Kansas Jayhawks golfer leads Watson Challenge tourney entering Saturday’s final round
University of Kansas golfer Davis Cooper surged into the Watson Challenge lead on Friday at Indian Hills Country Club, shooting a 6-under 64 that was good for a six-stroke advantage entering Saturday’s final round in Mission Hills.
“I stayed patient out there and waited for my birdies to come,” Cooper said, and they definitely came.
He made five birdies before recording his lone bogey of the tournament on No. 13. In all, Cooper had seven birdies Friday.
“I stayed patient out there and waited for my birdies to come,” Cooper said.
First-round leader Zach VanDolah, who opened with a 64 on Thursday, carded a 73 Friday and is eight strokes off the lead.
New Zealand native Charlie Hillier, another KU golfer who recently graduated and has played on the PGA Latin America Tour, will be in second place as the annual tournament tees off for its final 18 on Saturday morning. He fired a 68 Friday that, paired with his Thursday 67, finds him at 5-under.
Tom Watson, the legendary Kansas City namesake of this tournament, bettered his opening-round score of 74 with a 71 on Friday.
A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Watson, 72, has won this 54-hole, three-day tournament five times.
The tourney field for 2022 consists of 50 men and, for the first time, a woman: Overland Park native Gianna Augustine, the first female to play in the Watson Challenge.
Founded in 2007, the Watson Challenge benefits The First Tee of Greater Kansas City. It typically features the best professionals and amateurs living in the greater Kansas City golf community.
Second-round scores
(-11)
Davis Cooper 65-64—129
(-5)
Charlie Hillier 67-68—135
(-3)
Michael Letzig 67-70—137
Zach VanDolah 64-73—137
(-2)
Wade Binfield 71-67—138
(Even)
Michael Winslow 71-69—140
Justin Wingerter 66-74—140
(+1)
Bret Burgmeier 71-70—141
Robert Russell 70-71—141
(+2)
Sam Parrott 74-68—142
Joe Bultman 71-71—142
(+3)
Jackson Foth 75-68—143
Wes Buntenbach 74-69—143
(+4)
Austin Jarchow 74-70—144
Liam Coughlin 72-72—144
Jeremy Dear 73-71—144
Nicklaus Mason 73-71—144
Ryan Argotsinger 74-70—144
Andy Spencer 72-72—144
Chris Mabry 74-70—144
Sean Dougherty 68-76—144
(+5)
Tom Watson 74-71—145
Calvin Dillon 72-73—145
(+6)
Drew Carlson 75-71—146
Clay Devers 70-76—146
(+7)
Zachary Dittmer 75-72—147
Alex Springer 74-73—147
Robert Wilkin 71-76—147
(+8)
Kevin Ward 74-74—148
Chance Rinkol 75-73—148
Will Harding 72-76—148
Steve Groom 75-73—148
Jeff Sedorcek 71-77—148
(+9)
Chase Lucas 72-77—149
Connor Knabe 73-76—149
Austin Hardison 74-75—149
(+11)
Andy Rumbaugh 78-73—151
(+12)
Ryan Eckroat 77-75—152
Ryne Fisher 79-73—152
(+13)
Jeff Sheppard 76-77—153
(+14)
Dave Cunningham 79-75—154
Tyler Dunn 78-76—154
Sean Cleary 74-80—154
(+15)
Mike Ricket 78-77—155
Andrew Hatten 77-78—155
(+16)
Kyle Capps 74-82—156
(+17)
Gianna Augustine 76-81—157
Brad Volker 80-77—157
(+18)
Otto Zinn 79-79—158
(+19)
Ed Brown 80-79—159
(+22)
Michael Maki 79-83—162
This story was originally published June 3, 2022 at 4:37 PM.