Wildcats with Work to Do After Round One of Golfweek Conference Challenge
Sep 15, 2019 | Men's Golf
Live Stats / Leaderboard: k-st.at/2mfBqjx
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Kansas State finds itself playing from behind following a slow start and finishing the first round in 15th at the Golfweek Conference Challenge after shooting an 8-over par 296 at the Par-72, 7,086-yard Cedar Rapids Country Club. The Wildcats have room to climb with 36 hole left over the next two days and are just eight shots out of the top-5.
Jacob Eklund led the Wildcats on day one and was the only K-State player in the top-20 individually, after shooting 1-under par 71 (T15th). Freshman Riccardo Leo turned in a strong debut as an individual, recording a 1-over 73 and to sit 33rd. Junior Kyle Vance is in a tie for 45th, shooting 2-over par 74, while senior Ben Fernandez is one stroke behind him at 3-over par 75 and in a tie for 59th. One stroke behind Fernandez is sophomore teammate Will Hopkins in a tie for 69th at 4-over par 76. Redshirt Freshman Jared Strathe carded a 5-over par 77 and is tied for 77th.
"We didn't score very well today but we are not that far off," K-State head coach Grant Robbins said. "It's a course where you have to be very precise on the approach shots and we seemed to hit it in spots where you couldn't be aggressive and didn't get enough good birdie looks. We also made a few sloppy bogeys that kept us from getting any momentum going. There are a lot of holes left and as poorly as we played we are only eight shots out of fourth. These guys are capable of putting together a low round tomorrow to get back in contention."
Arkansas State's Zan Luka Stirn is atop the leaderboard, shooting 6-under par 66 to take a two-stroke lead into day two. Ball State has a comfortable four stroke lead after day one, tallying a 9-under-par 279, ahead of tournament host Iowa.
The second round of the Golfweek Conference Challenge begins at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
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