Kansas State University
Wildcat Invitational
K-State Opens Season by Hosting Wildcat Invitational
Sep 10, 2021 | Men's Golf
MANHATTAN, Kan. – It's been 2,900 days since the Kansas State men's golf team has hosted a tournament at the prestigious Colbert Hills Golf Club, but that will be the venue for the Wildcats to begin their 2021-22 season as they prepare to compete in the Wildcat Invitational on Monday and Tuesday in Manhattan.
Excitement is mounting for a K-State team that is looking to build off the positives from a year ago. Last season saw the Cats capture three top-five finishes, including a victory at the Git-R-Done Husker invitational. Luckily for head coach Grant Robbins, the top four golfers (based on stroke average) from the 2020-21 season - Will Hopkins, Tim Tillmans, Ricardo Leo and Luke O'Neil - all return for another go-around.
Robbins, now entering his eighth season leading the Wildcats, is ready to put the team on display at the rare home tournament.
"It's always exciting to start a new season, and it's especially exciting to be able to start the season at home." Robbins said. "It's been a long time since we have had a home event, and we look forward to showcasing Colbert Hills and hope to provide an exceptional experience to all the players and coaches."
Kansas State will be led this season by Hopkins and Tillmanns. Combined, the duo had a 72.66 stroke average and seven top-10 finishes in 2020-21.
Tillmanns is coming off a sophomore season where he became the 14th Wildcat ever to earn an individual postseason bid, competing at the NCAA Stillwater Regional. Now an upperclassman, he will be expected to carry a heavy leadership role.
Hopkins will look to cap off his illustrious career with a strong senior campaign. The Lincolnshire, England product's junior season was highlighted by one of the best performances in school history when he took first at the Missouri Invitational. Hopkins carded a 64 in the first round, which was good for third in K-State's all-time record book.
Kansas State's five-man scoring lineup for the Wildcat Invitational features Hopkins and TIllmanns along with true freshman Nicklaus Mason, sophomore Luke O'Neill and sophomore Ethan Miller.
Cooper Schultz, Riccardo Leo, and Jack Baker will all compete as individuals.
Schultz is coming off a spectacular summer that saw him win the Kansas Amateur and finish 13th during the stroke play portion of the US Amateur. He is a candidate for a breakout season after redshirting his first year at K-State.
There is no doubt that expectations will be high for K-State to perform well at the lone home tournament of the season, but Robbins believes his team is prepared for the challenge.
"I know our team is ready to play. There is definitely a comfort level when playing at home. However, there is also a different kind of pressure involved," Robbins said.
There are 13 teams and 75 players that will compete on the par-72, 7,525-yard course founded by K-State golf legend Jim Colbert. The field includes Bradley, Creighton, Drake, Kansas City, Missouri State, North Dakota State, Omaha, Oral Roberts, Sam Houston State, South Dakota, Southern Illinois and Wichita State.
"There are some good teams here, so we are going to need to put together three solid rounds of golf and hopefully have a chance at the end," Robbins said. "The key for us is to make sure we are prepared, not take anything for granted and just go out and compete to the best of our ability."
A shotgun start to the first and second rounds on Monday will begin at 8 a.m., on Monday with the Wildcats starting on holes 1 through 3. The final round will take place on Monday with tee times beginning at 8 a.m.
The event is free for fans to attend, but live scoring can also be found at www.golfstat.com throughout the event.
Players Mentioned
