Blunt ‘Super Excited With What Lies Ahead’
Jul 29, 2022 | Men's Golf, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Grayson Blunt loves playing at Colbert Hills. He'll get a lot more opportunities to play the course this coming year.
Blunt, a graduate transfer from Sam Houston State and Round of 16 participant in the 2021 U.S. Amateur, brings a wealth of experience to a Wildcats' squad that comes off its first NCAA Regional berth in more than a decade.
He's the perfect piece for a team that, under head coach Grant Robbins, carries momentum into 2022-23.
"There's a lot of excitement," Robbins said. "Grayson is someone who comes with a lot of experience. He knows what it takes to win. He'll be a great addition for us."
Blunt recorded a 73.14 stroke average, claimed three top-10 finishes, and helped Sam Houston State to its first ever NCAA Championship appearance last year. His best performance came at Colbert Hills Golf Course at the Wildcat Invitational where he shot an even-par 216 on his way to a sixth-place finish.
"I love Colbert Hills," Blunt said. "It really fits my eye. I just kind of made some bad decisions when I played it and that kept me from winning the event. But I love the course, the design, and the wind. I love it."
K-State was paired with Sam Houston State in the Wildcat Invitational, so Robbins became familiar with Blunt's game and came away impressed. That's why when Blunt's name ran across the transfer list in late April, Robbins shot him an email and was eager to talk.
Blunt, who was considering a transfer to three different programs, was all ears. He took an official visit to K-State on May 19 and committed shortly after. K-State officially announced his addition on June 2.
"K-State is very strong. I've been talking to a lot of the guys and I'm super excited with what lies ahead."
Blunt graduates from Sam Houston State on Wednesday in communication studies with a minor in business. He plans to report to K-State on Friday.
He'll arrive with big goals for the Wildcats.
"I haven't had a college win, so I want a college win before I leave college," he said. "I want to get top 500 or top 300 World Golf ranking. I went over team goals with the coaches, and I think we can win three times as a team. I think that'd be huge, and I think it's achievable."
Blunt completed a signing class that included early enrollee Laurenz Schiergen, who just completed an outstanding spring season, and incoming freshman Ben Stoller, a talented player out of Owasso, Oklahoma.
Robbins is impressed with his signing class and what Blunt adds to the team.
"We got a close-up look at him last year at our tournament," Robbins said. "He played extremely well at Colbert Hills. He's very long off the tees, and he's an excellent ball striker, and he's very consistent. Then it's just a matter of if he can get hot with the putter, he can shoot a lot of low scores."
Blunt maintains high expectations for himself.
"I'm able to break down a golf course really well," he said, "but my strength is ball striking. I can strike it with the best of them. Off the tee, I'm pretty long, so I don't really have to use the driver all that often, but when I do, I'm fairly good off the tee. My short game always has room to improve, but when it's on, it's on, and it's good."
Blunt, a native of Kingwood, Texas, competed in 28 career tournaments, accumulating a stroke average of 74.03 at Sam Houston State.
"I've been growing," he said. "I've been just growing in the game and learning my own game and situational awareness, maturing within the game, and not giving away strokes, and doing the right thing when it needs to be done. Maybe it's not the thing you want to do but the thing you need to do. I was taught at Sam Houston to play like a 30-year-old who has to bring home a check every week, so I learned not to give away shots, to play very smart, make birdies when I can and make easy pars."
Blunt saw his hard work pay dividends when he advanced to the final 16 of the 2021 U.S. Amateur.
"First, just making it to match play but a huge moment for me," he said. "I won my qualifier, and it was a surreal experience the whole time. I got there and continued some really good play into the medal play and ended up being the 38th seed and beat some big names. It was just a surreal experience."
It's something that he couldn't have envisioned long ago.
Blunt began golfing at 4 years old when his grandfather took him to the range every other weekend. However, his first love was baseball. Blunt played on elite travel baseball teams that took him across different states. When he was 13, he decided that he wanted to focus on golf. He took third place at his first local junior tournament in Kingwood, and then won the event in back-to-back years. He was hooked.
"I'd say it was a good switch," Blunt said, chuckling. "At that point, I was full-on golf. I ate, slept, and breathed golf. I still do."
And now he carries grand aspirations.
"Definitely I want to play professional golf," he said. "That's definitely on the radar. Where I golf is the question, whether it's here or overseas. I'm willing to go anywhere."
For now, he's focused on K-State, his new teammates, and working every day to help get the Wildcats back to the NCAA Championships.
"We're going to be a middle-aged squad with some underclassmen and middle-classmen and we have a lot of talent," he said. "Part of the reason I was brought on was to bring in some talent and some experience to know how to get there and what it takes to get there and not to be afraid of a big situation.
"With the talent that's on this team, if everything falls into place, I don't see why we can't make a run at it."
Grayson Blunt loves playing at Colbert Hills. He'll get a lot more opportunities to play the course this coming year.
Blunt, a graduate transfer from Sam Houston State and Round of 16 participant in the 2021 U.S. Amateur, brings a wealth of experience to a Wildcats' squad that comes off its first NCAA Regional berth in more than a decade.
He's the perfect piece for a team that, under head coach Grant Robbins, carries momentum into 2022-23.
"There's a lot of excitement," Robbins said. "Grayson is someone who comes with a lot of experience. He knows what it takes to win. He'll be a great addition for us."
Blunt recorded a 73.14 stroke average, claimed three top-10 finishes, and helped Sam Houston State to its first ever NCAA Championship appearance last year. His best performance came at Colbert Hills Golf Course at the Wildcat Invitational where he shot an even-par 216 on his way to a sixth-place finish.
Grayson Blunt (left) helped Sam Houston State win the 2021 K-State Wildcat Invitational at Colbert Hills
"I love Colbert Hills," Blunt said. "It really fits my eye. I just kind of made some bad decisions when I played it and that kept me from winning the event. But I love the course, the design, and the wind. I love it."
K-State was paired with Sam Houston State in the Wildcat Invitational, so Robbins became familiar with Blunt's game and came away impressed. That's why when Blunt's name ran across the transfer list in late April, Robbins shot him an email and was eager to talk.
Blunt, who was considering a transfer to three different programs, was all ears. He took an official visit to K-State on May 19 and committed shortly after. K-State officially announced his addition on June 2.
"I'm beyond excited," Blunt said. "I'm excited to move to Manhattan and get the ball rolling. I just want to get up there and get into a routine and start improving myself with their facilities.Welcome to the Family, Grayson! #KStateMGOLF
— K-State Men's Golf (@KStateMGolf) June 2, 2022
🗞 https://t.co/OS61WPEzur pic.twitter.com/TY10Ec9lVE
"K-State is very strong. I've been talking to a lot of the guys and I'm super excited with what lies ahead."
Blunt graduates from Sam Houston State on Wednesday in communication studies with a minor in business. He plans to report to K-State on Friday.
He'll arrive with big goals for the Wildcats.
"I haven't had a college win, so I want a college win before I leave college," he said. "I want to get top 500 or top 300 World Golf ranking. I went over team goals with the coaches, and I think we can win three times as a team. I think that'd be huge, and I think it's achievable."
Blunt completed a signing class that included early enrollee Laurenz Schiergen, who just completed an outstanding spring season, and incoming freshman Ben Stoller, a talented player out of Owasso, Oklahoma.
Robbins is impressed with his signing class and what Blunt adds to the team.
"We got a close-up look at him last year at our tournament," Robbins said. "He played extremely well at Colbert Hills. He's very long off the tees, and he's an excellent ball striker, and he's very consistent. Then it's just a matter of if he can get hot with the putter, he can shoot a lot of low scores."
Blunt maintains high expectations for himself.
"I'm able to break down a golf course really well," he said, "but my strength is ball striking. I can strike it with the best of them. Off the tee, I'm pretty long, so I don't really have to use the driver all that often, but when I do, I'm fairly good off the tee. My short game always has room to improve, but when it's on, it's on, and it's good."
Blunt, a native of Kingwood, Texas, competed in 28 career tournaments, accumulating a stroke average of 74.03 at Sam Houston State.
"I've been growing," he said. "I've been just growing in the game and learning my own game and situational awareness, maturing within the game, and not giving away strokes, and doing the right thing when it needs to be done. Maybe it's not the thing you want to do but the thing you need to do. I was taught at Sam Houston to play like a 30-year-old who has to bring home a check every week, so I learned not to give away shots, to play very smart, make birdies when I can and make easy pars."
Blunt saw his hard work pay dividends when he advanced to the final 16 of the 2021 U.S. Amateur.
"First, just making it to match play but a huge moment for me," he said. "I won my qualifier, and it was a surreal experience the whole time. I got there and continued some really good play into the medal play and ended up being the 38th seed and beat some big names. It was just a surreal experience."
It's something that he couldn't have envisioned long ago.
Blunt began golfing at 4 years old when his grandfather took him to the range every other weekend. However, his first love was baseball. Blunt played on elite travel baseball teams that took him across different states. When he was 13, he decided that he wanted to focus on golf. He took third place at his first local junior tournament in Kingwood, and then won the event in back-to-back years. He was hooked.
"I'd say it was a good switch," Blunt said, chuckling. "At that point, I was full-on golf. I ate, slept, and breathed golf. I still do."
And now he carries grand aspirations.
"Definitely I want to play professional golf," he said. "That's definitely on the radar. Where I golf is the question, whether it's here or overseas. I'm willing to go anywhere."
For now, he's focused on K-State, his new teammates, and working every day to help get the Wildcats back to the NCAA Championships.
"We're going to be a middle-aged squad with some underclassmen and middle-classmen and we have a lot of talent," he said. "Part of the reason I was brought on was to bring in some talent and some experience to know how to get there and what it takes to get there and not to be afraid of a big situation.
"With the talent that's on this team, if everything falls into place, I don't see why we can't make a run at it."
Players Mentioned
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