DES MOINES, Iowa – The South Dakota State men’s golf team made up an 11-stroke deficit on the final round to tie for first place at the Zach Johnson Invitational Tuesday. SDSU was powered by Jake Olson’s first-place individual finish and two Jacks going under par on round three.
“What a great week to be a Jackrabbit,” said head coach Parker Edens. “I’m so proud of these guys and their determination. They started and finished so poorly yesterday and for them to come out today with the energy and fight from the first hole was so impressive. One of their big goals for the season was to have their final rounds be their lowest of the tournament, and they did that four of the five tournaments this fall.”
The Jackrabbits were in third place following Monday’s 36 holes and 11 shots off Lindenwood at the top of the leaderboard. The team tallied a 273 (-11) on the last lap, the second best single-round team score in program history, to come all the way back and wrap up the fall slate as co-champions in Des Moines. SDSU’s 840 (-12) total team score is the second best 54-hole score in program history. This is SDSU’s first team victory at a non-SDSU, non-dual event since winning the Summit League title in 2017.
Olson, a Watertown, S.D. native, finished with a 205 (-8) three-round scorecard. That 205 matches the best 54-hole scorecard in program history. The junior also won K-State’s Wildcat Invitational earlier this fall, making him the second Jackrabbit in the Division I era and first since 2013-14 to win multiple events in the same season.
“I’m obviously extremely proud of the whole team, but what a fall season by Jake,” Edens continued. “To win a college tournament very difficult but to do it twice in the fall season is special. He’s been so patient with his process and his mental toughness is something he should be so proud of.”
Sophomore Jacob Wilson and senior Ty Adkins each put together impressive final rounds and tied for 10th place. Wilson fired a 64 (-7) Tuesday, the second best single round score in program history, and moved 35 spots up the leaderboard. Adkins’ 67 (-5) was his best round as a Jackrabbit and moved him 23 spots up the leaderboard.
“Ty had a great fall as well, never finishing outside the top 15, and had some very key rounds for us. His leadership and consistency has been a big part of our early success this year. Now, back to work this offseason.”
Drew Teeter finished in a tie for 18th place (+1) and Caleb Kern tied for 65th place (+17). Mason Eaton competed individually and tied for 33rd place (+6).
NOTES
- Jake Olson’s 205 matches Geoff Mead’s tally from the Santa Clara Invitational in the 2008-09 season.
- Jake Olson joins Hudson Carpenter (2013-14) as the only Jackrabbits to win multiple events in the same season in SDSU’s Division I era.
- Jacob Wilson’s single round on Tuesday is second in the record books to Tyler Seeling’s 60 from last season.
- All records noted are scores by stroke.
UP NEXT
SDSU is off until late February, when the Jackrabbits will compete at the Loyola Intercollegiate February 28-March 2 in Goodyear, Arizona.