamieson.  "More GIR means more birdie putts, which will equal more birdies and pars."  

Matt Mowry (SO/Cimarron, Kan. ) started as the team's number four player.  Mowry struggled to find his rhythm on the day, but will look to bounce back in two weeks at the next tournament.  Trent Jones (FR/Las Vegas, Nev.) , Ethan Penner (FR/Wichita, Kan.) and Logan Mathews competed as individuals for this tournament.  Logan Mathews (80), who was playing with a sore back, competed and shot a score which would have counted for the Bluejays if he were in the lineup.  "I talked to Logan after he warmed up and we decided to keep him out of the top five in case he couldn't finish the tournament.  If it was the conference tournament there would be no doubt Logan would be in the top five, so that is what we are preparing for" mentioned Jamieson.  Trent Jones (89) had a season best round as well as did Ethan Penner (92).  "Both Trent and Ethan are continuing to improve for us and I really expect them to shave another 10 strokes off their games for us next year" said Jamieson.   

Up Next:  The JV players will play Saturday and Sunday, April 2nd and 3rd, at Hesston and Sand Creek Station.  The varsity team will travel to Hutchinson on April 4th and 5th to play a tournament at the prestigious Prairie Dunes course.