Wildcats Tie Kansas, Down Baylor on Day Two of Big 12 Match Play
Oct 12, 2019 | Men's Golf
HOCKLEY, Texas – The Kansas State men's golf team notched four points as it upset third-seeded Baylor, 4-1-1, and tied Kansas during Saturday's sessions of the Big 12 Match Play Tournament at the 7,007-yard, par-71 Club at Houston Oaks.
K-State tied Kansas in the morning session Saturday, as freshman Tim Tillmanns (1UP), junior Kyle Vance (2&1), and senior Jacob Eklund (3&2) all won their head-to-head matchups. Tillmanns jumped to a five-hole advantage but saw it cut to one with four holes left. The German freshman matched his opponent the rest of the way for the win.
Vance trailed by one hole with five to play before winning three straight to take control for his first of two wins on the day. Eklund trailed or was tied for the first 10 holes of his battle. The senior turned it on from there and won three holes without dropping any others.
"It was a total team effort today," head coach Grant Robbins said. "Against Kansas, we were up against it early as they had three of the matches well in hand most of the day. Tim and Kyle really came through down the stretch with some tough wins to get us the tie."
In the afternoon session, the Wildcats dominated the defending Big 12 Match Play champion in Baylor. Tillmanns (2&1), Vance (1UP), Eklund (5&3) and sophomore Will Hopkins (2&1) all picked up wins. Tillmanns, who improved to 3-0 this weekend in his Wildcat debut, birdied his first hole and never trailed in his win against Baylor.
"Tim was an absolute stud today," Robbins said. "For a freshman making his collegiate debut, he was very impressive making 13 birdies and an eagle on the day."
Vance, against Baylor, edged out a close battle that was tied for 11 holes with a pair of birdies in his final three holes. Eklund won his first four holes and cruised to his second win on the day. Freshman Riccardo Leo tied his match with a birdie to win his last hole.
"I thought the guys played extremely well against Baylor," Robbins said. "Will, Jake and Tim were in control most of the round and Kyle was really clutch down the stretch making birdies on two of his last three holes to win his match.
Riccardo was down early but kept battling and birdied the last hole to halve his match. I'm really proud of how these guys competed. It's something I knew they were capable of and to see them play with that confidence is exciting."
The Wildcats, who entered the tournament as the 10th seed and upset second-seeded Oklahoma on Friday, sit in second place in Pool B going into Sunday morning's final session of pool play against Oklahoma State. With a win,
K-State would tie Kansas, which has the morning session off, for first in Pool B and force a tiebreaker to determine which team advances to the title match on Sunday afternoon.
"We've got two more tough matches tomorrow," Robbins said, "so we will need to come out with that same focus and intensity and see what happens."
The Wildcats tee off against Oklahoma State on Sunday morning, starting on holes 14-16 in their pursuit of a Big 12 Match Play Tournament Championship.
K-State tied Kansas in the morning session Saturday, as freshman Tim Tillmanns (1UP), junior Kyle Vance (2&1), and senior Jacob Eklund (3&2) all won their head-to-head matchups. Tillmanns jumped to a five-hole advantage but saw it cut to one with four holes left. The German freshman matched his opponent the rest of the way for the win.
Vance trailed by one hole with five to play before winning three straight to take control for his first of two wins on the day. Eklund trailed or was tied for the first 10 holes of his battle. The senior turned it on from there and won three holes without dropping any others.
"It was a total team effort today," head coach Grant Robbins said. "Against Kansas, we were up against it early as they had three of the matches well in hand most of the day. Tim and Kyle really came through down the stretch with some tough wins to get us the tie."
In the afternoon session, the Wildcats dominated the defending Big 12 Match Play champion in Baylor. Tillmanns (2&1), Vance (1UP), Eklund (5&3) and sophomore Will Hopkins (2&1) all picked up wins. Tillmanns, who improved to 3-0 this weekend in his Wildcat debut, birdied his first hole and never trailed in his win against Baylor.
"Tim was an absolute stud today," Robbins said. "For a freshman making his collegiate debut, he was very impressive making 13 birdies and an eagle on the day."
Vance, against Baylor, edged out a close battle that was tied for 11 holes with a pair of birdies in his final three holes. Eklund won his first four holes and cruised to his second win on the day. Freshman Riccardo Leo tied his match with a birdie to win his last hole.
"I thought the guys played extremely well against Baylor," Robbins said. "Will, Jake and Tim were in control most of the round and Kyle was really clutch down the stretch making birdies on two of his last three holes to win his match.
Riccardo was down early but kept battling and birdied the last hole to halve his match. I'm really proud of how these guys competed. It's something I knew they were capable of and to see them play with that confidence is exciting."
The Wildcats, who entered the tournament as the 10th seed and upset second-seeded Oklahoma on Friday, sit in second place in Pool B going into Sunday morning's final session of pool play against Oklahoma State. With a win,
K-State would tie Kansas, which has the morning session off, for first in Pool B and force a tiebreaker to determine which team advances to the title match on Sunday afternoon.
"We've got two more tough matches tomorrow," Robbins said, "so we will need to come out with that same focus and intensity and see what happens."
The Wildcats tee off against Oklahoma State on Sunday morning, starting on holes 14-16 in their pursuit of a Big 12 Match Play Tournament Championship.
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