Huskies Show ‘Heart And Toughness’, Make Charge Up Leaderboard At Windon Memorial

GLENCOE, Ill. – RJ Manke leads the Windon Memorial tournament at Lake Shore Country Club in Glencoe, Ill., after 36 holes of action and the Huskies are tied for third as a team after a hard-fought rally up the leaderboard on Monday.
 
Darkness set in with five teams still on the par-71 course, including the top two teams Notre Dame (-10) and South Florida (-9).
 
The Huskies shot rounds of even-par 284 and 7-under 277 to sit at -7 (561). Marquette is also 7-under, but like Notre Dame and South Florida, they have golfers scattered on the course waiting to complete their second rounds.
 
That Washington is tied for third is a minor miracle after a rough start to their Midwest swing. After the first six holes, the Huskies had scored four double-bogeys or worse and six bogeys, while recording only one birdie. They were squarely in last place before flipping the switch and making a 180 turn on the course.
 
"We got off to a nightmare start in tough conditions," said Husky coach Alan Murray. "The guys showed their heart and toughness by responding with a great last 27 holes of the day."
 
From hole No. 7 through 18 in round one, the Huskies had to only count two more bogeys, while they collectively combined for eight birdies, an eagle by Teddy Lin, and a hole-in-one on the 127-yard, 14th hole by senior Noah Woolsey.
 

?? @woolsey_noah takes a casual stroll to pick up his ball after a HOLE-IN-ONE?? Congrats Noah!#GoHuskies pic.twitter.com/CEZklqBc20

— Washington Men's Golf (@UW_MGolf) September 27, 2021

 
The rally got the team score back to even par and allowed the Huskies to end the first round in 10th place out of 14 teams.
 
The Huskies continued their momentum in the second round and quickly moved up the leaderboard. They received major contributions from everybody, but it was Manke and Petr Hruby who were the main catalysts in the second round, both scoring in the red.
 
Manke shot a 6-under 65 after a first round 71 to move up 30 spots on the leaderboard and enter the clubhouse with the lead. He made his biggest jump when he converted an eagle opportunity on the par-5, 13th hole and birdied the 14th hole that Woolsey aced earlier in the first round to gain three shots on the field.
 
Hruby shot a bogey-free, 3-under 68 to rebound nicely from a first round 72. He is tied for 13th among individuals.
 
 "RJ was amazing again and had a superb round this afternoon," Murray said of his senior transfer who has recorded finishes of second and third in each of the Huskies first two tournaments.
 
"Petr played super too. But everyone contributed. Noah was rock solid, while Teddy and Aidan (O'Hagan) both made valuable contributions."
 
Woolsey carded two rounds of 71 and sits tied for 29th. He had seven birdies and the ace to counter some bumps in the road. The hole-in-one was the first of his UW career, but the fifth in his lifetime.  
 
Lin shot a 1-under 70 in the first round and a 75 in the second round. He is tied for 51st at +3.
 
The freshman O'Hagan shot 76-73 and is tied for 74th at +7.

Taehoon Song is competing as an individual and shot a 71 in the first round. He will finish his second round Tuesday morning.
 
"We were so impressive today. We finished before dark and who knows where we will be at the end of round two tomorrow morning," Murray said in reference to the five teams that will be back on the course at 7:30 a.m. local time to finish their rounds. "But we have a chance to win the tournament.
 
"I am so proud of the guys. Their attitudes and poise were superb today."