Pederson puts Kansas in sixth at Big 12 golf

? Zach Pederson shot the best round of his senior season to lead the Kansas University men’s golf team to a sixth-place standing after day one at the Big 12 Championship at Prairie Dunes Country Club.

KU shot rounds of 298 and 306 behind the strong play of Pederson, who carded a 71 in round one and a 76 in round two and is tied for 11th place entering the third round.

“The course played very tough today with brutal weather conditions and I am very pleased with how the guys played,” KU coach Kit Grove said. “Being seeded number 11 coming into the event, I would have gladly taken this start from the guys.”

Pederson entered the event playing only three events during his injury-plagued senior campaign with a previous best round of 73 and best finish of 49th.

Junior Bryan Hackenberg and sophomore Nate Barbee both carded first-day totals of 152 and enter round three tied for 22nd.

Barbee leads the team in scoring average on the year with an average of 72.86.

Senior Andrew Storm shot rounds of 75 and 81 to place tied for 40th after day one. Senior Walt Koelbel shot a first-day 162 and is in 56th place.

Fourth-ranked Oklahoma State and Colorado are tied for first after the first day of play with a score of 581. Derek Tolan of Colorado and Bill Allcorn of Baylor are the top individuals after day one with a two-round score of 139.

The tournament resumes today.