K-State Men's Golfers Finish in Fifth to Start Spring Season
Feb 17, 2004 | Men's Golf
LAKELAND, Fla. - The Kansas State men’s golf team opened its spring slate Tuesday with a fifth-place finish at the Matlock Collegiate Classic at the par-72, 7,065-yard Grasslands Golf and Country Club.. The Wildcats carded a combined 54-hole total of 882 to finish three strokes behind Francis Marion for fifth place “Everyone had one or two holes that hurt them and that’s going to add up when competing for the championship,” head coach Tim Norris said. Despite the team dropping from fourth to fifth on the final day, Norris said he’s not disappointed with how the team performed in its first tournament since October 20th.
“I’m pretty happy with how we played after being in the snow all winter,” Norris said. “Every hole was a little tougher today and a matter of 10-15 feet can make a huge difference.”
The top performer for the Wildcats was Matt Van Cleave, who finished the tournament 1-under par after firing a 2-under par 70 today, tying him for seventh. Van Cleave made improvements to his game with each round, as he shot a 54-hole total of 73-72-70215. He was the lone Wildcat to finish in the top 10, and now has now finished in the top 10 in five of six tournaments this season. His seventh-place finish is his second lowest of the season, behind his victory at the Purina Classic.
“Matt played very well,” Norris said. “He’s worked extremely hard this winter trying to refine his swing and he was able to take those changes with him to this tournament.”
Individually, the other four Wildcats shot very similar totals, as K-State was the only school to have all of its golfers finish in the top 40. Senior co-captain’s Aaron Watkins and A.J. Elgert each finished in a tie for 23rd after posting 223. Rounding out the Wildcats’ lineup were senior co-captain Tim Moody and Greg Douglas, both of who fired a final-round score of 77 to finish the tournament in a tie for 38th with a 54-hole total of 225.
Memphis won the overall team title, as it shot an even-par 864, five strokes better than Georgia College & State. Ohio State made the biggest charge of the final round, jumping from sixth to third, thanks to a 1-over par final round.
Greg Koch of Florida Southern took the individual championship on his home course, finishing at 5-under-par for the tournament, and one-stroke ahead of Francis Marion’s Fredrik Ohlsson and Memphis’ David Jeans.
The Wildcats will return to action Feb. 23-24 at the Beau Chene Intercollegiate. For complete results, please visit Kansas State’s website at www.kstatesports.com.
Men’s Collegiate Golf
Matlock Collegiate Classic
Lakeland, Fla.
Grasslands Golf & C.C.
Par:72; Yardage: 7,065
Team Scores: 1. Memphis 864. 2. Georgia College & State 869. 3. Ohio State 877. 4. Francis Marion 879. 5. Kansas State 882. 6. Missouri 885. 7. Virginia Commonwealth 888. 8. Florida Southern 889. 9. Lynn University 890. 10. Louisville 892. 11. Mississippi State 893. 12. Valdosta State 894. 13. Old Dominion 896. 14. Miami (Ohio) 903. 14. Rollins College 903.
Top Individuals: 1. Greg Koch,(Fl. South) 70-68-73211, T2. David Jeans, (Memphis) 73-68-71212, T2. Fredrik Ohlsson, (Fr. Marion) 69-73-70212. T4. Manual Relancio, (VCU) 72-71-71214. T4. Joe Deraney, (Miss. St.) 71-71-72214, T4. Carter Collins, (GA Co&St.) 72-72-70214.
Wildcat Individuals: T7. Matt Van Cleave, 73-72-70215. T23. Aaron Watkins, 74-75-74223. T23. A.J. Elgert, 77-71-75223. T38. Tim Moody, 76-72-77225. T38. Greg Douglas, 74-75-77225.
