Kansas State University
NCAA Athens Regional Championship
K-State Trio Set for NCAA Athens Regional
May 10, 2019 | Men's Golf
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State men's golf seniors Jeremy Gandon and Roland Massimino, and junior Jacob Eklund will all compete in the 2019 NCAA Athens Regional next Monday through Wednesday, hosted by the University of Georgia at the par-71, 7,253-yard University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens, Georgia.
The three day, 54-hole tournament will consist of 18 holes being played each day. The five lowest teams and one individual not on an advancing team will advance to the NCAA Championship, May 24-29, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
K-State, which was one of the first teams out of this year's NCAA regional field as a full team, has Massimino as the No. 1 individual in the Athens Regional, with Eklund right behind him at the No. 2 and Gandon at No. 5. It is the first time ever the Wildcats will send three individuals to a regional, and only the second time nationally since at least 2014 that a team will send three players.
"Obviously we were disappointed by not going as a team, but I am excited for these three guys as they get the opportunity to play in the postseason," head coach Grant Robbins said. "All three of these guys have had great seasons and have proven they can play with the best in the country. They have worked extremely hard and have improved over the course of this year. I'm happy to see them get rewarded for it."
This marks Gandon second-straight regional appearance. The Charpey, France product competed in last year's NCAA Pacific Regional and shot even-par 216, finishing in a tie for 30th. For Massimino and Eklund, it is 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, including their first team win since 2012 at the Mission Inn Spring Spectacular. Gandon secured his fourth career tournament title at the Mission Inn Spring Spectacular, carding an 8-under par 208, two strokes ahead of Eklund.
At the Big 12 Championship, Gandon and Massimino both carded a 1-under par 209 to tie for eighth and pick up Big 12 All-Tournament Team honors.
Eklund is coming off a breakout season, which includes a team-high three top-five finishes. His 13-under par 203 at the Missouri Tiger Invitational tied for the fifth best 54-hole score in school history.
Gandon, Massimino and Eklund are among 13 teams and 10 individuals at the NCAA Athens Regional all vying to advance to the NCAA Championships.
Live scoring of the 2019 NCAA Athens Regional can be followed at www.golfstat.com.
