By: Rob Anderson

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Creighton men’s golf team opened its spring season with two competitions at the BIG EAST Match Play on Monday, losing to three-time defending event champion UConn in the morning session before bouncing back to defeat DePaul 6-1. Freshman Henry Kuehne was the lone Bluejay to win both of his matches.

The matches were played at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., a par 72 course with a 7,439 yard layout.

Creighton closes out play on Tuesday morning with a match against St. John’s.

Connecticut 6, Creighton 1

Kuehne was Creighton’s lone bright spot in the morning match against UConn that started the spring. The Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., native was tied against UConn’s Eric Boulger after 11 holes before winning three of the next six holes for the 3&1 victory.

CU had three other matches that came down to the last hole. Junior Grant Feldman bogeyed the final hole and lost 1UP to Ray Dennehy, while freshman Jacob Kutner lost the 17th hole and fell 1UP against Matthew Costello. Additionally, freshman Gavin Gerch dropped the final hole in a 2UP setback.

Ray Dennehy (UConn) def. Grant Feldman (CU), 1UP

Connor Goode (UConn) def. Owen Price (CU), 6&5

Bradley Sawka (UConn) def. Gavin Gerch (CU), 2UP

Henry Kuehne (CU) def. Eric Boulger (UConn), 3&1

Alex Heard (UConn) def. Brock Kuhlman (CU), 4&3

Matthew Costello (UConn) def. Jacob Kutner (CU), 1UP

Caden Blanchette (UConn) def. Owen Mackin (CU), 4&2

Creighton def. DePaul, 6-1

Creighton defeated DePaul in the afternoon to salvage the day.

Kuehne dominated his afternoon battle with Billy Gneiser, winning 6&5. Kuehne started his afternoon match on the 14th hole and elevated his game after making the turn to the front nine. He won each of the first four holes going out, then compiled four straight birdies to seal his victory.

Fellow Palm Beach Gardens native Jacob Kutner closed out a 5&4 victory over Hank Schaefer. Kutner parred the final six holes of the front nine, during which time he built up a comfortable lead as Schaefer had five bogeys in that stretch.

Owen Price rebounded from a morning loss with a decisive 7&6 victory over DePaul’s Pablo Riveiro, as the Bluejay sophomore was 4-under through 12 holes before closing out his victory. Owen Mackin had three birdies in his final 12 bogey-free holes to earn a win over Alex Vekich.

Gavin Gerch came up clutch in his match, as he birdied the par-3 11th hole for a 1-UP win against Rohan Gopaldes. Grant Feldman also was victorious by a 1UP score.

Grant Feldman (CU) def. Dominic Lucchesi (DPU), 1UP

Owen Price (CU) def. Pablo Riveiro (DPU), 7&6

Gavin Gerch (CU) def. Rohan Gopaldas (DPU), 1UP

Henry Kuehne (CU) def. Billy Gneiser (DPU), 6&5

Ryder Henares (DPU), def. Brock Kuhlman (CU), 2UP

Jacob Kutner (CU) def. Hank Schaefer (DPU), 5&4

Owen Mackin (CU) def. Alex Vekich (DPU), 4&2