Monday, April 5
Columbia, Mo.
Kansas State University
at
MU Tiger Invitational
K-State Claims Second at Missouri Tiger Invitational
Apr 06, 2021 | Men's Golf
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Three Wildcats finished in the top 10 as the Kansas State men's golf team notched its best finish in two years following Tuesday's final round of the Missouri Tiger Invitational held at the par-72, 7,221-yard Club at Old Hawthorne.
The Wildcats, who came into the day in first place, secured a season-best second place finish after shooting even-par 288 on the day. K-State finished with a 54-hole score of 18-under par 846. It was the Wildcats best finish since March 2019 when K-State won the Mission Inn Spring Spectacular.
"I'm really proud of how the guys competed this week," head coach Grant Robbins said. "Even though we came up short, there's a lot we can build on. This group hasn't been in this position before, and sometimes you have to go through some setbacks in order to grow. We are looking to take positives and finish out the season strong."
Junior Will Hopkins tallied the first top-five finish of his career, as the Lincolnshire, England product tied for third place at 9-under par 207. Sophomore Riccardo Leo and graduate student Jacob Eklund both carded a 5-under par 211 to tie for sixth. Leo tied for the best final round of the day, shooting 5-under par 67 to climb up 12 spots on the leaderboard and capture the best finish of his young career. It was also Eklund's best finish of the season, and his best finish since finishing second at the Colleton River Collegiate last March.
Sophomores Tim Tillmanns and Ryan Bender tied for 29th at 4-over par 220, while redshirt freshman Ethan Miller, who was competing as an individual, carded a 14-over par 230 to tie for 63rd in his Wildcat debut.
Tournament host Missouri came back to win the Missouri Tiger Invitational, tallying a 25-under par 839, seven strokes ahead of K-State. The Tigers' Ross Steelman won the individual crown at 16-under par 200, four strokes ahead of the field.
The Wildcats return to action April 17-18, where they will trek north about 135 miles to face off in the Husker Invitational at the Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The Wildcats, who came into the day in first place, secured a season-best second place finish after shooting even-par 288 on the day. K-State finished with a 54-hole score of 18-under par 846. It was the Wildcats best finish since March 2019 when K-State won the Mission Inn Spring Spectacular.
"I'm really proud of how the guys competed this week," head coach Grant Robbins said. "Even though we came up short, there's a lot we can build on. This group hasn't been in this position before, and sometimes you have to go through some setbacks in order to grow. We are looking to take positives and finish out the season strong."
Junior Will Hopkins tallied the first top-five finish of his career, as the Lincolnshire, England product tied for third place at 9-under par 207. Sophomore Riccardo Leo and graduate student Jacob Eklund both carded a 5-under par 211 to tie for sixth. Leo tied for the best final round of the day, shooting 5-under par 67 to climb up 12 spots on the leaderboard and capture the best finish of his young career. It was also Eklund's best finish of the season, and his best finish since finishing second at the Colleton River Collegiate last March.
Sophomores Tim Tillmanns and Ryan Bender tied for 29th at 4-over par 220, while redshirt freshman Ethan Miller, who was competing as an individual, carded a 14-over par 230 to tie for 63rd in his Wildcat debut.
Tournament host Missouri came back to win the Missouri Tiger Invitational, tallying a 25-under par 839, seven strokes ahead of K-State. The Tigers' Ross Steelman won the individual crown at 16-under par 200, four strokes ahead of the field.
The Wildcats return to action April 17-18, where they will trek north about 135 miles to face off in the Husker Invitational at the Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Players Mentioned
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