Kansas State University Athletics
Monday, March 7
Bluffton, S.C.
Kansas State University
at
Colleton River Intercollegiate
O’Neill Shares Individual Title, Wildcats Finish Third at Colleton River
Mar 08, 2022 | Men's Golf
BLUFFTON, S.C. – Led by an individual championship from Luke O'Neill, the Kansas State men's golf team battled to a third-place finish at 20-under par 844 following Tuesday's final round of the Colleton River Collegiate held at the par-72, 7,042-yard Colleton River Jack Nicklaus Golf Course.
K-State carded a 10-under par 278 final round - its best 18 holes of the tournament - to close out the day and capture its second straight top-five finish and fourth of the season.
A stellar performance from O'Neill garnered him a share of the individual title at 14-under par 202. The sophomore from Connemara, Ireland saved his best golf for crunch time, carding a 6-under par 66 in the final round to ensure the championship. The third round was the best individual round of his career, and the 202 final score was his all-time lowest 54-hole number.
O'Neill tallied 39 pars, 13 birdies, an eagle and just a single bogey over the 54 holes.
"What a performance for Luke," head coach Grant Robbins said. "To go 54 holes with only one bogey was incredible."
With the first championship of his career, O'Neill becomes the first Wildcat to win an individual title since Jermey Gandon in the 2019 Mission Inn Spring Spectacular, while it was the 41st individual championship in school history.
"His ball striking was really on all week," Robbins said. "He's been working hard, and I'm really happy to see him rewarded for it."
O'Neill shared the title with fellow sophomore Adam Wallin of Ohio State.
As a team, K-State picked up victories against four ranked opponents, No. 26 South Florida, No. 28 Michigan State, No. 36 Ohio State and No. 41 Indiana, finishing 9-strokes off the leader, Georgia Southern, which won the event at 30-under par 834.
"The conditions were perfect and it was set up for a lot of birdies. We just didn't make enough putts to keep up with Georgia Southern," Robbins said. "Hats off to them, they played some phenomenal golf."
The two veterans in the lineup for the Cats, junior Tim Tillmanns and senior Will Hopkins tied for 15th place at 3-under par 213. Hopkins recorded a 2-under par 70 final round, while Tillmanns capped off his performance with an even-par 72 third round. Neither of them are strangers to high finishes, as this was Tillmanns 11th career top-20 finish and the seventh for Hopkins.
Just behind them on the leaderboard was Laurenz Schiergen in a tie for 30th place at 1-over par 217. Schiergen, a freshman in just his second outing for the Wildcats, carded a 1-under par 71 final round, his second-straight round under par after getting off to a tough start in the opening 18.
Nicklaus Mason, another freshman, also put together a 1-under par 71 third round, his best 18 holes of the tournament, to tie for 51st at 7-over par 223.
"I'm really proud of the guys and how they competed this week," Robbins said. "We played well today as a team."
The Wildcats won't have much time to celebrate the performance, as they will be right back in action March 14-15 at the Louisiana Classics in Lafayette, Louisiana.
K-State carded a 10-under par 278 final round - its best 18 holes of the tournament - to close out the day and capture its second straight top-five finish and fourth of the season.
A stellar performance from O'Neill garnered him a share of the individual title at 14-under par 202. The sophomore from Connemara, Ireland saved his best golf for crunch time, carding a 6-under par 66 in the final round to ensure the championship. The third round was the best individual round of his career, and the 202 final score was his all-time lowest 54-hole number.
O'Neill tallied 39 pars, 13 birdies, an eagle and just a single bogey over the 54 holes.
"What a performance for Luke," head coach Grant Robbins said. "To go 54 holes with only one bogey was incredible."
With the first championship of his career, O'Neill becomes the first Wildcat to win an individual title since Jermey Gandon in the 2019 Mission Inn Spring Spectacular, while it was the 41st individual championship in school history.
"His ball striking was really on all week," Robbins said. "He's been working hard, and I'm really happy to see him rewarded for it."
O'Neill shared the title with fellow sophomore Adam Wallin of Ohio State.
As a team, K-State picked up victories against four ranked opponents, No. 26 South Florida, No. 28 Michigan State, No. 36 Ohio State and No. 41 Indiana, finishing 9-strokes off the leader, Georgia Southern, which won the event at 30-under par 834.
"The conditions were perfect and it was set up for a lot of birdies. We just didn't make enough putts to keep up with Georgia Southern," Robbins said. "Hats off to them, they played some phenomenal golf."
The two veterans in the lineup for the Cats, junior Tim Tillmanns and senior Will Hopkins tied for 15th place at 3-under par 213. Hopkins recorded a 2-under par 70 final round, while Tillmanns capped off his performance with an even-par 72 third round. Neither of them are strangers to high finishes, as this was Tillmanns 11th career top-20 finish and the seventh for Hopkins.
Just behind them on the leaderboard was Laurenz Schiergen in a tie for 30th place at 1-over par 217. Schiergen, a freshman in just his second outing for the Wildcats, carded a 1-under par 71 final round, his second-straight round under par after getting off to a tough start in the opening 18.
Nicklaus Mason, another freshman, also put together a 1-under par 71 third round, his best 18 holes of the tournament, to tie for 51st at 7-over par 223.
"I'm really proud of the guys and how they competed this week," Robbins said. "We played well today as a team."
The Wildcats won't have much time to celebrate the performance, as they will be right back in action March 14-15 at the Louisiana Classics in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
K-State MGolf | Highlights - Wildcat Invitational Day 1
Monday, September 08
K-State Men's Golf | 2025 NCAA Selection Show
Thursday, May 01
K-State Women's Golf | Big 12 Women's Golfer of the Year - Carla Bernat
Thursday, May 01
K-State MGolf | NCAA Regional Selection Show
Wednesday, April 30