Men's Golf Caps Off Regular Season in Ohio
Apr 10, 2003 | Men's Golf
April 10, 2003
Robert Kepler Invitational
Ohio State Scarlet Course
Columbus, Ohio
Dates: April 12-13
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,251
The Field: Kansas State, Eastern Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Kent State, Marshall, Miami of Ohio, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ohio University, Purdue, Toledo, Wisconsin
Finishing the Regular Season
The Kansas State men's golf team wil close out its regular-season schedule as it travels to Columbus, Ohio, to compete in the 34th Annual Robert Kepler Invitational, hosted by Ohio State at its par-72, 7,125-yard Scarlet Golf Course. The tournament was first played in 1969 and is named for the late Robert Kepler, who served as Ohio State's golf coach from 1938 until 1965. This will be K-State's first year to participate in the event.
The 54-hole tournament play 36 holes on Saturday with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m., and 18 holes on Sunday with an 8 a.m. start off of holes No. 1 and No. 10. Representing K-State in Columbus will be junior Aaron Watkins, junior Greg Douglas, freshman Josh Persons, junior A.J. Elgert, and sophomore Matt Van Cleave.
Home of Championships
Ohio State's Scarlet Golf Course played host to last year's NCAA Men's Division I Championships. The 1995 NCAA Championships and the 1997 NCAA women's Chamiponships were held on the Scarlet Course as well.
Rained Out
The 2002 edition of the Kepler Invitational was limited to two rounds due to heavy rains. UNLV posted an even-par 576 to take the team title, and was followed by Colorado with a 579 and Purdue with a 582. The Boilermakers' Lee Williamson won individual medalist with a score of 5-under-par 139.
Last Time Out
Consistency paid off for K-State as the Wildcats placed fifth with a score of 5-over-par 869 in the 52nd annual Border Olympics, hosted by Texas A&M at the par-72, 7,125-yard Laredo Country Club. The competitive field featured seven top-50 teams in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings. The Wildcats score of 869 tied for K-State's third-best team three-round total of all time, surpassed only by the 2001 Baylor Intercollegiate, where the Wildcats posted an 855, and the 2002 Baylor event score of 865.
Junior co-captain Aaron Watkins paced the 'Cats at Laredo, posting a tournament total of 1-under-par 215 to tie for 11th.
In the Ranks
Kansas State ranked No.52 in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin rakings. Aaron Watkins is currently the Wildcats' top individual ranking No. 52 with a 71.35 rating.
The Robert Kepler Invitational will include five top-50 teams, featuring No. 20 Northwestern, No. 26 Illinois, No. 41 Toledo, No. 43 Kentucky, and No. 49 Michigan State.
Fargo's Frosh
K-State's lineup has received a boost from Fargo, N.D. freshman Josh Persons. Persons has participated in every tournament this season for the Wildcats, capturing five top-20 finishes along the way.
Person's posted a carrer-best 215 (70-73-72) at the Stevinson Ranch Invitational (3/24-25/03) to claim fourth place. Person's fourth-place finish was the best by a freshman in a full tournament since A.J. Elgert's tie for 3rd in the 2000 Jim Colbert Intercollegiate.
Top of the Board
Going into its final tournament, K-State has already garnered seven top-5 team finishes this year. That mark surpasses their 2001-02 total of five. K-State's current 2002-03 team average of 284.3 betters its 2001-02 average of 296.5 by more than 11 strokes.
