Eklund, Gandon, Massimino Selected for NCAA Athens Regional
May 01, 2019 | Men's Golf
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State men's golf seniors Jeremy Gandon and Roland Massimino, in addition to junior Jacob Eklund were rewarded for successful seasons on Wednesday as they have been selected to represent the Wildcats in the 2019 NCAA Athens Regional, hosted by the University of Georgia. The trio will compete May 13-15 at the par-71, 7,253-yard University of Georgia Golf Course.
The Wildcats, who were one of the first programs out of this year's NCAA Regional field as a full team, have Massimino as the No. 1 individual in the Athens Regional, followed by Eklund at No. 2 and Gandon at No. 5. It is the second time in school history multiple individuals will compete in the postseason (2010), and the first time ever the Wildcats will send three individuals to a regional.
"I think it is a testament to how good our team is, to have three guys good enough to qualify for regionals. But then to say your team is not good enough doesn't make much sense," head coach Grant Robbins said. "I'm really disappointed in the selection because I think the goal should be to get the best teams in, and we are definitely one of the best teams.
"Just to see the progression that Roland made since his freshman year, he got better each and every year." Robbins continued. "That's a testament to him and all his hard work and a testament to our program. If you buy in to our program, you are going to get better. We have shown that with development with all of our players from year to year. And for someone like Roland, who wasn't highly recruited, to come here and four years later finish top 10 in the Big 12 Championship says a lot for him as a player and us as a program."
This year marks Gandon's second-straight appearance. The Charpey, France, product competed in the NCAA Pacific Regional last year and tied for 30th by shooting even-par 216. For Massimino and Eklund, it will be their first time competing in the postseason.
Massimino and Eklund lead the team in stroke average this season, as Massimino's current average of 70.96 is best in school history, while Eklund's mark of 71.50 is currently second.
The trio are a major reason why the 2018-19 Wildcats set the school record for lowest team average at 285.86. Additionally, K-State tied for seventh in school history with five top-five finishes, all coming this spring.
Gandon and Massimino both carded a 1-under par 209 at last weekend's Big 12 Championship to tie for eighth and pick up Big 12 All-Tournament Team honors.
Eklund is coming off a breakout season, including three top-five finishes, a team high. His 13-under par 203 at the Missouri Tiger Invitational tied for the fifth best 54-hole score in school history.
Among the 13 teams and 10 individuals at the NCAA Athens Regional, the low five teams and low individual not on an advancing team will move on to the 2019 NCAA Championship held at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas, May 24-29.
Live scoring of the 2019 NCAA Athens Regional can be followed at www.golfstat.com.
