Sunday, September 17
Manhattan, Kan.
Kansas State University
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Wildcat Invitational
K-State Opens 2023-24 Campaign by Hosting Wildcat Invitational
Sep 15, 2023 | Men's Golf
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Coming off one of the best seasons in school history, the Kansas State men's golf team begins its quest for a third-straight postseason appearance this weekend, as it hosts the Wildcat Invitational at the par-72, 7,525-yard Colbert Hills Golf Course. The event is free and open to the public.
The Wildcats are opening the season with their home event for a third-straight year and looking to duplicate an impressive performance on their home course from a year ago in which K-State won by 27 shots at 27-under par 837, the 11th best 54-hole score in school history.
"We are excited to get the season started this weekend and especially excited to be hosting here at Colbert Hills," said head coach Grant Robbins, the 2023 Big 12 Coach of the Year. "There's obviously an advantage to playing at home, but there's also a little different expectation and pressure as well. We just need to go out and play our game and not take anything for granted. It will be important to stay disciplined and focused on our game plan, and if we can do that, we should play well. I'm really looking forward to watching us compete this week."
All nine members of the squad will compete in the season-opening tournament, led by a trio of upperclassmen returners in senior Luke O'Neill and juniors Nicklaus Mason and Cooper Schultz.
O'Neill, a native of Connemara, Ireland, is coming off an individual appearance in the 2023 NCAA Championship, the fifth Wildcat all-time to qualify for nationals, after tying for second in the NCAA Bath (Mich) Regional. He posted a 71.65 stroke average last season, the sixth lowest in school history. O'Neill enters his senior campaign with a 72.75 career stroke average, which ranks fourth in school history.
A product of Shawnee, Kansas, Mason tallied a 72.03 stroke average in 2022-23 as he saw time in all 11 events and came away with three top-five finishes, which included a third-place showing at last year's Wildcat Invitational.
The reigning individual champion of the Wildcat Invitational is Schultz, who won last year's event with a 54-hole score of 11-under par 205. A native of Andover, Kansas, Schultz finished third in school history with a 71.15 stroke average a year ago.
Ben Stoller returns for his sophomore year, while the Wildcats welcome in five newcomers, three of which are transfers. Senior JP Roller – a product of Jenks, Oklahoma – comes to K-State from Texas Tech, junior Ian McCrary – a native of Overland Park, Kansas – comes from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and sophomore Alex Lindstrom – from Halmstad, Sweden – transferred in from Hutchinson Community College.
Two freshmen will see their first collegiate action this week in Harry Bent (Gullane, Scotland) and Bryant Polhill (Edmond, Oklahoma).
Kansas State welcomes 14 teams to Colbert Hills for the 2023 Wildcat Invitational in Boise State, Creighton, Drake, Grand Canyon, Houston Christian, Kansas City, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Oakland, Omaha, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois and Texas A&M-Commerce.
Live results of the Wildcat Invitational will be available at www.Golfstat.com.
The Wildcats are opening the season with their home event for a third-straight year and looking to duplicate an impressive performance on their home course from a year ago in which K-State won by 27 shots at 27-under par 837, the 11th best 54-hole score in school history.
"We are excited to get the season started this weekend and especially excited to be hosting here at Colbert Hills," said head coach Grant Robbins, the 2023 Big 12 Coach of the Year. "There's obviously an advantage to playing at home, but there's also a little different expectation and pressure as well. We just need to go out and play our game and not take anything for granted. It will be important to stay disciplined and focused on our game plan, and if we can do that, we should play well. I'm really looking forward to watching us compete this week."
All nine members of the squad will compete in the season-opening tournament, led by a trio of upperclassmen returners in senior Luke O'Neill and juniors Nicklaus Mason and Cooper Schultz.
O'Neill, a native of Connemara, Ireland, is coming off an individual appearance in the 2023 NCAA Championship, the fifth Wildcat all-time to qualify for nationals, after tying for second in the NCAA Bath (Mich) Regional. He posted a 71.65 stroke average last season, the sixth lowest in school history. O'Neill enters his senior campaign with a 72.75 career stroke average, which ranks fourth in school history.
A product of Shawnee, Kansas, Mason tallied a 72.03 stroke average in 2022-23 as he saw time in all 11 events and came away with three top-five finishes, which included a third-place showing at last year's Wildcat Invitational.
The reigning individual champion of the Wildcat Invitational is Schultz, who won last year's event with a 54-hole score of 11-under par 205. A native of Andover, Kansas, Schultz finished third in school history with a 71.15 stroke average a year ago.
Ben Stoller returns for his sophomore year, while the Wildcats welcome in five newcomers, three of which are transfers. Senior JP Roller – a product of Jenks, Oklahoma – comes to K-State from Texas Tech, junior Ian McCrary – a native of Overland Park, Kansas – comes from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and sophomore Alex Lindstrom – from Halmstad, Sweden – transferred in from Hutchinson Community College.
Two freshmen will see their first collegiate action this week in Harry Bent (Gullane, Scotland) and Bryant Polhill (Edmond, Oklahoma).
Kansas State welcomes 14 teams to Colbert Hills for the 2023 Wildcat Invitational in Boise State, Creighton, Drake, Grand Canyon, Houston Christian, Kansas City, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Oakland, Omaha, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois and Texas A&M-Commerce.
Live results of the Wildcat Invitational will be available at www.Golfstat.com.
Players Mentioned
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