Cats Finish Seventh at Southern Dunes Invitational

MARICOPA, Ariz. – The Kansas State men's golf team put together a final-round score of 1-under par 287 on Tuesday, but the Wildcats were unable to make up any ground on the leaderboard as they finished in seventh place at the Southern Dunes Invitational held at the par-72, 7,546-yard Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club.

The Wildcats, who concluded the event with a 54-hole score of 1-under par 863, were without the services of Fionn Dobbin, who was forced to withdraw due to illness after leading the squad with a pair of rounds in the 60s on Monday.

"I am proud of how the guys battled today," head coach Grant Robbins said. "We had a bout of the stomach flu go through the team, and Fionn, unfortunately, got very sick this morning and couldn't go. JP (Roller) was also sick both yesterday and today, but he was able to fight through it and gave us everything he had. It was difficult going out with only four players and one of them being very ill, but they were able to grind it out and finish the tournament."

Senior transfer Kobe Valociek registered his best round of the event at 3-under par 69 on Tuesday, improving 11 spots on the leaderboard to finish in a tie for 17th place at 2-under par 214. The transfer from Virginia Tech carded four birdies on the day, which included a bogey-free and 2-under par back 9.

Senior Cooper Schultz was also a big riser in the final round, equaling Valociek with a 3-under par day. The Andover, Kansas, native, who was bogey-free in the final round, improved 13 spots to tie for 24th place at even-par 216.

Competing as an individual, Erik Sabelström Holmberg also shot 3-under par in the final round, and he, too, improved 13 spots to tie for 24th place at even par. The Stockholm, Sweden, native got to 3-under par despite two bogeys and a double-bogey as he tallied five birdies on the day in addition to an eagle on the par-5 7th hole.

Sophomore Harry Bent turned in the first under-par round of his career on Tuesday with a 2-under par 70, which was impressive considering he had a triple-bogey on No. 7. The Gullane, Scotland, product, who was also competing as an individual, improved eight spots on the leaderboard during the final round to tie for 37th place with a 54-hole score of 4-over par 220.

Ian McCrary finished the event in a tie for 42nd place at 5-over par 221, two shots ahead of Nicklaus Mason, who tied for 46th place at 7-over par 223. JP Roller tied for 50th place at 11-over par 227.

"It's not a great way to start the year, but hopefully we can get back, get healthy and come back strong in our home tournament next week," Robbins said.

Kansas State will look to rebound on its home turf as it hosts the Wildcat Invitational, next Monday and Tuesday, at Colbert Hills.

– k-statesports.com –

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Players Mentioned

Harry Bent

Fionn Dobbin

Nicklaus Mason

Ian McCrary

JP Roller

Cooper Schultz

Kobe Valociek