SE: K-State Men’s Golf – with Help from a Wildcat Legend – Rolls in Georgia
Mar 15, 2021 | Men's Golf, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
Before K-State Men's Golf carded their best performance of the season last week, head coach Grant Robbins knew he had to make a call.
"I talked quite a bit with Robert Streb before the event," Robbins said. "He's won twice there, and he gave us some pretty good advice on three or four holes that were kind of tricky. That carries a lot of weight when you're trying to get your guys to play a little more conservatively."
A former All-American at K-State, Streb has been on the PGA Tour since 2013 with a pair of victories at the Sea Island Golf Club in Georgia, where the Wildcats competed last week in the Spartan Collegiate.
His advice was to take a cautious approach on a few holes where it might have been tempting for the Wildcats to get aggressive instead of laying up. Basically, trust your wedge game.
Getting some last-minute tips from an eight-year PGA Tour veteran was a luxury for K-State, but the business of battling to a fourth-place finish over Big Ten foes like Ohio State, Northwestern and Indiana fell to five of the top golfers on the Wildcats.
They didn't disappoint.
Every member of K-State improved on their opening round total, with Tim Tillmanns once again the top finisher with a sparkling 68 on Tuesday to help secure a top-five finish for the 'Cats in a field of 16 teams.
"I thought we had a really good game plan," Robbins said. "As the tournament went on, I think they just got more comfortable, made consistent contact off those difficult lies that you're going to get on Bermuda grass that's dormant. It's really hard to replicate that when you're preparing in the Midwest."
Kansas State began the 2021 season with tournaments exclusively in the Southeast, on courses that present different conditions and quirks from what the Wildcats practice on at Colbert Hills.
Specifically, adjusting to the Bermuda grass courses that are the norm throughout the region has been a challenge. The grass is still dormant in the early spring months in Georgia, where the Wildcats have played two of their first three tournament this season.
The conditions haven't stopped K-State from carding top-half finishes at both team events, including fourth place at last week's Spartan Collegiate on St. Simons Island in Georgia.
"I particularly like this tournament because it's in the Southeast, but it's hosted by Michigan State and the field is predominantly Big Ten schools," Robbins said. "So, there are schools that have similar circumstances as us with the weather and preparation."
After spending the first half of the season down South, navigating the Atlantic breezes and regional conditions at Sea Island felt a bit more manageable for the Wildcats.
Younger players like freshman Luke O'Neill stepped into the spotlight for K-State.
"He's probably the highest-ranked player that we have in terms of the world amateur rankings. He's had tons of success on the international level before he came here, so he's not afraid of the big stage," Robbins said. "Just coming over from Ireland, he's starting to get more comfortable."
As O'Neill continues to adjust to college life in America, his head coach expects the Irish national team member to keep improving on the course. A career-best 12th-place finish among the field of 80 at the Spartan Collegiate could just be the beginning for the talented freshman.
Robbins called O'Neill a hard worker, a competitor and someone who's going to be a phenomenal golfer for the Wildcats in the future.
For the second time this season, Tillmanns posted the top score of the weekend for K-State, an accomplishment that was even more impressive after the sophomore missed the team's last tournament in Alabama due to illness.
His return to competition was a reminder that the German is still one of the most consistent and clinical golfers on the Wildcats.
"He plays without any emotion, he's just very steady," Robbins said. "Good ball-striker, he keeps the ball in play and hits a lot of greens. Always gives himself a chance to play well."
A strong final round on Tuesday helped Tillmanns clinch his second top-ten finish of the spring.
The scene for K-State will shift back to Big 12 country this week, as the Wildcats head to Texas for the George Hannon Invitational at the UT Golf Club in Austin.
The season will culminate with a unique opportunity to play in a Big 12 Championship on home turf, as the 'Cats will compete just down the road at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson.
Before K-State can get there, the team is focused on a few more finishes like what the Wildcats delivered on the Georgia coast.
"We've improved quite a bit as the spring has gone along," Robbins said. "We're a very young team and I think it was really good for us to get in contention. They got to feel the heat a little bit. It was a huge positive for us to have that experience."
Before K-State Men's Golf carded their best performance of the season last week, head coach Grant Robbins knew he had to make a call.
"I talked quite a bit with Robert Streb before the event," Robbins said. "He's won twice there, and he gave us some pretty good advice on three or four holes that were kind of tricky. That carries a lot of weight when you're trying to get your guys to play a little more conservatively."
A former All-American at K-State, Streb has been on the PGA Tour since 2013 with a pair of victories at the Sea Island Golf Club in Georgia, where the Wildcats competed last week in the Spartan Collegiate.
His advice was to take a cautious approach on a few holes where it might have been tempting for the Wildcats to get aggressive instead of laying up. Basically, trust your wedge game.
Getting some last-minute tips from an eight-year PGA Tour veteran was a luxury for K-State, but the business of battling to a fourth-place finish over Big Ten foes like Ohio State, Northwestern and Indiana fell to five of the top golfers on the Wildcats.
They didn't disappoint.
Cats jump two spots on Tuesday to finish fourth at Spartan Collegiate ⛳️😼
— K-State Men's Golf (@KStateMGolf) March 9, 2021
🗞 https://t.co/nMQ122eU68
📊 https://t.co/xDowgGyyFt pic.twitter.com/7Fal4pqPxD
Every member of K-State improved on their opening round total, with Tim Tillmanns once again the top finisher with a sparkling 68 on Tuesday to help secure a top-five finish for the 'Cats in a field of 16 teams.
"I thought we had a really good game plan," Robbins said. "As the tournament went on, I think they just got more comfortable, made consistent contact off those difficult lies that you're going to get on Bermuda grass that's dormant. It's really hard to replicate that when you're preparing in the Midwest."
Kansas State began the 2021 season with tournaments exclusively in the Southeast, on courses that present different conditions and quirks from what the Wildcats practice on at Colbert Hills.
Specifically, adjusting to the Bermuda grass courses that are the norm throughout the region has been a challenge. The grass is still dormant in the early spring months in Georgia, where the Wildcats have played two of their first three tournament this season.
The conditions haven't stopped K-State from carding top-half finishes at both team events, including fourth place at last week's Spartan Collegiate on St. Simons Island in Georgia.
"I particularly like this tournament because it's in the Southeast, but it's hosted by Michigan State and the field is predominantly Big Ten schools," Robbins said. "So, there are schools that have similar circumstances as us with the weather and preparation."
After spending the first half of the season down South, navigating the Atlantic breezes and regional conditions at Sea Island felt a bit more manageable for the Wildcats.
Younger players like freshman Luke O'Neill stepped into the spotlight for K-State.
"He's probably the highest-ranked player that we have in terms of the world amateur rankings. He's had tons of success on the international level before he came here, so he's not afraid of the big stage," Robbins said. "Just coming over from Ireland, he's starting to get more comfortable."
As O'Neill continues to adjust to college life in America, his head coach expects the Irish national team member to keep improving on the course. A career-best 12th-place finish among the field of 80 at the Spartan Collegiate could just be the beginning for the talented freshman.
Robbins called O'Neill a hard worker, a competitor and someone who's going to be a phenomenal golfer for the Wildcats in the future.
For the second time this season, Tillmanns posted the top score of the weekend for K-State, an accomplishment that was even more impressive after the sophomore missed the team's last tournament in Alabama due to illness.
His return to competition was a reminder that the German is still one of the most consistent and clinical golfers on the Wildcats.
"He plays without any emotion, he's just very steady," Robbins said. "Good ball-striker, he keeps the ball in play and hits a lot of greens. Always gives himself a chance to play well."
A strong final round on Tuesday helped Tillmanns clinch his second top-ten finish of the spring.
The scene for K-State will shift back to Big 12 country this week, as the Wildcats head to Texas for the George Hannon Invitational at the UT Golf Club in Austin.
The season will culminate with a unique opportunity to play in a Big 12 Championship on home turf, as the 'Cats will compete just down the road at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson.
Before K-State can get there, the team is focused on a few more finishes like what the Wildcats delivered on the Georgia coast.
"We've improved quite a bit as the spring has gone along," Robbins said. "We're a very young team and I think it was really good for us to get in contention. They got to feel the heat a little bit. It was a huge positive for us to have that experience."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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