Gandon, Massimino Lead Wildcats to Lowest Final Round at Big 12 Championship

Friday, April 26

White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.

Kansas State University

Big 12 Championship

Gandon, Massimino Lead Wildcats to Lowest Final Round at Big 12 Championship

Apr 28, 2019 | Men's Golf

Results

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WVa. – Backed by under-par performances from seniors Jeremy Gandon and Roland Massimino, the Kansas State men's golf team recorded the lowest final-round score on Sunday to improve one spot to seventh place and position itself for a NCAA Regional bid during the 2019 Big 12 Men's Golf Championship at the par-70, 7,201-yard Greenbrier.

The Wildcats, who entered Sunday in eighth, carded a 6-under par 274 to jump Iowa State. The Wildcats recorded their best round in Big 12 Championship history in terms of both gross score and vs. par. The previous best gross score was a 276 in the fourth round in 2009, while the previous lowest round vs. par was a 5-under during the second round of 2010.

In the process, K-State – ranked 64^th nationally in the latest Golfstat rankings – finished nine strokes ahead of 31^st-ranked Iowa State, 13 strokes better than No. 37 Kansas and 17 strokes ahead of No. 48 West Virginia.

"We've had a saying all spring that, 'The final round is our round,' and today was a special one," head coach Grant Robbins said. "I thought we came out tight in round one and pressed a little. I told them after that round to go out and just be you and that your good golf is as good as anyone in this field. I think they proved that these last two rounds. I can't say enough about how proud I am of these guys and what they have been able to do this spring. Now, we are looking to keep it going at NCAA's."

Gandon and Massimino tied for eighth place at 1-under par 209 as both earned Big 12 All-Tournament Team honors, the first time in the Big 12 era that two Wildcats earned the accolade. Massimino made the second-biggest jump on the leaderboard on the day, leaping 13 spots thanks to a 3-under par 67. Gandon rose seven spots with his 1-under par 69, and he became the first player in school history to earn Big 12 All-Tournament Team honors in two-consecutive seasons and three times in a career. He tied for fourth during his freshman season of 2016 before tying for first last year.

Juniors Jacob Eklund and Ben Fernandez also made big leaps on Sunday, as they tied for 23^rd at 5-over par 215. Eklundmade a 14-spot improvement with a 2-under par 68. Fernandez's even-par 70 shot him up the leaderboard 10 places. Freshman Will Hopkins shot 17-over par 227 as he tied for 48^th.

Oklahoma State, the No. 1 team in the nation, maintained its dominance, as the Cowboys shot 13-under par 827, 11 strokes ahead of No. 33 TCU. TCU's Hayden Springer claimed the Big 12 individual title. Springer, who entered the day tied with Oklahoma State's Viktor Hovland, shot even-par 70 in the final round to hold off Hovland, who finished one stroke behind.
The 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship Selection Show will air on Wednesday, May 1, at 8 p.m. (CT) on Golf Channel.

Big 12 Men's Golf Championship
The Greenbrier
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Par 70, 7,201 yards

Team Scores: 1. Oklahoma State, 278-268-281–827 (-13); 2. TCU, 273-281-284–838 (-2); T3. Oklahoma, 282-276-284–842 (+2); T3. Texas, 281-277-284–842 (+2); 5. Texas Tech, 284-282-278–844 (+4); 6. Baylor, 293-274-279–846 (+7); 7. Kansas State, 295-278-274–847 (+7); 8. Iowa State 282-287-287–856 (+16); 9. Kansas, 292-285-283–860 (+20); 10. West Virginia, 293-282-289–864 (+24).

Individual Scores: 1. Hayden Springer, TCU, 64-68-70–202 (-8); 2. Viktor Hovland, Oklahoma State, 68-64-71–203 (-7); T3. Cole Hammer, Texas, 73-65-66–204 (-6); T3. David Ravetto, TCU, 68-67-69–204 (-6).

K-State Individuals: T8. Roland Massimino, 74-68-67–209 (-1); T8. Jeremy Gandon, 71-69-69–209 (-1); T23. Ben Fernandez, 75-70-70–215 (+5); T23. Jacob Eklund, 75-72-68–215 (+5); T48. Will Hopkins, 77-71-79–227 (+17).