SE: Hopkins Makes History & K-State Men’s Golf Stays Hot on Home Stretch
Apr 09, 2021 | Men's Golf, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
He knew after about eight holes that this could be a special day on the golf course.
His putter was working and everything else was sharp. Then, Will Hopkins holed out, which is one of those moments in golf when an impressive round on the scorecard becomes impressive to everybody watching.
"The more you put yourself in that position, the more you get used to it and feel more comfortable," Hopkins said. "Sometimes when guys get on a good run, they start thinking about it too much, so you see them get defensive and start backpedaling."
It helps then, that the K-State junior didn't even know he had fired the third-lowest round in school history until he signed his scorecard at the Missouri Tiger Invitational this week.
Hopkins' opening-round 64 was the lowest from a Wildcat since Mitchell Gregson all the way back in 2008. It helped spark K-State to second place in Missouri, as the Wildcats grabbed another top-five finish on the 2021 season.
"Back in familiar territory," head coach Grant Robbins said. "Last two tournaments we played were at Texas and Mississippi State. Their greens really gave us trouble…Going into Missouri, the golf course is very similar to what we play on here. I think that gave them a sense of comfort and seeing a few putts fall gave them confidence. They played well."
The Wildcats are into the home stretch of the spring season, with one more tournament in Nebraska before K-State returns home for the Big 12 Championship at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson.
Sitting at No. 72 in the latest Golfstat Rankings, the 'Cats are trending in the right direction to contend for an NCAA Tournament berth and counting on a strong finish to the regular season.
A few more performances like Missouri would certainly get the job done.
The Wildcats landed three players in the top 10, with Hopkins leading a trio that included sophomore Riccardo Leo and graduate student Jacob Eklund. That's the best finish for K-State since 2019.
Hopkins turned in his strongest round of the season, after a year when he's been "knocking on the door."
"I started off really well with the putter and that set the tone. When you're putting well, it just opens the floodgates for everything else," Hopkins said. "Coach Robbins has tried to iron in the fact that when you get on a good run like that, just stay in the moment and stick with the process. Don't think about what can happen. Just focus on one shot at a time."
That mindset has been important as the Wildcats make the switch from playing in the Southeast, as the spring weather in April allows K-State to compete back in the Midwest.
The challenge of beginning the season on courses with different grass and a layout unique to the region has been another hurdle for Hopkins and his team.
As an international student-athlete, he learned the game growing up around Lincolnshire in England, on courses that are short off the tee, with consistent turf and wide fairways.
Hopkins is no stranger to North American courses in his third season at K-State, but making the transition each season as the Wildcats chase clear skies and warm temperatures in the Southeast is always a wrinkle. It didn't stop Hopkins from showcasing his potential early in the 2021 season.
"There have been a couples time this spring when he got it under par and couldn't quite finish the round off," Robbins said. "I was really happy to see when he got it going in that first round. Most importantly, he backed it up later on. It's pretty difficult when you have a career-low round like that to turn around and do it again."
Hopkins fired a second-round 69 in the afternoon to help keep the Wildcats in contention going into the final day. Even though the team's final round lead would slip away, Robbins said that feeling the heat in a tournament setting was important before postseason play.
With the scene shifting to Nebraska and Kansas over the next two weeks, Hopkins is confident that he's ready for the challenges that come with golfing back in the heartland.
"I've been taught from a young age that when you play in high winds or rain, a lot of people aren't going to enjoy it," he said. "Growing up in England and playing in Kansas, you get a lot of bad weather, but you've got to face it. Stay patient and put a round together."
As an upperclassman playing one of the most individualized sports at K-State, Hopkins can't do much to influence his teammates once match day arrives.
But he's confident that the talent will keep showing up - on the scorecards and for anyone who happens to catch the Wildcats on the golf course.
"We had a great bunch of guys my freshman year and we did really well, but I think this year there's so much talent among the guys we've got," Hopkins said. "We need to get more comfortable in these situations in the postseason. Just relax and let your golf do the talking."
He knew after about eight holes that this could be a special day on the golf course.
His putter was working and everything else was sharp. Then, Will Hopkins holed out, which is one of those moments in golf when an impressive round on the scorecard becomes impressive to everybody watching.
"The more you put yourself in that position, the more you get used to it and feel more comfortable," Hopkins said. "Sometimes when guys get on a good run, they start thinking about it too much, so you see them get defensive and start backpedaling."
It helps then, that the K-State junior didn't even know he had fired the third-lowest round in school history until he signed his scorecard at the Missouri Tiger Invitational this week.
Hopkins' opening-round 64 was the lowest from a Wildcat since Mitchell Gregson all the way back in 2008. It helped spark K-State to second place in Missouri, as the Wildcats grabbed another top-five finish on the 2021 season.
K-State Will Hopkins carded a first round 6️⃣4️⃣ at today's Missouri Tiger Invitational which tied for the third lowest in school history
— K-State Men's Golf (@KStateMGolf) April 5, 2021
📊 https://t.co/n9ZmcnuVIE#KStateMGolf pic.twitter.com/GU5OKLNcts
"Back in familiar territory," head coach Grant Robbins said. "Last two tournaments we played were at Texas and Mississippi State. Their greens really gave us trouble…Going into Missouri, the golf course is very similar to what we play on here. I think that gave them a sense of comfort and seeing a few putts fall gave them confidence. They played well."
The Wildcats are into the home stretch of the spring season, with one more tournament in Nebraska before K-State returns home for the Big 12 Championship at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson.
Sitting at No. 72 in the latest Golfstat Rankings, the 'Cats are trending in the right direction to contend for an NCAA Tournament berth and counting on a strong finish to the regular season.
A few more performances like Missouri would certainly get the job done.
The Wildcats landed three players in the top 10, with Hopkins leading a trio that included sophomore Riccardo Leo and graduate student Jacob Eklund. That's the best finish for K-State since 2019.
Hopkins turned in his strongest round of the season, after a year when he's been "knocking on the door."
"I started off really well with the putter and that set the tone. When you're putting well, it just opens the floodgates for everything else," Hopkins said. "Coach Robbins has tried to iron in the fact that when you get on a good run like that, just stay in the moment and stick with the process. Don't think about what can happen. Just focus on one shot at a time."
That mindset has been important as the Wildcats make the switch from playing in the Southeast, as the spring weather in April allows K-State to compete back in the Midwest.
The challenge of beginning the season on courses with different grass and a layout unique to the region has been another hurdle for Hopkins and his team.
As an international student-athlete, he learned the game growing up around Lincolnshire in England, on courses that are short off the tee, with consistent turf and wide fairways.
Hopkins is no stranger to North American courses in his third season at K-State, but making the transition each season as the Wildcats chase clear skies and warm temperatures in the Southeast is always a wrinkle. It didn't stop Hopkins from showcasing his potential early in the 2021 season.
"There have been a couples time this spring when he got it under par and couldn't quite finish the round off," Robbins said. "I was really happy to see when he got it going in that first round. Most importantly, he backed it up later on. It's pretty difficult when you have a career-low round like that to turn around and do it again."
Hopkins fired a second-round 69 in the afternoon to help keep the Wildcats in contention going into the final day. Even though the team's final round lead would slip away, Robbins said that feeling the heat in a tournament setting was important before postseason play.
With three players in the top 10, the Wildcats post their best finish since 2019 😼⛳️#KStateMGolf
— K-State Men's Golf (@KStateMGolf) April 6, 2021
🗞 https://t.co/JWDAT0e856
📊 https://t.co/n9ZmcnuVIE pic.twitter.com/lL2KrXfrz0
With the scene shifting to Nebraska and Kansas over the next two weeks, Hopkins is confident that he's ready for the challenges that come with golfing back in the heartland.
"I've been taught from a young age that when you play in high winds or rain, a lot of people aren't going to enjoy it," he said. "Growing up in England and playing in Kansas, you get a lot of bad weather, but you've got to face it. Stay patient and put a round together."
As an upperclassman playing one of the most individualized sports at K-State, Hopkins can't do much to influence his teammates once match day arrives.
But he's confident that the talent will keep showing up - on the scorecards and for anyone who happens to catch the Wildcats on the golf course.
"We had a great bunch of guys my freshman year and we did really well, but I think this year there's so much talent among the guys we've got," Hopkins said. "We need to get more comfortable in these situations in the postseason. Just relax and let your golf do the talking."
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