Kangaroos snag third place at Branson Creek Invitational

By: Dan Stroud

Posted: 4/7/08

Whoa baby, what a round. That's likely what most of the field was thinking on April 1 at the Branson Creek Invitational after UMKC hauled in the top score for the day with a score of 291.

When added to their two-day total of 590 (299-291), the five-man squad hauled in a third-place finish overall in the team standing.

UMKC red-shirt freshman Josh Taylor was tops on the Kangaroo squad for the tournament with a two round total of 145 (73-72) good enough for third best in a field 72 golfers, representing a dozen universities.

Missouri State University finished on top in the tournament with a two round score of 583 and Illinois State University finished two shots back at 585. Oral Roberts University, the only other Summit League participant in the invitational, finished Tuesday with a two-round total of 598, good for a seventh-place finish in the event.

Taylor wasn't that far ahead of his teammates in the field as all seemed to play strong rounds. UMKC sophomore Alex Hogben shot 148 (76-72), just three strokes off Taylor's pace. Next in line for the Kangaroos were juniors Michael Schnegelberger with a score of 149 (76-73), and Brett Iliff who scored 150 (76-74) in the tournament.

The Kangaroos left town this weekend, on their way to Stevenson, Calif. to play on April 7 and 8 in the Colorado/Stevinson Ranch Invitational.

dstroud@unews.com