Kansas State University Athletics
Crofoot Cup All About Fun and Friendships
Oct 30, 2025 | Men's Golf, Women's Golf, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Before Curtis Yonke became co-Founder and CEO of Freedom Behavioral Health Solutions – a Manhattan-based mental health care provider – and before Yonke was a four-year letterwinner on the Kansas State men's golf team, Yonke was a middle-schooler living in Lubbock, Texas, swinging golf clubs with a kind gentleman in his 70s. They became friends and enjoyed weekly golf outings.
The man's name? Jay Crofoot.
Crofoot, a native of Cedar Point, Chase County, Kansas, lived a tremendous life. After serving in the Army for 18 months, he joined his father and brother in the family cattle and farming business, Crofoot Cattle Company. Jay and his wife, Jinny, lived in Elmdale, Strong City and Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, then moved to Arizona, and then back to Cottonwood Falls. In 1971, they moved to Lubbock, where Jay joined his father and his son, Terry, in business at Lubbock Feed Lots.
There was something else about Jay Crofoot that was pretty incredible — his love for both K-State and Texas Tech. He served on the TTU Athletic Advisory Council and helped establish the Knight Scholarship Foundation. He also was a Colbert Hills Founder and Hall of Fame member, and past president and director of the Flint Hills Rodeo Association.
"Curtis and Jay Crofoot had a regular golf schedule," Steve Yonke says, "and it sparked a friendship."
Eventually, it also sparked an idea within Steve, Curtis' father and son-in-law of K-State and PGA Tour great Jim Colbert. Steve, a native of Overland Park, Kansas, moved his family to Lubbock in 2007, and was well connected within the Lubbock community.
"How about a golf tournament?" Steve Yonke thought.
Yes, a golf tournament. After all, K-State and Texas Tech people were good people and had like-minded fan bases. The Crofoots and Yonkes could attest to that. And the golf tournament, meant to combine the camaraderie of college football with the spirit of competitive golf, could be an annual event — K-State versus Texas Tech — to be played a day or two prior to the K-State/Texas Tech football game.
"That's where it got started," Steve Yonke says. "It got started with a kid playing golf with an older gentleman, they had a regular golf game they played, got to know one another, and we got to know them, and the idea was a way to honor that family for all they've done for two schools. It's not only been a way over the years to honor them but a way to have fun together, too."
The tournament became known as the "Crofoot Cup," to honor Jay and Jinny Crofoot, who also supported various athletics programs and educational scholarships at both K-State and Texas Tech. As someone who was enthusiastic about helping others and developing friendships, Jay sponsored the tournament.
"It remains a tradition, and it's very gratifying to see where it's gone and the camaraderie that's developed between the donors at K-State and Texas Tech," says Terry Crofoot, Jay's son and a 1969 K-State graduate. Jay passed away at age 91 in 2018.
"It's not just a once-the-year thing, if these guys are in the neighborhood, they get together and have dinner," Terry says. "It's pretty special."
This year's Crofoot Cup is pretty special as well.
The 2025 Crofoot Cup marks the 21st year of this storied competition. Over 160 individuals have represented K-State since the event began, and Texas Tech has seen more than 130 participants compete over the years. For more than two decades, the Crofoot Cup has grown into a tradition built on competition, friendship, and a shared support of collegiate golf.
"This event has been nothing short of great — not just for Colbert Hills but for K-State and Texas Tech men's and women's golf, which we're supporting through the event," says Tracer Paul, who is in his fourth year as Executive Director of Kansas State University Golf Course Management and Research Foundation. "This year we'll go over $408,000 raised for both men's and women's golf programs for K-State and Texas Tech.
"I don't know if there's another event out there that creates a partnership like we have with both universities and fan bases while raising money for the golf programs."
While both sides play to win, the event ensures that the golf programs from both schools benefit financially, fostering long-term goodwill and connection between the schools. The money raised at the Crofoot Cup is annually divided up so 60% goes to the winning school and 40% goes to that year's loser.
First round of the Crofoot Cup will be Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at Colbert Hills Golf Club in Manhattan, Kansas, with the second round starting Friday at 9:00 a.m. Each team from both schools will consist of a record-high 40 golfers. Among the golfers are several who have played in all 21 tournaments, one whose played in 15, two who've played in 10, and four who've played in five.
Curtis Yonke and Kyle, his younger brother, will participate in the Crofoot Cup this year.
"The goal is to continue to grow," Paul says. "When you get new blood into the event, it's always exciting because we don't want the event to go away. We were scared last year when we found out we weren't going to play Texas Tech in football during the 2024 season, because the event is centered around the football game. This is a sustainable tournament, and people are going to continue to support it, which is really important."
Steve Yonke has noticed a trend over the years: The home golf team usually wins the Crofoot Cup.
"Yes, the home team usually has a pretty good advantage," he says, "and that's mostly because the guys on the road have more fun."
That the field includes 40 golfers for each team this year?
"It's 40 because Texas Tech thinks its football team is going to come up here and beat our butts this year," Yonke says, laughing. "Texas Tech has a good following. They're really great guys. It's a pretty good thing. We take a lot of jabs back and forth all in friendly gamesmanship."
In the end, that's what The Crofoot Cup is all about: Fun and friendships.
"Being here since its inception, the thrill for me is to watch both sides enjoy the company of one another," Yonke says. "I'm not sure there's been a bad word said between us. It's a true tribute and one I'm sure the Crofoot family is excited to see as well.
"Name an event where you can honor somebody who's been gracious enough to support two fine institutions, where you can have alumni represent their school, and enjoy one another's company, build friendships."
Terry Crofoot has great memories of the event over the years.
"I always look forward to it," Crofoot says. "I get to see old friends from up there. We've made a lot of great, great friends over the years — the Vaniers for a couple generations, and Ernie Barrett was a good friend and always looked forward to getting together."
Crofoot pauses.
"I look at the event from maybe a little different perspective," he says. "I like to look at it as an opportunity to honor my dad for his contributions."
It started years ago with a middle schooler and a gentleman in his 70s, some fifty years apart, enjoying the sport they love.
It's turned into a remarkable annual event featuring supporters from two like-minded schools and one golf course.
And a source for friendships and memories for years to come.
Before Curtis Yonke became co-Founder and CEO of Freedom Behavioral Health Solutions – a Manhattan-based mental health care provider – and before Yonke was a four-year letterwinner on the Kansas State men's golf team, Yonke was a middle-schooler living in Lubbock, Texas, swinging golf clubs with a kind gentleman in his 70s. They became friends and enjoyed weekly golf outings.
The man's name? Jay Crofoot.
Crofoot, a native of Cedar Point, Chase County, Kansas, lived a tremendous life. After serving in the Army for 18 months, he joined his father and brother in the family cattle and farming business, Crofoot Cattle Company. Jay and his wife, Jinny, lived in Elmdale, Strong City and Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, then moved to Arizona, and then back to Cottonwood Falls. In 1971, they moved to Lubbock, where Jay joined his father and his son, Terry, in business at Lubbock Feed Lots.
There was something else about Jay Crofoot that was pretty incredible — his love for both K-State and Texas Tech. He served on the TTU Athletic Advisory Council and helped establish the Knight Scholarship Foundation. He also was a Colbert Hills Founder and Hall of Fame member, and past president and director of the Flint Hills Rodeo Association.
"Curtis and Jay Crofoot had a regular golf schedule," Steve Yonke says, "and it sparked a friendship."
Eventually, it also sparked an idea within Steve, Curtis' father and son-in-law of K-State and PGA Tour great Jim Colbert. Steve, a native of Overland Park, Kansas, moved his family to Lubbock in 2007, and was well connected within the Lubbock community.
"How about a golf tournament?" Steve Yonke thought.
Yes, a golf tournament. After all, K-State and Texas Tech people were good people and had like-minded fan bases. The Crofoots and Yonkes could attest to that. And the golf tournament, meant to combine the camaraderie of college football with the spirit of competitive golf, could be an annual event — K-State versus Texas Tech — to be played a day or two prior to the K-State/Texas Tech football game.
"That's where it got started," Steve Yonke says. "It got started with a kid playing golf with an older gentleman, they had a regular golf game they played, got to know one another, and we got to know them, and the idea was a way to honor that family for all they've done for two schools. It's not only been a way over the years to honor them but a way to have fun together, too."
The tournament became known as the "Crofoot Cup," to honor Jay and Jinny Crofoot, who also supported various athletics programs and educational scholarships at both K-State and Texas Tech. As someone who was enthusiastic about helping others and developing friendships, Jay sponsored the tournament.
"It remains a tradition, and it's very gratifying to see where it's gone and the camaraderie that's developed between the donors at K-State and Texas Tech," says Terry Crofoot, Jay's son and a 1969 K-State graduate. Jay passed away at age 91 in 2018.
"It's not just a once-the-year thing, if these guys are in the neighborhood, they get together and have dinner," Terry says. "It's pretty special."
This year's Crofoot Cup is pretty special as well.
The 2025 Crofoot Cup marks the 21st year of this storied competition. Over 160 individuals have represented K-State since the event began, and Texas Tech has seen more than 130 participants compete over the years. For more than two decades, the Crofoot Cup has grown into a tradition built on competition, friendship, and a shared support of collegiate golf.
"This event has been nothing short of great — not just for Colbert Hills but for K-State and Texas Tech men's and women's golf, which we're supporting through the event," says Tracer Paul, who is in his fourth year as Executive Director of Kansas State University Golf Course Management and Research Foundation. "This year we'll go over $408,000 raised for both men's and women's golf programs for K-State and Texas Tech.
"I don't know if there's another event out there that creates a partnership like we have with both universities and fan bases while raising money for the golf programs."
While both sides play to win, the event ensures that the golf programs from both schools benefit financially, fostering long-term goodwill and connection between the schools. The money raised at the Crofoot Cup is annually divided up so 60% goes to the winning school and 40% goes to that year's loser.
First round of the Crofoot Cup will be Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at Colbert Hills Golf Club in Manhattan, Kansas, with the second round starting Friday at 9:00 a.m. Each team from both schools will consist of a record-high 40 golfers. Among the golfers are several who have played in all 21 tournaments, one whose played in 15, two who've played in 10, and four who've played in five.
Curtis Yonke and Kyle, his younger brother, will participate in the Crofoot Cup this year.
"The goal is to continue to grow," Paul says. "When you get new blood into the event, it's always exciting because we don't want the event to go away. We were scared last year when we found out we weren't going to play Texas Tech in football during the 2024 season, because the event is centered around the football game. This is a sustainable tournament, and people are going to continue to support it, which is really important."
Steve Yonke has noticed a trend over the years: The home golf team usually wins the Crofoot Cup.
"Yes, the home team usually has a pretty good advantage," he says, "and that's mostly because the guys on the road have more fun."
That the field includes 40 golfers for each team this year?
"It's 40 because Texas Tech thinks its football team is going to come up here and beat our butts this year," Yonke says, laughing. "Texas Tech has a good following. They're really great guys. It's a pretty good thing. We take a lot of jabs back and forth all in friendly gamesmanship."
In the end, that's what The Crofoot Cup is all about: Fun and friendships.
"Being here since its inception, the thrill for me is to watch both sides enjoy the company of one another," Yonke says. "I'm not sure there's been a bad word said between us. It's a true tribute and one I'm sure the Crofoot family is excited to see as well.
"Name an event where you can honor somebody who's been gracious enough to support two fine institutions, where you can have alumni represent their school, and enjoy one another's company, build friendships."
Terry Crofoot has great memories of the event over the years.
"I always look forward to it," Crofoot says. "I get to see old friends from up there. We've made a lot of great, great friends over the years — the Vaniers for a couple generations, and Ernie Barrett was a good friend and always looked forward to getting together."
Crofoot pauses.
"I look at the event from maybe a little different perspective," he says. "I like to look at it as an opportunity to honor my dad for his contributions."
It started years ago with a middle schooler and a gentleman in his 70s, some fifty years apart, enjoying the sport they love.
It's turned into a remarkable annual event featuring supporters from two like-minded schools and one golf course.
And a source for friendships and memories for years to come.
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