The Hillsdale College Chargers finished tied-seventh at the Ken Partridge Invitational Tuesday outside of Indianapolis. The University of Indianapolis, hosting the event, won with a combined score of 23-over par.
At 36-over-par, the Chargers ended up 13 strokes out of the lead at Purgatory Golf Club. The seventh place finish will likely seal their spot in the NCAA Regional Tournament.
Seniors George Roberts and Ryan Zetwick led the Chargers. Roberts shot 6-over-par through three rounds, earning him a tied-13th individual finish, and Zetwick followed close behind at 7-over-par.
Freshman Will Verduzco scored the low round for the Chargers with an even-par 72 in his second round. He shot three-under-par in the last six holes to do it.
“The first six holes were some of the toughest around the green. They were not easy, but I kept going at it and got a few chances going in,” Verduzco said. “I had a few ups and downs that were key. In the second to last hole I had a nice up and down that saved par and ended up birdieing the last one. That’s the difference, those couple shots that keep you in it your confidence high.”
At the end of the first 36 holes on Monday, the Chargers were 19-over par and tied for fourth. The last day, the Chargers shot 17-over-par and dropped three spots on the leaderboard.
“The final round, we just pushed a little too hard. We were playing shots that didn’t need to be hit,” Roberts said. “We just have to play our normal games. We shouldn’t go out of our comfort zone.”
There was a lot to like in the normal games. The Chargers led the field in scoring at the longest golf course in Indiana. They scored 40 birdies as a team and also scored the best on par-5s, playing them a combined 16-under par. The winning Indianapolis team played the holes worse at even par.
“The par fives definitely favor the longer hitters, just because you’ve got the short club into the green,” Verduzco said. “The key is coming in high and landing soft so it doesn’t bounce all over the place on the firm greens.”
On par threes and fours, the Chargers performed in the middle of the pack, but Indianapolis kept their scores low.
Roberts said he attributes their inability to keep scores low on par fours to the touch around the greens.
“We struggled on the greens,” Roberts said. “It was hard to gain confidence out there. You’d be scared to put a good stroke on it and commit to your line. It definitely harmed me.”
This is the last regular season tournament for the Chargers before the G-MAC Championship next week. Then, they’ll compete against the same schools in the NCAA Regional Tournament at the end of the month.
“Personally, I’m just going to enjoy it. It’s mine and Ryan [Zetwick]’s last G-MAC Tournament. I’m just gonna go out there and soak it all in and have fun because that’s when I play my best golf,” Roberts said. “I think the boys can do the same thing and we can go out there and actually close out a tournament because this is definitely the tournament we need to close out on.”
