K-State Rewarded for Successful Season with Berth into NCAA Regional
May 04, 2022 | Men's Golf
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Following one of the best seasons in school history, the Kansas State men's golf team was selected to participate in the 2022 NCAA Norman Regional as the postseason field was announced Wednesday afternoon on Golf Channel.
The Wildcats, who are the No. 11 seed in the regional, will compete May 16-18 at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club at the University of Oklahoma.
"We're excited to get going," said head coach Grant Robbins, who's in his eighth year of leading the program. "It's been a long time coming for this program, and this is where we expect to be."
This is K-State's first team regional appearance since 2009 and the eighth selection in school history.
There are 13 teams in the regional with the top five teams advancing to the 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Golf National Championship in Scottsdale, Arizona at the Grayhawk Golf Club, May 27-June 1.
Play in Norman will consist of three rounds with 18 holes being completed each day.
The Wildcats are joined by No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Auburn, No. 4 South Carolina, No. 5 Ole Miss, No. 6 Louisville, No. 7 Missouri, No. 8 San Diego State, No. 9 Utah, No. 10 Kent State, No. 12 UT Martin and No. 13 Rider.
K-State is coming off a regular season that included six top-five finishes, which is tied for the fourth most in a single season in school history. Through 10 stroke-play events, the Cats are on pace for the second-lowest stroke average in school history at 287.67.
For senior Will Hopkins, this selection has been years in the making.
"It's been a long road," Hopkins said. "Thinking through all of the changes we've been through in terms of personnel, in terms of culture, it's great to finally achieve this goal. I didn't want to leave my time here and not make it to regionals, so I'm just so delighted.
"It's not a surprise to us because it's a standard we knew we could reach, and this is just a stepping stone," Hopkins said. "We're glad we've achieved this spot, but there's still more to come."
Like Hopkins, Tim Tillmanns will provide the Wildcats with necessary experience when competing in this difficult regional. Tillmanns already has a postseason appearance under his belt as he competed as an individual in the NCAA Stillwater Regional a year ago, becoming the 14th ever Wildcat to achieve that feat.
This K-State team is also loaded with young talent, including a trio of freshmen in Nicklaus Mason, Cooper Schultz and Laurenz Schiergen.
Schiergen, who has appeared in six events since joining the Wildcats at semester, leads the team in stroke average at 72.33. That mark is on pace for ninth best in school history.
There is also Luke O'Neill, a sophomore, who became the first Wildcat since 2019 to win an individual championship when he tied for first place at the Colleton River Collegiate back in early March.
Kansas State will take the work it has put in throughout the entire season and head into Norman with an expectation of winning.
"Our job is not done yet," Robbins said. "We're ready to go to Norman and play well and advance and compete for a national championship. That's what we're here for."
The Wildcats, who are the No. 11 seed in the regional, will compete May 16-18 at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club at the University of Oklahoma.
"We're excited to get going," said head coach Grant Robbins, who's in his eighth year of leading the program. "It's been a long time coming for this program, and this is where we expect to be."
This is K-State's first team regional appearance since 2009 and the eighth selection in school history.
There are 13 teams in the regional with the top five teams advancing to the 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Golf National Championship in Scottsdale, Arizona at the Grayhawk Golf Club, May 27-June 1.
Play in Norman will consist of three rounds with 18 holes being completed each day.
The Wildcats are joined by No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Auburn, No. 4 South Carolina, No. 5 Ole Miss, No. 6 Louisville, No. 7 Missouri, No. 8 San Diego State, No. 9 Utah, No. 10 Kent State, No. 12 UT Martin and No. 13 Rider.
K-State is coming off a regular season that included six top-five finishes, which is tied for the fourth most in a single season in school history. Through 10 stroke-play events, the Cats are on pace for the second-lowest stroke average in school history at 287.67.
For senior Will Hopkins, this selection has been years in the making.
"It's been a long road," Hopkins said. "Thinking through all of the changes we've been through in terms of personnel, in terms of culture, it's great to finally achieve this goal. I didn't want to leave my time here and not make it to regionals, so I'm just so delighted.
"It's not a surprise to us because it's a standard we knew we could reach, and this is just a stepping stone," Hopkins said. "We're glad we've achieved this spot, but there's still more to come."
Like Hopkins, Tim Tillmanns will provide the Wildcats with necessary experience when competing in this difficult regional. Tillmanns already has a postseason appearance under his belt as he competed as an individual in the NCAA Stillwater Regional a year ago, becoming the 14th ever Wildcat to achieve that feat.
This K-State team is also loaded with young talent, including a trio of freshmen in Nicklaus Mason, Cooper Schultz and Laurenz Schiergen.
Schiergen, who has appeared in six events since joining the Wildcats at semester, leads the team in stroke average at 72.33. That mark is on pace for ninth best in school history.
There is also Luke O'Neill, a sophomore, who became the first Wildcat since 2019 to win an individual championship when he tied for first place at the Colleton River Collegiate back in early March.
Kansas State will take the work it has put in throughout the entire season and head into Norman with an expectation of winning.
"Our job is not done yet," Robbins said. "We're ready to go to Norman and play well and advance and compete for a national championship. That's what we're here for."
Players Mentioned
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