photo by: Kansas Athletics

KU golfer Will King competes in the final round of the NCAA Regional in Norman, Okla. on May 17, 2023.

Junior Will King won the second individual title of his career and Kansas claimed an overall team title by 19 strokes as the Jayhawks won the Hawkeye Invitational in Iowa City, Iowa, on Monday.

It was the first time since the 2022 iteration of the same event that KU men’s golf has won a team title, and the Jayhawks cleared second-place Illinois State by the sixth-largest margin in program history.

“We played a very solid, disciplined and focused day of golf today,” KU coach Jamie Bermel said in a press release. “Wind was humming all day and we made it look pretty simple.”

King’s previous victory came at the Gopher Invitational at the start of his sophomore season. He surged into the lead past graduate teammate Gunnar Broin and Illinois State’s Will Troy, who had occupied the top two spots after the first two rounds.

In all, through three rounds, King shot a 9-under 207.

“Will was solid all day and it was nice to see him get his second win of his career,” Bermel said. “He has battled an injury this spring and seems healthy and playing well.”

King, Broin (7-under 209, second place) and sophomore Max Jelinek (5-under 211, fourth), who at one point recorded back-to-back eagles during his final round, accounted for three of the top four spots overall.

“It was a total team effort from top to bottom,” Bermel said in the release. “I can’t say enough of how hard these guys have worked all year and to finally get a win is very rewarding to the team and coaches.”

KU’s previous best team finish of the season was third place on a pair of occasions. The Jayhawks will now return to action for the Big 12 championship beginning next Monday.