K-State Men’s Golf Inks Two for 2018-19
Nov 08, 2017 | Men's Golf
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas state men's golf team signed two golfers to National Letters of Intent as head coach Grant Robbins has announced that Ryan Bender and Will Hopkins will join the Wildcats for the 2018-19 season.
"We are thrilled to be adding Ryan and Will to our team," Robbins said. "They both have a strong work ethic and have really elevated their games in the past year. We look for them to have an immediate impact here and be a big part of our future."
Bender joins the Wildcats from Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas, as the 52nd-best golfer in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Polo Rankings for the Class of 2018. He is also considered the top golfer in the state of Kansas for the Class of 2018 as ranked by Junior Gold Scoreboard.
Bender has recorded four top-10 finishes in AJGA events over the last year, including a victory in the 2017 AJGA Lockton Junior. He also won the Kansas City Junior Amateur and the 2017 Kansas City Junior Match Play Championship.
"We are excited to have Ryan join our program," Robbins added. "He is a very hard worker who has made huge strides in his game over the last year and a half, and he continues to improve. He has a solid all-around game and is very consistent tee to green. He also gained valuable experience with some quality wins over the summer."
A product of Lincolnshire, England, Hopkins is currently ranked among the top 100 golfers among all European players in the under-18 category. He fired a final-round course record 64 to win the Lincolnshire Boys Championship this summer in addition to advancing to the third round of match play at the 2017 British Boys Amateur. Hopkins finished 14th at the 2017 Carris Trophy English Boys U18 Championship and won the 2016 North of England Boys Championship.
"Will is a very accomplished player who has really improved over the last year to become one of the top players in England," Robbins said. "He really impressed me watching him in the match play portion of the British Boys this past summer. He strikes the ball very well and plays with a lot of poise and confidence."
The Wildcats open their spring schedule with the Seminole Intercollegiate, February 24-25, in Tallahassee, Florida.
"We are thrilled to be adding Ryan and Will to our team," Robbins said. "They both have a strong work ethic and have really elevated their games in the past year. We look for them to have an immediate impact here and be a big part of our future."
Bender joins the Wildcats from Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas, as the 52nd-best golfer in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Polo Rankings for the Class of 2018. He is also considered the top golfer in the state of Kansas for the Class of 2018 as ranked by Junior Gold Scoreboard.
Bender has recorded four top-10 finishes in AJGA events over the last year, including a victory in the 2017 AJGA Lockton Junior. He also won the Kansas City Junior Amateur and the 2017 Kansas City Junior Match Play Championship.
"We are excited to have Ryan join our program," Robbins added. "He is a very hard worker who has made huge strides in his game over the last year and a half, and he continues to improve. He has a solid all-around game and is very consistent tee to green. He also gained valuable experience with some quality wins over the summer."
A product of Lincolnshire, England, Hopkins is currently ranked among the top 100 golfers among all European players in the under-18 category. He fired a final-round course record 64 to win the Lincolnshire Boys Championship this summer in addition to advancing to the third round of match play at the 2017 British Boys Amateur. Hopkins finished 14th at the 2017 Carris Trophy English Boys U18 Championship and won the 2016 North of England Boys Championship.
"Will is a very accomplished player who has really improved over the last year to become one of the top players in England," Robbins said. "He really impressed me watching him in the match play portion of the British Boys this past summer. He strikes the ball very well and plays with a lot of poise and confidence."
The Wildcats open their spring schedule with the Seminole Intercollegiate, February 24-25, in Tallahassee, Florida.
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