SE: Big in Europe – K-State Men’s Golf Staying Busy Over Summer
Jul 19, 2021 | Men's Golf, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
It starts with one Powercat.
Could be on a polo or a ballcap. As long as it's on the head of a K-State golfer somewhere in Europe, that's enough for K-State Men's Golf head coach Grant Robbins to start recruiting.
"When they can see one of those guys come over here and have some success, it starts to open the door," he said.
The summer for K-State Men's Golf is an offseason in name only. That means focusing on amateur tournaments throughout Kansas and Europe, where the Wildcats have stepped up their recruiting efforts in recent years.
It's also the continent where nearly half of the team's current roster will spend the summer, competing in tournaments and looking to improve ahead of the 2021-22 season.
With conditions around the world perfect for playing 18 holes, even with COVID-19 still a factor, Robbins can focus on managing both the present and the future of K-State Men's Golf.
Jeremy Gandon was the first international golfer to join the Wildcats, arriving at the program in 2015 from Charpey in southeastern France.
"He signed here sight unseen," Robbins said. "But I had coached a couple of French players when I was at Memphis, and those players recommended me to him. He committed without visiting, so that was all based on word of mouth."
It helps when your first international golfer is also one of your best, as Gandon won a share of the Big 12 Championship in 2018 as an individual.
He became the first Wildcat to medal at the conference tournament since 1951 and made it clear that European players could come to Manhattan and find success on the golf course.
By the time he graduated in 2019, Gandon was one of three Europeans on the roster. When the Wildcats ended the 2021 season in May, that number was already up to five.
It's been a strategy for success at K-State in the highly competitive Big 12, but it means the summer is full of WhatsApp conversations and scoreboard watching across the Atlantic.
And it starts before the Wildcats break for the summer.
"We sit down with them in the spring and my assistant Rob [Murray] compiles a list of tournaments that might be a good fit for our guys," Robbins said. "That's the expectation for them going into the offseason: stay competitive. They're all doing their thing right now."
Last month, sophomore Luke O'Neill advanced to the match play round of the British Amateur Championship at Nairn Golf Club in Scotland.
Tim Tillmanns and Riccardo Leo were busy on the continent, as the K-State juniors competed at the European Amateur Championship in France.
Tillmanns, who represented the Wildcats at the NCAA Regional in Stillwater this season, finished in 11th after carding 9-under par against some of the best young golfers in Europe.
Robbins said the goal for every Wildcat is to compete in about six tournaments away from K-State.
That's how someone like Cooper Schultz qualified for the 121st US Amateur Championship at Oakmont Country Club in Verona, Pennsylvania later this summer.
Back home, the summer also allows Robbins to keep an eye on incoming talent like Nicklaus Mason, who is competing at the U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Tournament at Pinehurst in North Carolina this week.
The Shawnee native was the Kansas High School Sports Awards Male Golfer of the Year in 2021 and gives the Wildcats another talented recruit from the Sunflower State.
"He was one of our primary targets in the 2021 class. Easily the best player in the state," Robbins said. "We're pretty excited for him to get here and he's had a great summer. He's playing really well."
Robbins said that K-State, like every Big 12 school, is "playing catch up" on the recruiting trail.
With courses open throughout the Midwest, he and Murray have been traveling every week to scout the next generation of Wildcats.
K-State's head coach is hoping that a European trip might be in the cards later this summer - Germany and England are all annual stops. As a British native, Murray has family in the country and a personal connection to a nation full of talented young golfers.
But after a year grounded in Kansas and COVID-19 still looming, the coaching staff must be even more precise in their international recruiting.
"Before I would just go over and take a shot on watching a ton of golf," Robbins said. "Now it's a little more focused because we have kids that Rob has been evaluating. It's a little more strategic in that regard, but I think it's been good for us."
With Wildcats from England, Germany, Ireland and Italy on the roster, and alumni from even more countries across Europe, Robbins has a legacy of success with European players.
He also has the Big 12, a conference synonymous with some of the biggest names in golf.
"That's the number one selling point: the Big 12. They recognize the players who have come through our conference. I think college golf has proven to be a very good avenue for kids looking to take that next step," Robbins said. "A place like Kansas State is an opportunity to compete against an elite schedule and further develop their game."
Whether it's a recruit or a current player, the expectation for every member of the program is simple: when you get to Manhattan, make sure you're ready to go.
"That's the reason we want them playing tournaments all summer," Robbins said. "When we get back here, maintain that competitive edge and be ready for the season to start."
It starts with one Powercat.
Could be on a polo or a ballcap. As long as it's on the head of a K-State golfer somewhere in Europe, that's enough for K-State Men's Golf head coach Grant Robbins to start recruiting.
"When they can see one of those guys come over here and have some success, it starts to open the door," he said.
The summer for K-State Men's Golf is an offseason in name only. That means focusing on amateur tournaments throughout Kansas and Europe, where the Wildcats have stepped up their recruiting efforts in recent years.
It's also the continent where nearly half of the team's current roster will spend the summer, competing in tournaments and looking to improve ahead of the 2021-22 season.
With conditions around the world perfect for playing 18 holes, even with COVID-19 still a factor, Robbins can focus on managing both the present and the future of K-State Men's Golf.
Jeremy Gandon was the first international golfer to join the Wildcats, arriving at the program in 2015 from Charpey in southeastern France.
"He signed here sight unseen," Robbins said. "But I had coached a couple of French players when I was at Memphis, and those players recommended me to him. He committed without visiting, so that was all based on word of mouth."
It helps when your first international golfer is also one of your best, as Gandon won a share of the Big 12 Championship in 2018 as an individual.
He became the first Wildcat to medal at the conference tournament since 1951 and made it clear that European players could come to Manhattan and find success on the golf course.
By the time he graduated in 2019, Gandon was one of three Europeans on the roster. When the Wildcats ended the 2021 season in May, that number was already up to five.
It's been a strategy for success at K-State in the highly competitive Big 12, but it means the summer is full of WhatsApp conversations and scoreboard watching across the Atlantic.
And it starts before the Wildcats break for the summer.
"We sit down with them in the spring and my assistant Rob [Murray] compiles a list of tournaments that might be a good fit for our guys," Robbins said. "That's the expectation for them going into the offseason: stay competitive. They're all doing their thing right now."
Last month, sophomore Luke O'Neill advanced to the match play round of the British Amateur Championship at Nairn Golf Club in Scotland.
Tim Tillmanns and Riccardo Leo were busy on the continent, as the K-State juniors competed at the European Amateur Championship in France.
🇩🇪 Tillmanns & 🇮🇹 Leo with strong performances at @EGA_golf's 2021 European Amateur Championship.
— K-State Men's Golf (@KStateMGolf) June 26, 2021
📄 https://t.co/XlDAVM1Mha#KStateMGolf pic.twitter.com/za4rH6chG1
Tillmanns, who represented the Wildcats at the NCAA Regional in Stillwater this season, finished in 11th after carding 9-under par against some of the best young golfers in Europe.
Robbins said the goal for every Wildcat is to compete in about six tournaments away from K-State.
That's how someone like Cooper Schultz qualified for the 121st US Amateur Championship at Oakmont Country Club in Verona, Pennsylvania later this summer.
Thanks to a 6-under par 66 in the final round, @CooperSchultz23 has qualified for the 121st @USGA US Amateur#KStateMGOLF x #USAmateur
— K-State Men's Golf (@KStateMGolf) July 13, 2021
🗞 https://t.co/bhcF3Hz7vy
📊 https://t.co/MWVejLBK2B pic.twitter.com/K0xJSplRO2
Back home, the summer also allows Robbins to keep an eye on incoming talent like Nicklaus Mason, who is competing at the U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Tournament at Pinehurst in North Carolina this week.
The Shawnee native was the Kansas High School Sports Awards Male Golfer of the Year in 2021 and gives the Wildcats another talented recruit from the Sunflower State.
"He was one of our primary targets in the 2021 class. Easily the best player in the state," Robbins said. "We're pretty excited for him to get here and he's had a great summer. He's playing really well."
Robbins said that K-State, like every Big 12 school, is "playing catch up" on the recruiting trail.
With courses open throughout the Midwest, he and Murray have been traveling every week to scout the next generation of Wildcats.
K-State's head coach is hoping that a European trip might be in the cards later this summer - Germany and England are all annual stops. As a British native, Murray has family in the country and a personal connection to a nation full of talented young golfers.
But after a year grounded in Kansas and COVID-19 still looming, the coaching staff must be even more precise in their international recruiting.
"Before I would just go over and take a shot on watching a ton of golf," Robbins said. "Now it's a little more focused because we have kids that Rob has been evaluating. It's a little more strategic in that regard, but I think it's been good for us."
With Wildcats from England, Germany, Ireland and Italy on the roster, and alumni from even more countries across Europe, Robbins has a legacy of success with European players.
He also has the Big 12, a conference synonymous with some of the biggest names in golf.
"That's the number one selling point: the Big 12. They recognize the players who have come through our conference. I think college golf has proven to be a very good avenue for kids looking to take that next step," Robbins said. "A place like Kansas State is an opportunity to compete against an elite schedule and further develop their game."
Whether it's a recruit or a current player, the expectation for every member of the program is simple: when you get to Manhattan, make sure you're ready to go.
"That's the reason we want them playing tournaments all summer," Robbins said. "When we get back here, maintain that competitive edge and be ready for the season to start."
Players Mentioned
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