SE: K-State Men’s Golf Trio Playing with Something to Prove at Athens Regional
May 13, 2019 | Men's Golf, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
K-State won't be listed among the team scores at the NCAA Men's Golf Regional in Athens, Georgia, a 54-hole tournament that runs Monday to Wednesday. Jeremy Gandon, Roland Massimino and Jacob Eklund will be playing like their team should be, however.
All three Wildcats were selected as individuals to play in the Regional. It's the most K-State has ever sent to a Regional. It's only the second time since 2014 that any school has sent three players individually to postseason play.
In reality, these three will be playing against one another. Only one individual can advance to the NCAA Championship out of each regional. But, for them, it's different. They were one of the first teams left out of the Regional field, so they're playing for more than individual advancement.
"We're going to show that we definitely deserved to be, as a team, at this tournament," said Gandon, a senior making his second-straight Regional appearance.
"Absolutely," Eklund, a junior, added. "We definitely have a lot to prove. I feel like a lot of people feel like we should have made it as a team. I've had a lot of people reach out and say they don't know how we didn't make it as a team. So, if we all go there and play well, it just shows that we deserved a bid to get in there."
There's a strong argument to be made that the Wildcats did.
They had a monster spring.
The Golfweek/Sagarin rankings slotted K-State at No. 31 in the country for the spring season only. K-State's second semester consisted of five top-four team finishes, including a win at the Mission Inn Spring Spectacular, and a 284.24 team scoring average to help break the school record for a season (285.86). The Wildcats finished seventh at the conference tournament, five shots out of third in a field that saw every other team receive an NCAA Regional bid, including three No. 1 seeds.
What started as a bittersweet feeling when the field was announced turned into motivation for the three Wildcats still standing.
"I think these guys do have a little chip on their shoulder, with something to prove," K-State head coach Grant Robbins said. "I told them (Thursday) night, they have a chance to go show what we're capable of."
If nothing else, the fact that these three made an NCAA Regional proves the program's capable of impressive player development. It's built on a culture of hard work and cultivated with the people like Massimino, Gandon and Eklund, who are willing to make it the standard within the team.
Massimino, a senior, may be the best example. K-State was his only Power Five offer out of Lumberville, Pennsylvania. His best stroke average for a season before his final campaign was 73.74. He enters the Athens Regional at 70.96 for this season, which currently sits as the school record.
"It's a testament to the hard work, and Coach has been great for development, too, and pushing us in the right direction," Massimino said. "I just think it's part of the K-State attitude, just grinding it out and getting better every day. It's kind of cliché, but literally getting better every day. Coming from where I was my first day I got here to now, it's a world of difference."
Eklund's also knocked multiple strokes off his average from a year ago, going from 74.15 as a sophomore to 71.50 this season. Gandon, a four-time tournament winner at K-State, has posted a career-best average (71.69) as well this year. His career average (72.67) also currently stands as the best in school history.
"I think it shows that you can get better here. That's something we preach when we're recruiting," Robbins said. "First of all, it takes buy in. You have to get kids that are willing to take a look at themselves, understand areas they need to improve on and then be able to have trust in the coaches and do the right thing. You can see when they do that, when kids buy in, the development in how they get better.
"These guys are perfect examples of that."
K-State won't be listed among the team scores at the NCAA Men's Golf Regional in Athens, Georgia, a 54-hole tournament that runs Monday to Wednesday. Jeremy Gandon, Roland Massimino and Jacob Eklund will be playing like their team should be, however.
All three Wildcats were selected as individuals to play in the Regional. It's the most K-State has ever sent to a Regional. It's only the second time since 2014 that any school has sent three players individually to postseason play.
In reality, these three will be playing against one another. Only one individual can advance to the NCAA Championship out of each regional. But, for them, it's different. They were one of the first teams left out of the Regional field, so they're playing for more than individual advancement.
"We're going to show that we definitely deserved to be, as a team, at this tournament," said Gandon, a senior making his second-straight Regional appearance.
"Absolutely," Eklund, a junior, added. "We definitely have a lot to prove. I feel like a lot of people feel like we should have made it as a team. I've had a lot of people reach out and say they don't know how we didn't make it as a team. So, if we all go there and play well, it just shows that we deserved a bid to get in there."
There's a strong argument to be made that the Wildcats did.
They had a monster spring.
The Golfweek/Sagarin rankings slotted K-State at No. 31 in the country for the spring season only. K-State's second semester consisted of five top-four team finishes, including a win at the Mission Inn Spring Spectacular, and a 284.24 team scoring average to help break the school record for a season (285.86). The Wildcats finished seventh at the conference tournament, five shots out of third in a field that saw every other team receive an NCAA Regional bid, including three No. 1 seeds.
What started as a bittersweet feeling when the field was announced turned into motivation for the three Wildcats still standing.
"I think these guys do have a little chip on their shoulder, with something to prove," K-State head coach Grant Robbins said. "I told them (Thursday) night, they have a chance to go show what we're capable of."
If nothing else, the fact that these three made an NCAA Regional proves the program's capable of impressive player development. It's built on a culture of hard work and cultivated with the people like Massimino, Gandon and Eklund, who are willing to make it the standard within the team.
Massimino, a senior, may be the best example. K-State was his only Power Five offer out of Lumberville, Pennsylvania. His best stroke average for a season before his final campaign was 73.74. He enters the Athens Regional at 70.96 for this season, which currently sits as the school record.
"It's a testament to the hard work, and Coach has been great for development, too, and pushing us in the right direction," Massimino said. "I just think it's part of the K-State attitude, just grinding it out and getting better every day. It's kind of cliché, but literally getting better every day. Coming from where I was my first day I got here to now, it's a world of difference."
Eklund's also knocked multiple strokes off his average from a year ago, going from 74.15 as a sophomore to 71.50 this season. Gandon, a four-time tournament winner at K-State, has posted a career-best average (71.69) as well this year. His career average (72.67) also currently stands as the best in school history.
"I think it shows that you can get better here. That's something we preach when we're recruiting," Robbins said. "First of all, it takes buy in. You have to get kids that are willing to take a look at themselves, understand areas they need to improve on and then be able to have trust in the coaches and do the right thing. You can see when they do that, when kids buy in, the development in how they get better.
"These guys are perfect examples of that."
Players Mentioned
K-State Women's Golf | Carla Bernat ANWA Recognition
Tuesday, November 11
K-State Women's Golf | Behind The Scenes Photoshoot
Tuesday, November 11
K-State Men's Golf | Wildcat Invitational
Tuesday, November 11
K-State Men's Golf | Wildcat Invitational 2025 Recap
Thursday, September 11
