K-State Opens Spring Slate in Florida
Feb 09, 2005 | Men's Golf
The Matlock InvitationalGrasslands Golf & Country Club
Lakeland, Fla.
Dates: Feb. 14-15
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,065
Total Holes: 54
Format: 36 holes will be played Monday, Feb. 14, while the final 18 holes will be played Tuesday, Feb. 15.
The Field: (15) Kansas State, Barry Univ., Florida Southern, Francis Marion, Georgia College, Lynn University, Middle Tennessee, Missouri, Old Dominion, Rollins College, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Texas-Pan American, Valdosta State, Virginia Commonwealth and West Georgia.
Setting the Scene
With Manhattan and surrounding areas blanketed in snow, the Kansas State men’s golf team travels south to begin its spring season Feb. 14-15 at the Matlock Invitational in Lakeland, Fla. This will mark the second straight year that the Wildcats have opened the spring at the Matlock Invitational. The tournament will be held at the par-72, 7,065-yard Grasslands Golf and Country Club. This will be the Wildcats’ first tournament since finishing seventh at the Nelson Invitational Oct. 24th.
Last Time at the Matlock
Last year at the Matlock Invitational, K-State finished in fifth out of 15 teams. K-State carded a combined 54-hole team score of 882 (+18). Matt Van Cleave led the way for Wildcats, as he fired a 73-72-70215 (-1) to tie for seventh.
The Field
The 15-team field consists of only three teams that the Wildcats have faced this year. K-State holds a record of 2-1 versus the field. K-State defeated both Middle Tennessee State and Texas-Pan American, while falling to Missouri. The rest of the field consists of Barry University, Florida Southern, Francis Marion, Georgia College, Lynn University, Old Dominion, Rollins College, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Valdosta State, Virginia Commonwealth and West Georgia.
The Lineup
Head coach Tim Norris will send the same lineup he used in the final two tournaments of the fall to the Matlock Invitational. Senior Matt Van Cleave and juniors Ben Kern and Tyler Cummins have participated in all of the Wildcats’ tournaments thus far. Van Cleave will be making his 24th consecutive start. Senior Nick Schumacher and Jonathan James round out the lineup. Schumacher comes into the spring season playing the best golf of his career. The Lubbock, Texas, native concluded the fall by setting a new 18-hole, 36-hole, and 54-hole career bests. James participated in four of the five fall events, and also enters the spring playing the best golf of his career. Like Schumacher, James also set career 18-hole, 36-hole and 54-hole marks.
Poll Watching
In the first poll released on Feb. 7th by Golfweek/Sagarin, the Wildcats are ranked 60th. GolfStat has K-State ranked 58th in its poll released Feb. 9th.
About the Host
Florida Southern, the host of the Matlock Invitational, is a Division II school located in Lakeland, Fla. with an enrollment of 1,800. Florida Southern is a dominant force in Division II and has won 11 National Championships with the most recent coming in 2000. The Mocs also boast four former student-athletes on the PGA Tour.
The Lone Returner
Senior Matt Van Cleave is the lone Wildcat with experience at the Matlock Invitational. Last year’s K-State lineup consisted of four seniors and Van Cleave. The Maryville, Mo., native will look to build off last year’s seventh-place finish. Van Cleave is coming off a successful fall, where he garnered three top 10s and led the squad with a stroke average of 72.33.
Historically Speaking
Since Tim Norris took over the reigns back in the fall of 1998, K-State has improved its finish in the first spring tournament each year. In the spring of 1999, K-State finished 14th, while last season the Wildcats finished fifth in their first spring tournament.
Norris in Spring Openers
Year Score Finish
1999 323-306629 14th
2000 297-311-298906 10th
2001 310-301-301912 10th
2002 299-297-299895 T7th
2003 308-297-299904 T6th
2004 297-289-296882 5th
